What To Do With Excess Walnuts

What to do with excess walnuts is one of those questions that pops up every fall when your trees go absolutely wild.
 
If you’ve got buckets of walnuts and you’re wondering what to do with excess walnuts, you’re in the right place.
 
There are actually tons of ways to use up those extra walnuts, from eating them to crafting with them to sharing them with others.
 
In this post, we’ll explore what to do with excess walnuts so none of your harvest goes to waste.
 
Let’s dive in.
 

What to Do With Excess Walnuts: Tasty Ways to Use Them Up

The best thing about excess walnuts is that you can eat them.
 
Here are some delicious ways to enjoy them.
 

1. Bake Them Into Your Favorite Treats

If you’re wondering what to do with excess walnuts, baking is one of the easiest answers.
 
Walnuts work beautifully in banana bread, brownies, cookies, and muffins.
 
You can also toss them into pancake batter or sprinkle them on top of a coffee cake.
 
Toasting them first brings out a deeper, richer flavor that makes any baked good taste gourmet.
 

2. Make Homemade Walnut Butter

Another great way to use excess walnuts is to blend them into walnut butter.
 
Just roast the walnuts, let them cool, then blend them in a food processor until smooth.
 
Add a pinch of salt, a drizzle of honey, or a splash of vanilla for extra flavor.
 
It’s a fantastic alternative to peanut butter and a smart way to deal with excess walnuts before they go stale.
 

3. Add Them to Salads and Savory Dishes

Excess walnuts aren’t just for sweets.
 
You can chop them up and add them to salads for a satisfying crunch.
 
They also work well in pasta dishes, stir-fries, and grain bowls.
 
Try making a walnut pesto or sprinkling crushed walnuts over roasted vegetables.
 
These ideas make it easy to use excess walnuts in everyday meals.
 

4. Freeze Them for Later

If you have more walnuts than you can eat right now, freezing is a brilliant solution.
 
Shelled walnuts stay fresh in the freezer for up to a year.
 
Just store them in airtight bags or containers and pull them out whenever you need them.
 
This is one of the simplest answers to what to do with excess walnuts when you can’t use them all at once.
 

Creative Ways to Use Excess Walnuts Beyond the Kitchen

If you’re still asking what to do with excess walnuts and you’ve baked enough already, there are plenty of non-edible uses too.
 
Here are some creative ideas.
 

1. Use Walnut Shells for Crafting

Crushed walnut shells make great material for craft projects.
 
You can use them in decorative bowls, as filler for pin cushions, or even in homemade exfoliating scrubs.
 
Walnut shells are also used as a natural abrasive for polishing and cleaning.
 
So if you have excess walnut shells lying around, don’t toss them.
 

2. Make Natural Dye

Walnut hulls can be boiled to create a rich brown dye.
 
This dye works beautifully on fabric, yarn, and even paper.
 
It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to use excess walnuts while getting creative.
 

3. Use Them in the Garden

Believe it or not, excess walnuts can benefit your garden.
 
Crushed shells make excellent mulch and can help suppress weeds.
 
You can also compost walnut shells, though they break down slowly.
 
Just avoid adding walnut hulls to compost if you plan to use it on plants sensitive to juglone.
 

How to Share or Sell Your Excess Walnuts

Sometimes the best answer to what to do with excess walnuts is to share the wealth.
 
Here are a few ways to do that.
 

1. Give Them to Friends and Family

Bag up your excess walnuts and hand them out to neighbors, friends, and coworkers.
 
Most people are thrilled to receive free nuts, especially if they’re fresh from your tree.
 
You can even make cute gift jars with a ribbon and a handwritten label.
 

2. Donate to a Food Bank

Many food banks accept shelled nuts as long as they’re fresh and properly stored.
 
Call ahead to confirm their donation guidelines.
 
Donating excess walnuts is a wonderful way to give back to your community.
 

3. Sell Them Locally

If you have a huge surplus, consider selling your excess walnuts at a farmers market or online.
 
Fresh, locally grown walnuts often sell quickly because people love the quality.
 
It’s a nice way to make a little extra cash while clearing out your stash.
 

So, What to Do With Excess Walnuts?

What to do with excess walnuts really comes down to how much time and energy you want to invest.
 
You can bake with them, blend them into butter, freeze them, craft with the shells, or share them with others.
 
No matter which route you choose, excess walnuts don’t have to go to waste.
 
With these ideas, you’ll never be stuck wondering what to do with excess walnuts again.