Getting ready to start baking

[Marthe48]

I'm planning to make traditional spiced walnuts, baklava, and teacakes to give my friends. Also planning to make some almond flour gingerbread cookies with cream cheese frosting. I've been eating low-carb since Oct. 2019, and skipped baking last year.

I recently bought a pound of walnuts, in case I baked. Then my daughter brought me a 3 lb. pack of walnuts and asked if I would make baklava. And she brought me a pack of phyllo dough. I got an orange for the syrup a couple days ago. Last night she texted me and she made baklava herself. I think it might be the first time she made it. She sent me a picture. It turned out beautiful, neater than my long-time efforts. I'm left wondering if she is going to want some of mine lol

[irisblue]

1. Tell me about your spices on the walnuts please

[Marthe48]

3. Here is the recipe

From a Diamond Walnut cookbook/pamphlet that belonged to my Gram:
You need a heavy saucean, a candy thermometer, waxed paper, 2 forks and a container with a lid

Spicy-Sugared Walnuts
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt (I leave it out)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tesp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves (I use allspice)
1/2 cup water

2 cups walnut halves (or big pieces)

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, mix the water, sugar and spices. Cook until candy thermometer reads 236 degrees F. Remove from heat and add the walnuts. Stir until creamy. Turn out onto waxed paper and separate with 2 forks, cool. Store in a jar with a tight lid.

It is okay to mix to combine the ingredients, but don't stir it as it cooks, or it'll turn out grainy. After you add the nuts, and stir, the syrup will change like fudge does when you beat it to cream it.

[murielm99]

2. For the first time in forty-two years,

we are not baking scads of cookies to hand out to family and friends. I am not sure they would trust our health and our kitchen. I do not want to go out into the community to hand out cookies and possibly expose my household to the virus.

I hope we can get back to our tradition next year.

[Marthe48]

4. I have stayed in since March

Mostly. Last time I was in a sotre was Nov. 9th. I have pre-Covid packaging and will drop off without visiting.I hope you are baking a little

[Demsrule86]

5. I would love to have your recipe for the gingerbread cookies. I am a Celiac.

[Marthe48]

6. Here is a link to the recipe I use

https://foolproofliving.com/paleo-gingerbread-cookies/


I have made these 3 or 4 times since last Jan. I didn't have coconut sugar, so I used morena sugar. I was trying to get my blood sugar down, so for me, I used 3 tbs sugar and 2 tbs molasses and they were sweet enough. The recipe says it makes 12 cookies, but I use a rounded tsp and usually get about 20. I bake them about 9-10 minutes on parchment paper, center rack 350 d.

The first time I made them, I used stevia. I don't like the aftertaste of baked stevia, so I switched to the morena, but used a bit less.

I make a cream cheese frosting, using about 2 oz cream cheese, vanilla extract, a little bit of heavy cream or almond milk, and some stevia to taste. (I don't measure the ingredients for the frosting, but it turns out okay ) I like the texture of the cookies, and like the flavor combination with the frosting.

Hope you enjoy these. I sure do

[stuffmatters]

7. I'm so excited to make your spicy walnuts and gingerbread cookies!

[Marthe48]

8. Thank you

I hope you enjoy both recipes. Are you going to bake anything else?

[stuffmatters]

9. You hit the nail squarely on the head with these 2!

My sister loves gingerbread/snaos but can't eat gluten, so just perfect for her. Also she's been trying to duplicate my grandmother's frosted "Christmas"walnuts for decades. Yours sound so close and she'll love these too. I can't thank you enough, Marte.

[Marthe48]

10. The cookbook has 3 other variations

for the spiced nuts: honey spiced, sherry and mint. I haven't tried the other ones, but if you want the recipes, I'll get them to you, but not tonight I asked my Mom when she came to live with me what kind of cookies she'd like. One of her fond memories was the spiced walnuts. Everyone liked them, so even though my Mom is gone, I still make them.

[Marthe48]

11. I found some links to other candied walnuts

The recipes are identical or very similar to the ones in the cookbook I have:


Minted walnuts: https://www.latimes.com/recipe/minted-walnuts (Identical)

Sherried walnuts: http://www.grouprecipes.com/65571/sherried-walnuts.html (very similar)

Cinnamon glazed: https://www.diamondnuts.com/recipe/cinnamon-glazed-walnuts/ (entirely different)

[stuffmatters]

14. Thank you so much, Marte.

I happened to spill the beans about the walnuts and gluten free ginger snaps talking w. my sister last night. She wanted to try them out faster than me making & shipping. I'm sending her your recipes/sources right now. She was really thrilled, so thank you so much for your kindness from All of us.

[Marthe48]

15. You are welcome

I found a recipe for almond flour rum balls. See you next year! lol

[Trailrider1951]

12. Here is a recipe that I have been using for years

It uses less sugar per cup of nuts, and cooks the nuts in the oven:

Spiced Pecans
(or Walnuts, Cashews, Mixed Nuts, etc.)

2 egg whites 1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon Vanilla 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon water 1 teaspoon ground allspice
6 cups nuts, preferably halves or whole 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup white sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (just a pinch or 2)
½ cup brown sugar


Preheat oven to 275*F. Generously spray a large cookie sheet with buttery cooking oil.
In a small bowl combine the sugars, salt and spices.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites, vanilla and water, beating until very frothy.
Add the nuts, mixing until well moistened. Sprinkle the sugar-salt-spice mixture over the nuts and mix well. Spread the nuts on the prepared sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 8 to 10 minutes. Nuts are done when they are no longer moist.


I make my own gift baskets and give a tin of spiced pecans and walnuts in them. They are very popular! This year, I'm also adding cashews to the list. Each of the nut species is segregated in the tin, so people can sample whatever kind they want. Enjoy!

[Marthe48]

13. Looks good!

The gift baskets sound pretty and yummy