6 Easy Black Walnut Recipes (2024)

They call it “the perfect ingredient!”

That’s what most foodies, chefs and professional food critics think about these earthy flavor, tangy, fruity, bold and creamy nuts that are perfect for all your savory dessert recipes, salads, entrees and healthy snacks!

Coming from the black walnut trees, the fruit comes in two types – the Black walnuts and English walnuts.

Black walnuts is a tough nut because of its hard outer husk, but it is more popular due to its rather complex, more intense flavor than the English walnut.

Check out my post on medicinal benefits of black walnuts too!

But despite its distinctive flavor, black walnuts are considered to be one of the most versatile ingredients that can perfectly complement any good dish.

The strong flavors of these American black walnuts can intensify the flavor of gourmet recipes, so if you like exciting salty and sweet black walnut recipes, read on.

Or add it to my Grandma’s banana nut muffins recipe!

Black Walnut Cake Recipe by Patricia Canerdy

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup shortening
• 3 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chopped black walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing just until the yellow disappears. Combine the flour mixture, baking powder, and cinnamon; stir into the prepared pan.
3. amed mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts, and pour into the Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the crown comes out clean. Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before you transfer pan onto a wire rack to cool completely.

OR! If you have black walnut trees on your homestead, check out this video on how to make black walnut syrup:

Walnut Pie Crust Recipe by Stephanie

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups ground regular walnuts
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Press the nut mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate.

2. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for about 10 minutes, or until the edge is golden brown. Let it cool.

3. Serve and enjoy!

Black Walnut Ice Cream Recipe by Hank Shaw

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cream
• 2 cups milk
• 2/3 cup black walnuts, roughly chopped
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
• 4 or 5 egg yolks

Directions:

1. Heat the cream, milk, sugar and walnut pieces in a heavy-bottomed pot to 170 degrees, or to the point at which it steams but does not simmer. Turn off the heat, add the vanilla bean and the scraped insides of the bean, stir well and cover. Let this cool for 1 hour.

2. Move the mixture to a container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.

3. Strain the mixture to remove the vanilla bean and the walnut pieces. Reserve the walnut pieces and set them in the fridge.

4. Heat the strained mixture to 160°F. As it is heating, beat the egg yolks to combine. When the cream has hit its temperature, you will need to temper your eggs so they don’t scramble. One hand holds a ladle, the other whisks the egg yolks: Pour in a little hot cream with one hand, whisking vigorously with the other. Pour in 2 ladles full, then pour the egg-cream mixture into the pot and stir well. Cook this gently, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Do not let it simmer.

5. Strain this one more time and chill the mixture down at least to room temperature before putting into the ice cream maker. Churn it until it has the consistency of soft-serve vanilla ice cream, then remove to a large bowl and gently fold in the reserved black walnut pieces. Freeze and eat!

Notes:

Note that the prep time does not include chill time or the time it takes to churn your ice cream.

Black Walnut Pie Recipe by Pillsbury Kitchens

Ingredients:

• eggs
• 1/2cup packed brown sugar
• 1cup real maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8teaspoon salt
• 1cup chopped black walnuts
• 1crust from 1 package (10 oz) frozen Pillsbury™ Regular Pie Crusts (2 Count)
• Sweetened whipped cream, if desired

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add syrup, butter, lemon peel, lemon juice, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth.

2. Sprinkle walnuts in pie crust; pour filling over nuts.

3. 3Bake 55 minutes (center of pie will not be set). Cool completely on the cooling rack, about 1 hour. Serve with whipped cream.

Black Walnut Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chopped black walnuts or walnuts, divided

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in 1-1/4 cups of walnuts. Finely chop the remaining nuts.

2. Shape dough into two 15-in. rolls. Roll in finely chopped nuts, pressing gently. Wrap each roll in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

3. Unwrap dough; cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place slices 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 300° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Grandma Sadie’s Farmhouse Black Walnut Sweetbread

Ingredient List:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1-2 dashes of cinnamon, or to taste
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup large black walnut pieces

Directions:

1. Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

2. Combine egg, milk and butter in a small bowl, mix well.

3. Add to dry ingredients, mix well.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

5. Bake in a greased 9 ½” x 5” x 3” pan on a middle oven rack for one hour or until done.

6. Remove from the loaf pan and cool on the rack.

7. Serve sliced, with butter … and enjoy!

Conclusions

Here are some of the tasty black nut recipes you can try at home this season!

And if you like vintage recipes using real ingredients, this is my go-to reference:

If this is your first time trying these easy recipes, don’t worry because they are all simple and easy to prepare.

Forage your own black walnuts or buy them in some grocery stores near you!