This maple walnut popcorn is sweet, spicy, crunchy, and perfectly salty. If you are looking for a mix of sweet-and-savory heaven, this is sure to be it. These candied walnuts take just five minutes in a pan, and are one of my favorite tricks for making quick (and delicious) candied nuts. Add them into a rich red smokey paprika popcorn and the flavor combination can’t be beat.
This is one of my favorite weekend movie night snacks, or just one of my favorite snacks in general. Read on for how to make this sweet and spiced snack mix in minutes.
Table of contents
Ingredients you’ll need for these maple walnuts and spiced popcorn
- 2 cups walnut halves
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp flakey salt for finishing
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp each of red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, chili powder, harissa powder, cumin, garlic powder or minced dried garlic, kosher salt
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
How to make the maple candied walnuts
Put a skillet on medium heat, add the maple syrup, vinegar and kosher salt and stir with a wooden spatula. Add in the walnuts and stir to coat them well.
Let the syrup come to a gentle bubble around the nuts, stir occasionally as the syrup reduces to a thick syrup, around 3-4 minutes. Immediately transfer the nuts to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading them out evenly and making sure that no nuts are on top of each other. Sprinkle with flakey salt and let this cool at room temperature for 15-30 minutes to let the candy coating harden.
How to make this chili spiced popcorn
Put all your spices in a small, heat-proof bowl. Bring 1/4 cup of coconut oil up to 350°F and pour it over the spices. Stir to create a chili oil and set aside. Add the remaining coconut oil to a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Put this on medium heat. Add two popcorn kernels to the pan. When they pop, add the rest of the kernels, cover the pan and shake on the stove until all the kernels have popped, around 4 minutes.
Turn off the stove and pour the chili oil on top of the popcorn, top the pan with the lid again and shake to coat.
Looking for other snacks?
Here are a few that are my absolute favorite from the site!
Lemon Parmesan Chickpea Crisps
How to make a Butter Board
The Best Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
And that’s everything for these maple walnuts and spiced popcorn!
If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.
And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups walnut halves
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp flakey salt, for finishing
For the popcorn
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp each of red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, chili powder, harissa powder, cumin, garlic powder or minced dried garlic, kosher salt
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
Instructions
- Put a skillet on medium heat, add the maple syrup, vinegar and kosher salt and stir with a wooden spatula. Add in the walnuts and stir to coat them well.
- Let the syrup come to a gentle bubble around the nuts, stir occasionally as the syrup reduces to a thick syrup, around 3-4 minutes.
- Immediately transfer the nuts to a parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading them out evenly and making sure that no nuts are on top of each other. Sprinkle with flakey salt and let this cool at room temperature for 15-30 minutes to let the candy coating harden.
- While those are cooling, put all your spices in a small, heat-proof bowl. Bring 1/4 cup of coconut oil up to 350°F and pour it over the spices. Stir to create a chili oil and set aside.
- Add the remaining coconut oil to a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Put this on medium heat.
- Add two popcorn kernels to the pan. When they pop, add the rest of the kernels, cover the pan and shake on the stove until all the kernels have popped, around 4 minutes.
- Turn off the stove and pour the chili oil on top of the popcorn, top the pan with the lid again and shake to coat.
- Serve with the popcorn and walnuts together in a large bowl!
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