Walnuts in Honey Jar – An Easy Honey Walnuts Recipe
Looking for a simple way to enjoy the goodness of walnuts and honey? Let me introduce you to honey walnuts. This old-world kitchen trick combines fresh walnuts with sweet honey in a jar to create a delicious treat. And, no one has to know how easy it is to make! I won’t tell if you don’t. Let’s do it!
And, if you’re on a honey kick – be sure to check out my collection of easy honey recipes. You will find everything from snacks to main entrees to sweeten your life.
What Are Honey Walnuts?
Honey walnuts are simply walnuts covered in honey and stored in a jar. Unlike candied or honey-glazed walnuts, there is no sugary coating to cook.
The walnuts soak up some of the sweetness and flavor of the honey while remaining deliciously nutty.
Combining walnuts and honey creates a tasty treat with very little effort. You can enjoy them by the spoonful, use them as a topping for other foods, or package them in a pretty jar for a special homemade gift.
What You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe is that you do not need a lot of fancy ingredients – just walnuts and raw honey. Quality does matter though – choose the freshest walnuts possible and a honey flavor that you love.
You may decide to play with the flavors and try different varieties or types of honey for a unique taste.
- walnuts
- raw honey
- jars with lids
Walnuts
I like to buy bags of walnut halves and pieces. Most of the pieces are larger, and I don’t have to pick them out of the shells.
Larger pieces also work especially well for this recipe because they are easier to spoon from the jar.
Raw Honey
You can use any honey but raw honey is my preference. Pure honey & raw honey are not always the same thing – so read those label carefully.
Choosing Your Jars
Wide-mouth glass jars are wonderful for this recipe but you can use regular-mouth jars too.
You will be putting nuts into the jar and later spooning them out. Choose wisely. If you are making honey gifts – small decorative jars are often a top choice.
How to Make Honey Walnuts
This recipe is very easy to put together. You can use raw walnuts, but I prefer to lightly toast them first. Toasting brings out their nutty flavor and gives them a little extra crunch. (Full instructions in recipe card at bottom of post)
Toast the Walnuts
Spread the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven. Keep a close eye on them because nuts can go from toasted to burned rather quickly.
Allow the walnuts to cool completely before adding them to the jar. You do not want to add hot nuts to raw honey.
Fill the Jar
Place the cooled walnuts in a clean, dry glass jar. Don’t pack them down too tightly – you need to leave room for the honey to work its way around the pieces.
Add the Honey
Slowly pour honey over the walnuts, allowing it to settle down into the spaces between them. Continue adding honey until the walnuts are completely covered.
Walnuts naturally want to float to the top. This is normal. After the jar is sealed, you can turn it over occasionally to help keep the walnuts coated in honey.
Shelf Life & Storage
Keep your jar of honey walnuts tightly covered and store it in a cool, dry place. Always use clean, dry utensils when removing walnuts from the jar to avoid introducing extra moisture.
For longer storage, I prefer to keep walnuts in honey in the refrigerator. The honey will become thicker when chilled, so let the jar sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving if needed.
As always, if anything smells off or looks unusual, it is best to toss it.
Ways to Enjoy Honey Walnuts
There are so many ways to enjoy your honey walnuts. Of course, you can eat them right out of the jar – but they are also a delicious addition to many of your favorite foods.
Try spooning them over oatmeal, yogurt or ice cream. They also make a tasty topping for pancakes, waffles and other breakfast favorites.
For something a little more savory, add honey walnuts to a cheese or charcuterie board. The combination of sweet honey, crunchy walnuts and cheese is hard to beat.
And don’t forget about gift giving. A pretty jar of walnuts in honey makes a simple homemade gift for the holidays, hostess gifts or other special occasions.
Easy Flavor Variations
One of the fun things about this simple recipe is that you can experiment with different flavors. Honey varieties can taste quite different from one another, so try a mild or bold honey depending on your taste.
For a little something extra, add a pinch of salt, a bit of orange zest or a sprinkle of cinnamon. You can also try the same method with pecans or a mixture of your favorite nuts.
Tips for Success
- Don’t skip the step of cooling toasted walnuts – excess condensation can cause problems with the water content of your honey
- Make sure your jars are clean and dry.
- Use good quality honey – with a flavor you enjoy
- Take your time when adding the honey – remove any trapped air bubbles so the nuts are well coated
- If your honey is cold and thick – warm it slightly in a water bath first. Raw honey in the microwave is not the best idea.
FAQs
Yes. You can use raw walnuts, but I prefer to lightly toast them first. Toasting brings out more of their nutty flavor. Just be sure to let them cool completely before adding them to the honey.
You can enjoy honey walnuts right away, but letting them sit gives the flavors more time to mingle. Wait a week or so before serving for the flavor and texture I prefer.
I prefer to keep my honey walnuts in the refrigerator for longer storage. Keep the jar tightly covered and always use a clean, dry spoon when removing the walnuts.
Sure. Pecans are a great choice, or try a mixture of your favorite nuts. Different nuts and varieties of honey give you plenty of flavor combinations to experiment with.
Final Thoughts
If you love practical recipes that taste great without hours of effort – honey walnuts might just be your new favorite. It is quick and easy and looks anything but. Whether you’re gifting it or keeping it all for yourself, these sweet treats will never disappoint.
How to Make Honey Walnuts
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Read my disclosure.Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups walnut halves & pieces net wt (about 4.4 oz)
- 11 oz raw honey (net wt)
Instructions
- Prepare the Jars: Make sure your glass jars and lids are thoroughly clean and dried completely.
- Prepare the walnuts: (raw or toasted): You can use raw walnuts or lightly toast them for extra flavor. Toast in a dry skillet on the stove or in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes, until fragrant. Let them cool completely before adding them to the jars.
- Fill the jars: Add the cooled walnuts to the jars without packing them too tightly. Leave a little room at the top.
- Add the honey: Slowly pour honey over the walnuts, giving it time to work its way into the spaces between the pieces. Add enough honey to thoroughly coat the walnuts.
- Remove air bubbles: Gently tap the jar on the counter or slide a chopstick or skewer down the sides to release trapped air.
- Cover and store: Wipe the rims clean and add the lids. Keep the jars tightly covered and store in a cool, dry place. For longer storage, I prefer to keep my honey walnuts in the refrigerator.
So easy.