Even though the store shelves are filled with all kinds of candies and treats for the holidays, it’s always more fun and more meaningful to make your own, and there are so many ways you can incorporate nuts. You can add chocolate, caramel, coconut, or any of your favorite traditional ingredients to make it more festive. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
Simply Nuts and Chocolate – Probably one of the simplest ways to turn nuts into candy is by making nut bark. Just scatter roasted or raw nuts over a sheet of parchment then pour melted chocolate on top. You can use white, dark or milk chocolate, or swirls of all three for a fancy touch. Allow it to set then break apart and store in an airtight container. If you want a recipe, here’s pistachio bark and Sweet and Salty Walnut Bark.
Chocolate Coated Nuts – You can also add nuts to melted chocolate then allow the chocolate to drip off the nuts into a sieve. Or try these mint dusted almonds for an alternative to chocolate.
Fudge – There are few candies as decadent and melt-in-your-mouth as fudge, and it’s not difficult to make. Here’s one from our friends in Australia at Nuts for Life using Brazil nuts, a classic Christmas nut!
Truffles and Balls – The wonderful thing about making fruit and nut balls is you can add so many of your favorite flavors and spices. Just put it all in a food processor and pulse to desired consistency. You just need something to bind the mix together, such as nut butter or dates so you can roll it, then coat in cocoa, fine coconut or powdered sugar. Try these spiced almond truffles, or walnut chocolate bliss balls.
Flavored Tree Nuts – For the savory food lovers, try making flavored nuts. You can add any spices or seasonings, or even sweet, salt and sour blends. Here’s a 101 on making your own flavored nuts.
Gifting Cookies – If it’s gifts on your mind, we have an abundance of special cookies on our website for you to choose from, such as these Raspberry Almond Macaroons, Pistachio Florentines or Macadamia Shortbread.
Whatever you are doing to celebrate, we wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season!