Baking, particularly cookies, often involves nuts or coconut. And there in that recipe you’ll see the suggestion that they be toasted.
My first reaction: ah, gee, do I have to? I revert to being a 6-year old told to clean up his room. The thing is, toasting these ingredients really is important to bring out their full flavor and give you the right “bite.” You’ve probably paid dearly for those nuts. Now, you don’t want to waste them.
Of course, if you are going to do it, you need to do it well and that means paying some attention to time and temperature. You can’t just put the oven on, toss things in, wait a few minutes and get the best results.
For nuts, use a 350⁰F oven and these very different times for the nuts:
|
Nut Type |
Baking Time in Minutes |
| Almonds (sliced) |
7-10 |
| Almonds (whole) |
10 |
| Chestnuts |
25 |
| Hazelnuts |
12-15 |
| Macadamia nuts |
12-15 |
| Pecans |
10-15 |
| Pine Nuts |
5 |
| Walnuts |
10-15 |
Yes, watch those tiny pine nuts. They need little time and an extra 30 seconds can give you some pretty disgusting black stones.
For coconut, pie expert Ken Haedrich suggests using a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. You want the white coconut to adopt a golden hue, which should take no more than 3-4 minutes. Ah, distractions. Just one phone call, one kid question, one issue on the side and that coconut has been cooking for five minutes and you have black carbon.
So, as a slower, safer alternative, use a cooler 325⁰F oven and a cookie sheet. I line the sheet with foil. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The golden color and perfect aroma are your clues to doneness.
Sources: Ken Haedrick in Pie and BonAppetite.com