Healthy Roasted Cinnamon Walnuts

This savory and healthy snack comes together in less than 15 minutes. With heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory ingredients, Roasted Cinnamon Walnuts are a snack you can feel good about eating!

As we age, sooner rather than later, we may need snacks and recipes to help reduce inflammation in the body. That's where this simply delicious roasted walnut recipe comes into play!

Jump to:

• The ingredient list:
• Ingredient savvy:
• Learn more about the health benefits of walnuts.
• Read more about the health benefits of avocado oil.
• Find out more about the health benefits of cinnamon.
• More on the amazing health benefits of nutmeg.
• Cinnamon roasted walnut serving size:
• Serving suggestions:
• Substitutions and additions:
• Top tip for success:
• Can these savory cinnamon walnuts be made in an air fryer?
• Can a sweetener be used to make these walnuts?
• What about drizzling the roasted walnuts with chocolate?
• Printable Recipe Card

The ingredient list:

Ingredient savvy:

RAW UNSALTED WALNUTS (SHELLED) - Walnuts are one of the world's best superfoods! Walnuts provide significantly higher amounts of plant-based omega-3 fat (in a one-ounce serving) than any other type of nut. Which means walnuts may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Walnuts also contain several plant compounds that reduce inflammation, one of the root causes of many chronic diseases. 

AVOCADO OIL - Avocado oil is a healthy fat food that feeds the brain. This high-heat cooking oil is also good for the eyes because it is rich in lutein, naturally found in the eyes, but the body does not make it on its own. Avocado oil may also benefit heart health by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

KOSHER SALT - This is the salt I use for all my cooking and baking. I love the coarse grain that kosher salt provides, and, to me, it has a milder and less "bitter" flavor than regular table salt. Feel free to use table salt if you like, but cut back on the amount called for in this recipe and season again (if needed) after the walnuts come out of the oven.

GROUND CINNAMON - Did you know that cinnamon is not only delicious, but it's also really, really good for you? Cinnamon contains powerful antioxidants that slow the aging process and strengthen the immune system. How great is this for all you cinnamon lovers (me included)?!!

GRATED NUTMEG - This ingredient is optional in this recipe, but I love using a light sprinkling of nutmeg whenever and wherever I can. Nutmeg also has excellent health benefits you may have yet to learn. It is rich in antioxidants and essential oils that are known to prevent cellular damage in the body and can protect against chronic disease. Amazing!!

Learn more about the health benefits of walnuts.

Read more about the health benefits of avocado oil.

Find out more about the health benefits of cinnamon.

More on the amazing health benefits of nutmeg.

Cinnamon roasted walnut serving size:

One serving of toasted cinnamon walnuts equals ½ cup of walnuts.

While it's easy to go overboard with eating these nuts because they're so delicious, the calorie count (although healthy) is relatively high.

Serving suggestions:

I like adding these toasted walnuts to my morning Greek yogurt, along with fresh berries.

A few other great ways to serve these is as a topping for oatmeal, or you can blend into smoothies, mix them into muffin or cake batters, top pancakes or waffles with them along with a little bit of pure maple syrup, and I also like to add them to vegetables for added texture and crunch.

Of course, last but not least is to nibble on a handful of them anytime during the day because they'll fill you up quickly with an incredible 6 grams of protein per serving.

Substitutions and additions:

Olive oil can be used in place of the avocado oil if desired. Olive oil is another very heart healthy oil that you can feel good about using.

If you like things hot and spicy, I suggest adding a little sprinkle of cayenne red pepper, or red pepper flakes, to the skillet before adding the nuts.

OR if you like things with a Tex-Mex flavor, a ¼ teaspoon of cumin and a slight pinch of ground coriander would be delicious in place of the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Top tip for success:

Because of their high-fat content, walnuts are prone to burning quickly, so keep a close eye on them while in the oven. Setting a reliable kitchen timer for (4-5 minutes) is a good idea if you don't have time to babysit the oven.

Can these savory cinnamon walnuts be made in an air fryer?

They sure can.

Start the recipe in the skillet (as the directions indicate), and then once they're ready to be roasted, add the walnuts to the try of an air fryer and cook the walnuts at 325 degrees for approximately 5 - 7 minutes, watching them carefully, so they don't burn.

Can a sweetener be used to make these walnuts?

I suggest adding a light touch of an all-natural sweetener like honey or pure maple syrup to the pan before adding the nuts into the oven. Don't add much; 2-3 tablespoons should be sufficient, and then stir them well. Then add the nuts to the oven (or air fryer) and continue cooking as instructed.

What about drizzling the roasted walnuts with chocolate?

Yeah, I've thought of that many times but have yet to do it.

That said, if you'd like to, I suggest using a high-quality dark chocolate (70 - 85% cacao). Slowly melt an ounce or two (finely chopped) over a double boiler and drizzle the melted chocolate lightly over the cinnamon-roasted walnuts.

Now you have an additional health benefit that the dark chocolate provides, plus a tiny bit of sweetness, making these roasted nuts more "candy-like."

Printable Recipe Card

I hope you've enjoyed today's heart-healthy anti-inflammatory snack recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!!