Food Recipes Snacks Sweet-and-Spicy Sesame Walnuts 5.0 (1,272) 2 Reviews A gentle heat makes these seasoned walnuts ideal with cocktails. By Joanne Chang Joanne Chang Joanne Chang is a James Beard award-winning pastry chef, restaurateur, and five-time cookbook author with close to 30 years in the culinary industry. Since 2000, she's been the owner of Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe — now with 10 locations — and in 2007 opened the acclaimed restaurant Myers+Chang with her husband Christoper Myers. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 15, 2021 Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: © Con Poulos Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 45 mins Yield: 7 cups Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 pound walnut halves (about 4 cups) 1 cup sugar ½ cup water ⅔ cup sesame seeds (4 ounces) 1 ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon kosher salt Directions Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large, wide saucepan, combine the walnuts, sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add the sesame seeds, cayenne and salt and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the water is nearly evaporated, about 4 minutes. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the walnuts are golden brown and sandy, about 4 minutes longer. Immediately pour the walnuts onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the nuts are deeply golden and covered with a sandy coating. Let the walnuts cool completely. Break any large clusters apart; transfer to a bowl to serve. Originally appeared: November 2010 Rate It Print