I know that candied nuts are usually thought of as a winter treat but they can be a great snack anytime. I was looking for something crunchy and sweet to put in a salad when I remembered an old recipe for candied pecans. The recipe called for sugar, cinnamon and a splash of vanilla but an inspiration hit me when I started gathering the ingredients and found my jar of Vanilla Sugar in the pantry. Vanilla sugar would pack a lot more flavor than a splash of vanilla and I could only imagine how it would smell and taste. If you’ve ever made vanilla sugar with split and scraped vanilla beans then you know how aromatic it can be. And as the walnuts begin to roast in the oven you might be reminded of the cinnamon roasted nuts you’d find at a farmer’s market or a fall festival. These turned out to be an irresistible treat. They provided a sweet crunch to our salad as well as a dessert topper for a scoop of ice cream. Next time I will have to hide any leftovers as no one could resist grabbing a couple every time they walked by.
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An Inspired Cook 