50 Crunchy Walnut Recipes for the Seriously Nutty
Updated: Dec. 20, 2018Who doesn't love the satisfying crunch of walnuts in their cookies... or salad... or on top of their cake? We've rounded up our favorite walnut recipes that are musts for nut fanatics.
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Walnut Toffee Tart
I usually serve this scrumptious tart on Christmas and New Year’s Day. It really showcases walnuts and is so impressive to serve. —Patricia Green, Yuba City, California 2 / 50
Berry-Beet Salad
Here's a delightfully different salad that balances the earthy flavor of beets with the natural sweetness of berries. If you prefer, substitute crumbled feta for the goat cheese. —Amy Lyons, Mounds View, Minnesota
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Ginger-Walnut Tube Cake
My husband, Ken, loves this tube cake with its bits of crystallized ginger. Feel free to drizzle it with a lemony glaze. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, NJ 4 / 50
Hungarian Nut Rolls
It isn't officially the holidays until I've made this treasured nut roll recipe from my husband's grandmother. The apple-walnut filling is moist, subtly sweet and flavorful. —Donna Bardocz, Howell, Michigan 5 / 50
Blueberry Crunch Breakfast Bake
Blueberries in season make this a very special breakfast, but I find that frozen berries can work just as well. My grandmother used to make this with strawberries and I always loved to eat it at her house.—Marsha Ketaner, Henderson, Nevada 6 / 50
Spinach Salad with Raspberries & Candied Walnuts
I created a bright spinach salad with raspberries for a big family dinner. Even those who don't normally like spinach change their minds after the first bite. —Robert Aucelluzzo, Simi Valley, California 7 / 50
Rosemary Walnuts
My Aunt Mary started making this recipe years ago. Each time we visited, she would have a batch ready for us. The use of cayenne adds an unexpected zing to the savory combo of rosemary and walnuts. When you need a good housewarming or hostess gift, double the batch and save half for yourself. —Renee Ciancio, New Bern, North Carolina 8 / 50
Apples 'n' Cream Pancake
This cozy recipe is delicious for breakfast or brunch. I usually make a double batch because everyone wants more! With our own orchard, we have plenty of Delicious and Winesap apples—they make this a true midwestern meal. —Ruth Schafer, Defiance, Ohio 9 / 50
Frozen Hawaiian Pie
Cool summer pies are one of Mom's specialties. This version offers pineapple, maraschino cherries and walnuts that are folded into a fluffy filling. It's an easy yet tempting no-bake dessert. —Jennifer Mcquillan, Jacksonville, Florida 10 / 50
Apple Walnut Salad
The pumpkin seeds and homemade dressing make this salad so special—and healthy, too. Add leftover turkey and you’ve got a main-dish salad. —Bjorg Martin, Noblesville, Indiana 11 / 50
Chocolate Chip Bars
People are always surprised when I tell them these chocolate chip bars come from the microwave. Chockfull of chocolate chips, the bars are especially good served with a big glass of cold milk. —Shirley A. Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 12 / 50
Pumpkin with Walnuts and Blue Cheese
Don't hold off on serving pumpkin, thinking it can be only the finale to dinner. Bring it to the forefront with this unique and lovely side dish that will garner you lots of recipe requests. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington 13 / 50
Maple Butter Twists
My stepmother passed on the recipe for this delicious yeast coffee cake that's shaped into pretty rings. When I make it for friends, they always ask for seconds. —June Gilliland, Hope, Indiana 14 / 50
Baked Acorn Squash with Blueberry-Walnut Filling
I absolutely love squash—and I've filled it with so many variations of savory stuffing over the years. But my favorite way to stuff it is with an unexpected fruit filling, like this sweet apple-blueberry one. —Bruce Newcomer, Fredericksburg, Virginia 15 / 50
Pumpkin and Walnut Squares
The buttery crust and crumb topping plus the creamy pumpkin filling make this a popular dessert at potlucks. Try it with whipped cream, ice cream or all by its yummy self. This is the pumpkin walnut recipe to end all recipes. —Ruth Beller, Sun City, California 16 / 50
Pineapple Carrot Cake
This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida 17 / 50
Harvest Squash Medley
To me, cooking is an art, and I love trying new recipes. For this one, I dressed up baked butternut squash, sweet potatoes and apples with citrus and spices. —Ruth Cowley, Pipe Creek, Texas 18 / 50
Walnut-Filled Pillows
These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them. —Nancy Kostrej, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 19 / 50
Black Walnut Layer Cake
My sister gave me the recipe for this beautiful cake years ago. The thin layer of frosting spread on the outside gives it a chic modern look. —Lynn Glaze, Warren, Ohio 20 / 50
Strawberry-Blue Cheese Steak Salad
At lunch one day, a friend told me about a steak salad she'd had at a party. It sounded so fantastic I had to try it for myself. My family would eat it nonstop if we could. Can't seem to get enough of that tangy dressing! —Alma Winberry, Great Falls, Montana 21 / 50
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Here's a way for fans of carrot cake to have their favorite dessert for breakfast. These delicate, decadent pancakes are drizzled with sweet and spicy maple syrup that complements the sour cream and nut topping. —Leane Goering, Salem, Indiana 22 / 50
Walnut Pumpkin Cake Roll
This is one of my family's favorite dessert recipes, especially for holiday gatherings. —Mary Gecha, Center Rutland, Vermont 23 / 50
Roasted Green Beans with Lemon & Walnuts
I first tasted roasted green beans in a Chinese restaurant and fell in love with the texture and flavor. This is my Americanized version and it's always a big hit at our holiday table. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia 24 / 50
Pineapple Cherry Loaves
Pineapple adds a fun twist to this holiday quick bread, plus it wakes each delicious bite nice and moist. My family prefers this to traditional fruitcake. —Dolores Peltier, Warren, Michigan 25 / 50
Frozen Banana Split Pie
This dessert is special enough to make hamburgers and fries a meal to remember! It's so tall and pretty and just like eating a frozen banana split. Make it ahead to save time. —Joy Collins, Birmingham, Alabama 26 / 50
Honey Cinnamon Rollups
This cinnamony treat reminds me of baklava, but with only a few easy ingredients, it's a fraction of the work. My Aunt Adele shared the recipe with me, and I think of her whenever I make it. —Sue Falk, Warren, Michigan 27 / 50
Pear Waldorf Pitas
Here's a guaranteed table brightener for a shower, luncheon or party. Just stand back and watch these sandwiches vanish. For an eye-catching presentation, I tuck each one into a colorful folded napkin. —Roxann Parker, Dover, Delaware 28 / 50
Carrot Sheet Cake
We sold pieces of this to-die-for carrot cake at an art show. Before long, we sold out of all the 10 cakes we had made! —Dottie Cosgrove, South El Monte, California 29 / 50
New England Pumpkin-Walnut Bread
Pumpkin bread is for chilly mornings when you long for some homestyle New England food. Serve slices with a warm and soothing beverage. —Kimberly Forni, Laconia, New Hampshire 30 / 50
Fresh Ginger Carrot Salad
I created this salad as an alternative to the mayonnaise, raisin and carrot salad my mom used to make. I had some leftover ginger and really liked the fresh taste. I have a sweet tooth, and this salad satisfies it! —Lauri Cherian, Scott Depot, West Virginia 31 / 50
Poteca Cake
“Rock Springs is home to 56 nationalities, and this recipe showcases its Slavic heritage. It’s one of my favorite ethnic holiday treats.” —Rachelle Stratton Rock Springs, Wyoming 32 / 50
Broadway Brownie Bars
I named these dessert bars for Broadway because they're a hit every time I serve them. I especially like to make them as a gift for anyone with a sweet tooth! —Anne Frederick, New Hartford, New York 33 / 50
Savory Cheese Ball
Blue cheese contributes a pleasant, tangy bite and olive a saltiness to this creamy cheese ball recipe. For the optimum taste, let the cheese ball stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.—Jan Stawara, Howell, Michigan 34 / 50
Cherry Divinity
It's just not a party without these light and airy confections on my dessert platter. The recipe is versatile because you can replace the cherry gelatin with any flavor that suits your taste. —Crystal Ralph-Haughn, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 35 / 50
Walnut Glazed Bacon
Once you taste this bacon, you may never want to go back to the plain kind. It's just right for anyone who loves the salty and sweet flavor combination. —Heather Cardeiro, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 36 / 50
Cranberry Layer Cake
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio 37 / 50
Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread
Coming from Oregon, a state famous for its cranberries, this bread is a given at our house. Each fall my husband and I scrounge around for walnuts to go in it. It's a regular on our table, and not just at Thanksgiving. I freeze the berries so I have a ready supply all year long. —Elaine Kremenak, Grants Pass, Oregon 38 / 50
Herbed Leek Tarts
This savory, nontraditional tart is a favorite among our family and friends! —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin 39 / 50
Cranberry Nut Cookies
In fall, I stock up on fresh cranberries and freeze them so I can make these cookies throughout the year. Tangy cranberries are a nice addition to a buttery cookie. —Machelle, Wall, Rosamond, California 40 / 50
Bow Ties with Walnut-Herb Pesto
I can't resist having pasta at least once a week, but I also didn't want the fat and extra calories that come with. I created this dish, and now I sometimes can even have second helpings! —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan 41 / 50
Baklava Tartlets
Want a quick treat that's delicious and easy to make? These tartlets will do the trick. You can serve them right away, but they're even better after chilling for about an hour in the refrigerator. —Ashley Eagon, Kettering, Ohio 42 / 50
Surprise Monkey Bread
When my neighbor hosts brunch, she always asks that I make this monkey bread recipe. I also make a savory version with garlic and cheese for dinner. —Lois Rutherford, Elkton, Florida 43 / 50
Walnut Banana Bread
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I bake 200 loaves of bread.—Douglas Jennings, Ottawa, Kansas 44 / 50
Molded Cranberry Nut Salad
We try lots of cranberry recipes, and this one is always requested when we have family get-togethers at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's also been a favorite dish at every church potluck I've taken it to! —Eleanor Arthur, Seattle, Washington 45 / 50
Apple Walnut Slaw
A co-worker shared this slaw recipe with me. Now it's a favorite at my house, too. Apples, walnuts and raisins are a fun way to dress up coleslaw. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas 46 / 50
Cherry Nut Cake
My grandmother made up this recipe for her children. Using Ozark-grown cherries and walnuts, she invented one they all liked. Granny always used cream from the dairy farm near her home, but the half-and half works well and is easier to find. —Diana Jennings, Lebanon, Missouri 47 / 50
Cinnamon-Walnut Sticky Buns
The sweet honey-walnut topping and tender texture make these sticky rolls a surefire crowd-pleaser. —Debbie Broeker, Rocky Mount, Missouri 48 / 50
Austrian Walnut Cookies
Known as palatschinkens in Austria, these rich cookies melt in your mouth. The delicate, tender pastry surrounds a walnut filling that's just sweet enough. The recipe comes from a co-worker who was known for her wonderful baked goods. —Donna Gaston, Coplay, Pennsylvania 49 / 50
Orange-Glazed Carrots, Onions & Radishes
Carrots and radishes give color and crunch to this sweet, spicy side. We never have leftovers. If you make it ahead, reheat it and add the walnuts just before serving. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey 50 / 50
Homemade Elephant Ears
When I was a little girl, my mother always had these waiting for me when I'd come home from school. Now she has them on hand for her grandchildren as well! Whenever I taste one of these treats, I am reminded of home. Originally Published: December 20, 2018
CMU Unit
