7+ Different Ways to Use Black Walnuts: The Complete Guide
Black walnuts are a unique ingredient that I’ve come to appreciate for their rich, earthy flavor and versatility. They’re more than just a nut to snack on; you can use them in everything from baked goods to savory dishes, adding a special twist that’s hard to find anywhere else. You can find all sorts of ways to use black walnuts; don’t let them go to waste!
I love experimenting with black walnuts in my kitchen. Like many people, I have a black Walnut tree that drops these nuts each fall. Beyond food, these nuts also have practical uses like creating natural ornaments or making syrup from the trees themselves.
Having a black walnut tree in your backyard can feel frustrating if you don’t use the nuts. Otherwise, they litter the ground for months to come, and they’re a fall hazard. My kids have been chonked on the head a few times by falling walnuts.
I’ve spent the last few years that we lived in our home exploring different ways to use black walnuts around my home.
Related: 11 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Your Backyard
How to Identify Black Walnut Trees
Black walnut trees have a unique look. They grow tall, often up to 50-75 feet, with deeply furrowed dark brown bark. The leaves are compound and feather-like, usually 16 to 24 inches long, made of 15-23 pointed leaflets.
The fruit is a round, green husk that turns black and cracks open when ripe. These nuts drop from the tree in early autumn. You’ll often notice the ground covered with these green balls, which can stain your hands and clothes.
The best way to confirm is by breaking open a fallen fruit. Inside, you’ll find a ridged, hard-shelled walnut with a dark, deeply grooved shell enclosing the nut meat.
Best Harvesting Practices
I recommend picking up black walnuts soon after they fall. Waiting too long can let the husks mold, which makes processing harder. Wear gloves because the husks release a dark stain that is hard to remove.
Use a hammer or sturdy nutcracker to crack the tough shells once they’re dried. Before cracking, cure the nuts by drying them in a single layer for a few weeks in a cool, ventilated place. This process improves flavor and helps with shell removal.
Cracking the shells is undoubtedly the hardest part of harvesting black walnuts. If you want to try a nutcracker, you will need one specifically designed for black walnuts, since their shells are ridiculously tough!
You should remove the outer shell and let the harvested nut cure somewhere with ample airflow. Opened walnuts will go rancid quickly.
7 Ways to Use Black Walnuts
Black walnuts offer a rich, earthy flavor that can enhance many dishes and DIY projects. They also provide natural materials and ingredients for homemade crafts and remedies. Below, I break down practical uses that you can try yourself.
Eat Them!
I love using black walnuts in baking and cooking because their bold flavor adds depth to many recipes. You can toss chopped black walnuts into salads, muffins, or banana bread for a nutty crunch. Toasting them lightly improves their texture and brings out the oils.
If you’re shelling your own, soaking and curing the nuts can make the process easier. Shelled black walnuts can be frozen to keep fresh longer. They’re great ground as a coating for fried foods or blended into pesto for a unique twist.
Here are some unique recipes to try with your home-cracked black walnuts.
- Black Walnut Cookies
- Black Walnut Coffee Cake
- Black Walnut Bundt Cake
- Mom’s Tennessee Banana Black Walnut Cake
- Black Walnut Pumpkin Bread
- Homemade Black Walnut Liqueur
- Black Walnut Pie Crust
- Black Walnut Ice Cream
Make Homemade Walnut Dye
Making dye from black walnut hulls is surprisingly simple and produces a rich, brown color. I collect the green or dark husks and simmer them in water for about an hour. The liquid turns into a potent dye that works well on fabrics like cotton, wool, and silk.
Before dyeing, soak your fabric in water to help it absorb the color evenly. The finished hue can range from golden brown to deep mahogany, depending on how long the fabric stays in the dye bath. I find this natural dye lasts well through multiple washes.
Create Natural Ink from Walnuts
You can also craft ink from black walnut husks for writing or drawing. After boiling the husks to make a strong brown liquid, strain it carefully to remove debris. Adding a bit of iron sulfate or vinegar helps darken and preserve the ink.
This ink works well on paper and wood, and it dries quickly to a bold, permanent mark. I use a dip pen or brush for calligraphy or sketching with this ink. It’s a handy, eco-friendly alternative to store-bought inks.
Black Walnut Tincture
A black walnut tincture is easy to make by steeping chopped hulls in alcohol for several weeks. This extract can be used in small amounts to support digestion or as a traditional remedy for fungi and parasites.
I use a clean jar with lids and shake it regularly during the extraction phase. After straining, the tincture can be stored in dark bottles for months. Always research proper dosages and consult a healthcare provider before internal use.
Related: How to Make Echinacea Tincture: A Step-by-Step Guide
Tap the Trees for Syrup
Believe it or not, you can tap black walnut trees to collect sap, much like maple trees. The sap is then boiled down to create a syrup with a distinctive, nutty flavor. While it’s less sweet and more earthy than maple syrup, it’s a fun project if you have access to mature black walnut trees.
Tapping requires drilling holes into the trunk and attaching spouts to collect sap. It takes many gallons of sap to produce a small amount of syrup. I recommend processing sap promptly to avoid spoilage.
Related: Get Ready to Tap Your Trees: A List of All The Maple Syrup Supplies You Need
Black Walnut Tea
Black walnuts are an alternative treatment for various ailments, such as acne, sore throats, hemorrhoids, eczema, and ringworm. This tea should be made with the nutmeats of the black walnut; the bark and hulls contain a toxin to humans.
It’s traditionally created with rice and dates. You can find full instructions here to make black walnut tea.
Black Walnut Salve
Making a salve from black walnut hulls and infused oil results in a natural skin treatment. The hull-infused oil is believed to have antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it suitable for minor skin irritations. It works for athlete’s foot, ringworm, and other skin problems.
To prepare, I soak hulls in a carrier oil (like olive or almond) for several weeks, then strain and combine the infused oil with beeswax. Once cooled, the salve forms a balm that’s easy to apply.
You can find the full instructions for black walnut salve here.
Black walnuts might not get as much attention as regular walnuts, but they’re packed with flavor and possibilities. From baking and cooking to DIY projects, there are so many fun ways to use them once you know how.
So next time you spot black walnuts at the market—or maybe even in your own backyard—give a few of these ideas a try. You might just find a new favorite way to use this bold little nut!
