Last Updated on 15 August, 2026 by Elby | The Tasteful Pantry
Maple chilli walnuts are a sweet and spicy snack with a lovely crunch and just enough heat. The maple syrup balances the walnuts’ natural bitterness, while the chilli adds a gentle kick that makes them very hard to stop eating.
I first made these maple walnuts as a crunchy salad topping, but they never actually reached the salad bowl. A few small hands appeared in the kitchen, several walnuts vanished, and before long there were none left. The same suspicious behaviour tends to occur when I make orange candied pecans and tamari sunflower seeds.
These sweet and spicy walnuts are delicious scattered over salads, roasted vegetables and grain bowls, but they are just as good served whole as an easy snack. They also make a handy office lunchbox addition or simple nibble for entertaining.
A small word of advice: when making maple chilli walnuts for a particular dish, prepare a few extras – just in case.
Tips for the Maple Chilli Walnuts Recipe
Time: The maple chilli walnuts are literally roasted and ready in under 10 minutes. It possibly takes longer for your oven to heat then the time it takes to prepare and cook the nuts.
Spice: Ramp up the spice of the chilli walnut or dull it down. Adjust the heat to suit any taste.
Maple: I have also tried using honey instead of the maple. My preference is the maple version as the maple with the chilli and the walnuts just works (in my opinion).
Baking: Spread the coated walnuts out on the lined baking tray in a single layer, this will help with an even cook.
Ingredients in the Maple Chilli Walnuts Recipe
The ingredients for maple walnuts are super straightforward and you’ll likely have them in your pantry ready.
Just enough chilli flakes to provide a little warmth and maple syrup that almost caramelises in the oven and provides a great contrast to the chilli.
Raw walnuts provide a bitter flavour to work with the syrup.
How to Make Maple Chilli Walnuts
Step 1: Heat the oven to 210°C if conventional or 190°C for fan forced and line a tray with baking paper.
Step 2: In a small bowl, stir together the chilli flakes, maple syrup, olive oil and salt until you’ve got a shiny, sticky mixture. Tip in the walnuts and toss them around so every curve and crease gets coated.
If using the maple chilli walnuts in a salad chop them before adding to the syrup mix.
Step 3: Spread the nuts out on the prepared tray, giving them a little breathing room so they toast evenly. Bake for around 5 minutes, watching closely because they go from golden to burnt very quickly.
Step 4: Let them cool on the tray, where they’ll firm up and become crunchy. Then attempt – with varying levels of success – not to devour the lot straight away.
More Walnut Recipes and Other Nut Snacks
- Carrot Walnut Cake
- Sweet Carrot Walnut Bread
- Sprinkle the maple chilli walnuts over the top of Roasted Pumpkin Soup
- Pumpkin and Blue Cheese Salad with Walnuts
- Cinnamon Maple Cashews
- Sesame Macadamias
FAQs
Can I substitute the nuts in the maple chilli walnuts recipe?
Of course! Pecans are the most similar nut, but almonds, macadamias and brazil nuts work really well.
What’s the best way to store walnuts?
The best way to store natural (uncooked) walnuts is in the fridge or even in the freezer. However, for maple chilli walnuts, let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container for one to two weeks… if they last that long!
Can I use fresh chillis?
The chilli flakes are light and cling to the maple walnuts, whereas fresh chilli tends to fall off. I definitely recommend the dried chilli flakes.
Feedback and More: Have you tried the maple chilli walnuts recipe a go? Select a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment below to let me know what you thought. Cheers, Elby!
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Maple Chilli Walnuts
*Note: Adjusting servings will not adjust the ‘light grey’ quantities
Ingredients
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp olive oil - mild flavoured
- ¼ tsp salt
- 120 grams walnuts
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 210°C | 190°C fan forced and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- In a small bowl, combine the chilli, syrup, oil and salt. Add the nuts and mix until well coated.
- Spread in a single layer on the prepared tray and place in the pre-heated oven. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until browned (don’t let them burn!).
- Leave to cool – then try not to eat them all at once.
Nutrition
*Nutrition and calorie figures are estimates only.
Very nice! Great snack!
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed them… You might also like my Sesame Macadamias!!
Whipped up for work snack, snack a few while packing. Very moreish!
I cannot stop making these either. Very, very moreish!
So glad you’re liking them!
The walnuts aren’t lasting long in the house anymore. Very nice!
They get eaten in my house as quickly as I can make them too!