Best Walnut Lavender Wedges Recipes

WALNUT-AND-HONEY BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a food processor, pulse walnuts, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup sugar until finely ground.
• In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup water and remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar over medium-high; bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer; cook until slightly thickened and sugar is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in honey. Let syrup cool completely.
• Brush a 12-by-2-inch round cake pan with butter. Trim each phyllo sheet into a 13-inch round (cover with plastic and a damp towel as you work). Carefully layer 7 phyllo sheets in pan, brushing butter between each layer. Sprinkle one-third of nut mixture over top. Repeat process twice more, brushing butter between each layer. Top with remaining 7 phyllo sheets, brushing butter between each layer.
• Generously brush top layer with butter. Using a sharp knife with a very thin blade (such as a boning knife), cut baklava into quarters, cutting through all phyllo layers. Halve each quarter to create 8 equal wedges. Working within one wedge at a time, make two straight cuts, 1 inch apart, parallel to one side of wedge. Make two more cuts, parallel to opposite side of same wedge, creating a diamond pattern. Repeat process in remaining 7 wedges.
• Bake until deep golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven; pour syrup over baklava. Let cool completely before serving.

CANDIED WALNUT WEDGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan, and line the bottom with parchment paper. Close the latch, and place the pan on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Fold the foil up around the sides of the pan to prevent the filling from leaking out while the walnut wedge bakes. Place the pan on a baking sheet.
• Toast the chopped walnuts and walnut halves separately on a baking sheet, about 8 minutes, until they've browned slightly and smell nutty.
• Place 3 tablespoons butter in a small sauté pan. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, and use a paring knife to scrape out the pulp and seeds onto the butter. To make sure not to lose any of the precious seeds, run your vanilla-coated knife through the butter. Add the vanilla pod to the pan, and cook the butter and vanilla over medium heat, swirling the pan a few times, until the butter browns and smells nutty.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the sugars, rum, and corn syrup at medium speed 4 to 5 minutes. Add the warm brown butter, and mix another 2 to 3 minutes to incorporate. Add the egg and yolk, and continue to mix at medium speed another minute or two.
• Spread the chopped walnuts in an even layer in the prepared pan. Place the walnut halves in concentric circles over the chopped walnuts. Pour the filling evenly over the nuts, and bake about 40 minutes, until the nuts are caramel-colored and the filling is set.
• Let cool about 30 minutes. Remove from the pan, and cut into wedges.

SPICED LAVENDER WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread the walnuts on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Alternatively, the nuts can be lightly toasted in a skillet on the range.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon and salt.
• (After testing this recipe the thought ran through my head of using half of a cinnamon stick. fyi).
• Over medium heat boil the mixture *without* stirring until it reaches 238 degrees (soft-ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Be careful with this step as the sugar syrup is very hot and will burn your skin!
• Remove pan from heat and stir in the lavender, rosemary and walnuts.
• Using a buttered spatula, quickly stir until all nuts are coated.
• Transfer the walnuts to the cookie sheet and spread them singly in an even layer, separating the mixture using the buttered spatula.
• Cool.
• Store in an airtight container or in a Ziploc-type plastic bag in the refrigerator or freezer.

LAVENDER AND ROSEMARY SPICED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a baking pan and spread the walnuts. Bake for 5 minutes, stirring once, until lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.
• In medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon, and salt. Over medium heat, boil without stirring until the mixture reads 238 degrees F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer. The sugar syrup is very hot, so take caution.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the lavender, rosemary, and walnuts. Work quickly and stir gently until all of the nuts are coated.
• Transfer the nuts to the buttered baking sheet and spread them in an even layer, separating them with two buttered forks.
• Cool. Stir in an airtight container at room temperature or in a heavy plastic bag in the freezer.
• *By crushing the lavender with a mortar and pestle instead of a spice grinder, you can release the essential oils and still keep the buds partially intact. This gives the nuts more visual appeal, because you can see the bits of lavender florets in the sugar coating.