Fall is here which means it’s officially pumpkin spice season! I created Pumpkin Spice Walnuts, a healthy and tasty snack packed with protein, fibre and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. These spiced walnuts are delicious as a tasty afternoon pick-me-up and are wonderful in salads and hot or cold cereal.
Disclosure: I was financially compensated by Crosby Molasses for this blog post. As always, I only work with companies I believe in and who create foods I enjoy myself. All opinions are 100% my own.
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This recipe was inspired by the Gingerbread Spiced Almonds in the Simple Fare eCookbook from Crosby’s Molasses. You can get 30 delicious recipes for everything from barbecue sauce to sweet and sour chicken and pecan praline ice cream featuring Crosby’s Fancy Molasses … drool!
What is molasses?
Molasses is a pure sweetener made from sugarcane juice. There are 3 types of molasses: fancy, blackstrap and cooking molasses.
What are the different types of molasses?
Fancy molasses
So you’re fancy, huh? “Fancy molasses” is for you. It’s the highest grade of molasses you can get. In the U.S., “fancy” molasses is called “lite” molasses. It’s made from pure sugarcane juice that has been inverted to make a syrup. It’s sweeter and lighter in colour than other kinds of molasses and has a sweet tangy flavour. It works really well with Pumpkin Spice Walnuts 🙂
Blackstrap molasses
Blackstrap molasses is a byproduct of making white sugar. It’s concentrated and dark with a more robust flavour.
Cooking molasses
Cooking molasses is a mixture of 30% fancy and 70% blackstrap molasses. It is thicker and has a richer flavour than fancy molasses and is less sweet.
Health benefits of molasses
I knew that molasses was a good option as far as natural sweeteners go, but different brands can have different additives. Crosby’s doesn’t use any sulphates or other additives or preservatives, it’s gluten-free and non-GMO.
Fancy molasses: each tablespoon has 60 calories, 12 grams of sugar, 180 mg of potassium and 4% daily value of iron.
Blackstrap molasses: this sweetener is packed with nutrients! It’s an excellent source of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Each tablespoon has 50 calories, 7 grams of sugar, 740 mg of potassium (21% daily value), 10% daily value of calcium and 20% daily value of iron. That’s more iron in a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses than a 3 ounce steak!
Cooking molasses: one tablespoon contains 60 calories, 770 grams of potassium (22% daily value), 9 grms of sugar, 10% daily value of calcium, 15% daily value of iron and 15% daily value of magnesium.
How to store molasses
Once you open your molasses, don’t put it in the fridge. This could cause some of the sugars to crystallize. Store your molasses at room temperature between 10°C to 21°C (50 – 70°F).
Pumpkin Spice Walnuts
Enough about why molasses and walnuts are healthy… time to enjoy them in this delicious recipe!
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Pumpkin Spice Walnuts
These delicious roasted and spiced walnuts are the perfect snack or topping for your oats, granola and salad. Who doesn’t love some pumpkin spice in the fall?
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp Crosby's fancy molasses
- 2 tsp ginger
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups raw walnuts
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the coconut oil with molasses, spices and salt. Stir. - When the mixture starts to bubble, add the walnuts and stir
until coated. - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the nuts on it in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the nuts are toasted. Cool and break into pieces.
- Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Enjoy!
Oh no, I feel a snack attack coming on!
Yes! I love anything pumpkin spice flavor and these sound like a nice healthy way to enjoy this fall flavor!
These sound like the most delicious fall snack or oatmeal topper!
Will have to try this recipe out! Thanks for the share!