There’s no ignoring the crunch underfoot: 2025 has been a mast year, with trees dropping a carpet of nuts and acorns onto the woodland floors. A mast year is when trees and shrubs produce a bumper crop of their fruits, nuts or seeds, collectively called 'mast'.
Which means we should have tonnes of walnuts and hazelnuts this season for snacking and cooking. And while admittedly they are quite high in calories, studies widely shows that adding a hearty helping of them to your diet brings a host of benefits: heart-friendly fats, protein to keep you full and a cocktail of nutrients.
This collection is about everything nutty, from savoury suppers to spectacular cakes. So whether you fancy a walnut-studded casserole, a flourless hazelnut torte or a new twist on granola, you’ll find inspiration here for your autumn table. The season’s bounty in the starring role!
Walnuts and cabbage – who knew? Baked with a savoury mixture of onions, spices and herbs, this Ottolenghi-inspired comfort food is perfect for any occasion. Topped with sour cream, it's a tasty and satisfying meal that's easy to make and sure to impress.
Cabbage and walnut casserole
RECIPE
Whipped feta and hazelnut dip is heavenly spooned on cherry tomato halves but it can also be served with charcuterie, crackers or bread as a dip or spread. Snacking does not get much healthier than this!
Whipped feta with hazelnuts
RECIPE
Muhammara, roasted red pepper and walnut dip, flavoured with pomegranate molasses and Aleppo pepper flakes is much tastier than the more popular hummus. It should be a firm fixture in your next meze!
Flourless sponge cake made with ground walnuts, filled with a layer of apricot jam with grated dark chocolate topping: it’s an exquisite, elegant, delicious and gluten free gateau.
Do the same with hazelnuts: bake a Hungarian flourless hazelnut torte with hazelnut buttercream, a topping of apricot jam and chocolate shavings. It’s a riff on the famous Esterhazy cake except this one is much easier (just as delicious).
Hungarian hazelnut torte
RECIPE
Feta cheese, roasted grapes and crunchy walnuts are the perfect combination of juicy, sweet, crunchy and salty. It's a fantastic autumnal salad, and it can be served for lunch or as a starter.
Feta, grapes and walnuts
RECIPE
Another elegant cake made with nuts: hazelnut ricotta cake with apricot and chocolate glaze. It is smooth with a poppy crunch, like velvet dipped in glitter. It is rich but tastes light, so you‘re tempted to have another slice.
Conchiglioni, jumbo pasta shells, filled with ricotta and walnuts and baked in tomato sauce. Vegetarian filling of three cheeses with herbs and a walnut crunch takes a little time to prepare but the result is worth every second.
Jumbo shells with ricotta and walnuts
RECIPE
Linzer torte is a shortcrust pastry pie made with toasted whole hazelnuts. They make your Linzer pastry lovely and dark with a deep nutty flavour. The pie/torte has a homemade raspberry filing made with frozen raspberries, but feel free to use good quality raspberry jam from a jar.
For sourdough bakers: Tartine, the famous country sourdough recipe with toasted walnut chunks. It tastes gorgeous, and the effort can be split over three days.
A loaf cake in anticipation of Christmas/Thanksgiving! Cranberry and walnut bread made with fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped walnuts and orange juice and zest, it has intense flavour, gorgeous cranberry tang and crunchy sugar topping.
Cranberry and walnut bread
RECIPE
Shaved Brussels sprout salad with toasted walnuts and Manchego cheese: the sprouts are raw, the walnuts are toasted and the cheese is mashed into a dressing. Feed it to a sworn Brussels hater and see what happens.
Shaved Brussels sprout salad
RECIPE
Banana and nut granola clusters, crunchy and fragrant homemade cereal for those who like it ultra-crisp. The mix bakes into one large bar to be broken up into crunchy clusters.
Dukkah is a mix of chopped nuts, seeds and spices, toasted to a crunch. Turkey schnitzels coated in dukkah breadcrumbs are an exciting and flavoursome version of the old comfort staple: crunchy and crisp, but now also with delightful, fragrant seasoning.
Turkey schnitzel with dukkah coating
RECIPE
And finally, make your own roasted nut mix for delicious nibbling. Maple and spice roasted nuts made with raw or blanched nut selection are better than any you buy, and you can make them differently flavoured every time.