We’re always looking for ways to expand our line of gluten-free products. After some hunting (and quite a few requests from our customers), we’ve manages to add a high-quality product that we think you’ll just love: chestnut flour.

Our chestnut flour is imported from Italy, where it’s commonly used in cakes, breads and pastas. It has a sweet, nutty flavor that pairs particularly well with chocolate, nuts, honey and sweet winter squash.

Chestnut flour is a fantastic substitute for wheat-based flour in many different recipes. It will make dough a bit gummier and less flexible than it would be normally, so depending on the item you’re making it may be better to use 25 to 50 percent chestnut flour and round out the recipe with gluten-free all-purpose baking flour. Experiment with your favorite recipes until you find the flour combination that produces the tastiest result.

Chestnut flour does make marvelously fluffy gluten-free pancakes and crepes all on its own, and most recipes are quite simple. In fact, in Italy it’s fairly common to find these dishes made with chestnut flour instead of a wheat alternative. Mario Batali has a recipe for chestnut-flour crepes that we’re particularly fond of.

To make these easy crepes, start by measuring 1 cup of chestnut flour into a mixing bowl. Beat in two large eggs, one at a time, then add 1-1/4 cups of water. Whisk the batter until it’s free of lumps and let it stand and thicken for 15 minutes.

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and brush its surface with olive oil or melted butter. Ladle 2 tbsp. of crepe batter into the skillet, rolling the pan to distribute the batter in an even circle. Let the crepe cook for about one minute (until it curls up around the edges), then flip it over and cook it for an additional 30 seconds before removing it from the skillet.

Chef Batali suggests that you serve these scrumptious crepes with a mixture of honey and ricotta cheese, but we think there are hundreds of fantastic toppings for them! Try fresh berries, whipped cream, melted chocolate or even ham and cheese.

Have you ever cooked with chestnut flour? What are some of your favorite recipes? We’d love to hear all about them!

Here at NutsOnline, we value all of our customers, and we do mean ALL of them! Though our human enthusiasts are so kind to us, today we’d like to take a moment to thank some of our feathered fans.

We are bird lovers, and it shows! Our product line includes quite a few items that are appropriate for pet birds, including whole nuts, seeds and dried fruit. We know that birds can’t eat many of the treats that we humans prefer, so we make sure to offer ample selections that they can nosh! That way, you can offer your pet birds samples of the same natural diet they would have in the wild.

We’ve found that different types of birds prefer different products. Macaws, for example, enjoy banana chips, Brazil nuts and English walnuts in the shell. Parrots go nuts for in-shell almonds, dried papaya and raw hazelnut kernels. Canaries swing toward sweets like golden raisins and dried pineapple.

We even offer several products specifically with birds in mind. Our in-shell macadamia nuts are far too tough for humans to crack, but tropical birds such as macaws can’t get enough of them. Wild bird seed, nyjer seeds, black oil sunflower seeds and raw in-shell pine nuts are all fantastic items for both wild and domesticated birds.

You can use our delicious treats to supplement your bird’s normal diet or as special surprises. You can even play foraging games with some of the items, which stimulate your pet’s natural instincts and burn off energy. Place several in-shell nuts or other treats inside of a small cardboard box and let your feathered friend shred the container to get to the snack. Many of our products will also fit neatly inside foraging toys you can purchase at most pet stores.

Does your bird have a favorite NutsOnline treat? Do you play any games involving goodies with your buddy? Let us know!

Today is National Praline Day, which is good news for us. This crumbly, sweet, pecan-packed treats are one of our favorite special-occasion foods. We just can’t get enough of their rich maple flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. However, we don’t always have time to make these candies from scratch and they can be tough to find in our part of the country. Luckily, we offer several items through NutsOnline that settle our cravings in a pinch.

Our praline almonds are lightly dusted with a sweet coating reminiscent of the popular Southern candies. Praline pecans are even more true to the original treat. If you’re watching calories, our gourmet praline cream coffee is a fantastic way to get a taste of the creamy, nutty sweet without the guilt.

Of course, if you’re so inclined it’s fairly simple to make your own pralines from scratch. We offer nearly all of the quality ingredients that you need to create a sinfully delicious batch of these candies in the comfort of your own home. Though your favorite recipe may vary, we really enjoy this simple, yet scrumptious recipe from FrenchQuarter.com.

Start by combining 1 cup of light brown sugar, 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of light cream in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring it occasionally with a wooden spoon to keep it from burning. When it forms a thick syrup, add 2 tbsp. of butter and 1-1/2 cups of halved pecans and continue to cook it, stirring frequently until the butter melts. Remove it from the heat and let the mixture cool in the saucepan for 10 minutes.

Spread a sheet of wax paper on the counter and use a tablespoon to scoop 12 balls of the praline mixture onto the paper, leaving about three inches between each candy so they have room to spread. Let them cool completely, then store the pralines in an airtight container.

Summertime tends to be a busy season for us and our families, and we’re sure it’s the same way for you, too. Between vacation road trips and scrambling from one activity to the next, we make sure that we have snacks in the car at all times (especially those of us with little ones)!

These are a few of our favorite on-the-go treats for busy times such as this. They’ll tide you over between meals, whether you’re stuck in traffic or embarking on an hours-long journey. For added convenience, divide the snacks into single-serving containers ahead of time.

1)      Trail Mix: Trail mix is our main go-to snack during the summer. It’s filling and contains a variety of dried fruit, nuts and other tasty ingredients. You may want to steer clear of mixes that contain chocolate candies or flavored baking chips, as they will melt in the sun. Some of our favorite NutsOnline trail mix blends include the sunny Tropical Mix, peanut-packed Power Mix and ever-popular Deluxe House Mix.

2)      Dried Fruit: Dried Fruit is a fantastic on-the-go treat. It’s not terribly filling so it won’t spoil your dinner, but it does give you a sweet boost when you need it most. And if you have little ones who beg for candy and other sugar-filled snacks, dried fruit may be a great compromise! All of our dried fruit is fantastic on its own, but we really think our Berry Mix is where it’s at. It’s packed with seven different berries, including our famous dried strawberries!

3)      Fruit and Veggie Chips: Our all-natural fruit and veggie chips are a crisp, satisfying snack and a fantastic substitute for greasy potato and corn chips. The lightly salted veggie chips include gems such as green beans, carrots and taro. Slightly sweet fruit chips are a tropical delight, with melon, banana, pineapple, papaya and mango in the mix.

4)      Freeze-Dried Fruits and Veggies: Freeze-dried fruits and veggies contain nothing but the produce items they’re made from, making them a fabulous snack for toddlers to munch. The Simply Organic Mixed Veggies contain a cornucopia of farm-fresh ingredients such as sweet corn and crispy carrots. The Simply Fruit Cocktail offers up a melt-in-your-mouth array of bananas, berries, peaches, apples, pears and grapes.

5)      Energy Squares: Our bite-sized energy squares are good to keep on hand for days where meals may be delayed. They’re quite filling and provide a nutrient-packed punch for work and play. Organic Chia Energy Squares are fantastic fuel for athletes. Mixed Berry Blast Energy Squares and Honey Vanilla Energy Squares have just a touch of sweetness, with no delicate ingredients that could get melty or gummy in the car.

Refreshing iced tea is a fantastic beverage to drink throughout the summer. It keeps you hydrated while providing you with so many flavor combinations that you’ll never be bored! We think that making iced tea can be elevated to an art form, and we really love to experiment with different types as the summer wears on!

To make a basic pitcher of iced tea, boil 2 quarts of water and measure out 5 tbsp., plus 1 tsp., of loose tea into a large pitcher. Pour the water over the loose tea and steep the beverage for five to 10 minutes before straining it and storing it in the refrigerator. Serve the tea over ice, sweetened with sugar, agave syrup or honey.

Of course, we offer a variety of fruity and minty teas that offer an extra punch of flavor. Lemon spice tea is particularly thirst-quenching, and black currant tea will remind well-rounded tea drinkers of the popular British brew. Raspberry tea and blackberry tea are both bursting with fresh berry flavor. Spearmint tea can be especially cooling on blazing afternoons.

Of course, you can also make your own delicious flavored teas infused with dried fruit. Try brewing up a pitcher of our Ceylon black tea or Japanese Sencha green tea. Right before you pour the water over the leaves, toss a handful of dried fruit in the pitcher. They’ll leave a delightfully subtle, but mildly sweet, flavor in the beverage. Some of our favorites to add to iced tea are sweet dried strawberries, slightly tart whole dried cranberries and summery bing cherries.

Another iced tea concoction that’s popular, particularly in the South, is Lebanese iced tea. This rose-scented beverage has pine nuts floating in it for a rich, unexpected treat. Simply pour out a cup of brewed, chilled black tea and add ½ tsp. of rose water and 1 tsp. of pine nuts to the brew. Sip it through a straw to get the nuts from the bottom of the glass.

We’ve got tons of quality loose teas to choose from on NutsOnline.com, so swing by and peruse the selection. Create your own refreshing beverages and sip your way through the heat of summer!

Father’s Day is a very special holiday to us at NutsOnline because of the strong family legacy that the company embodies. Here, Jeffrey Braverman, founder of NutsOnline.com, says a few words about what working with his father, Kenny, in a family business means to him:

“Father’s Day is coming up and it gives me pause (amidst the holiday rush) to reflect on how wonderful it is that I get to see my dad every day at work.  In general it’s pretty easy to take people for granted, and even more so when you see them every day.  Also, working with family can get tense (OK, very tense) at times, but it is a real blessing to be able to spend this much time together.

Since he was a boy, my dad has worked incredibly hard in the nut shop to take care of his family, just like Poppy Sol did before him. (Read about my dad here.) Even though NutsOnline is my baby, my dad was the one with the trust and foresight to let me take the keys.  Dad, I am grateful, and I love you, for everything.”

As most of your probably know, Father’s Day is June 20. Have you put any thought into what you’ll get your dad this year?

Here at NutsOnline, we really work hard to ensure you have quite a few choices when it comes to Father’s Day gifts. Even if your father’s a tough nut to crack, we think we’ll have something that he’ll just adore! The best news is that it’s not too late to order for Father’s Day. Our speedy shipping will make sure that your dear dad gets his gift with time to spare.

In fact, we’re so pleased with our offerings this year that we’d like to extend a special opportunity to all of you who want the best for your dads. We invite you to scope out our selection of specialty Father’s Day items and choose the one you think your dad would love to munch. Then, either leave a comment on our Facebook page or tweet a response to @Nuts_Online telling us which item you’d choose for your father and why he deserves it. At noon on Monday, June 14 we’ll draw one lucky winner whose father will receive the item they selected, on us!

It’s easy to find a scrumptious specialty that truly suits your dad’s tastes. We’ve got plenty to choose from! Does your father fancy himself a connoisseur of all things spicy? The Tough Guy Gift Basket, Ultimate Peppah Snacker or Sizzling Basket may be just his speed! For dads who enjoy the finer things in life, we recommend the Gourmet Pistachio Gift Box or a heaping two-pound container of The World’s Finest Mixed Nuts. The Ultimate Sports Snacker and the Hole in One Gift Basket are both right up sports fanatics’ alleys, and guys who love grilling won’t want to miss the Extravagant BBQ Gift Basket.

Hop on over to the list of Father’s Day goodies today to pick out something that’s just right for your pops and, if you’re feeling lucky, don’t forget to enter out Father’s Day Giveaway before it’s too late!

Sweet, smooth chocolate ice cream is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Well, since today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, we’d like to share a recipe for a special treat that we really enjoy!

Store-bought chocolate ice cream is delicious, but homemade chocolate ice cream is truly the way to celebrate this holiday. All you need is an electric ice cream maker and some basic ingredients to make a simple, yet decadent treat that’ll cool you off and satisfy any chocolate craving you may be harboring.

Start off by pouring 2 cups of half and half and 1 cup of cream into a medium saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring it occasionally, until it’s warm and steamy. Remove it from the heat.

Pour ½ cup of the cream mixture into a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat three egg yolks until they’re smooth. Stir in ¾ cup of sugar and pour the egg mixture into the ½ cup of cream mixture. Stir the two components until they’re well combined, then slowly whisk them into the remaining cream mixture in the saucepan.

Whisk ¼ cup of Dutch cocoa powder into the mixture in the saucepan. Then, slice open half of a vanilla bean, scrape the tiny black seeds out from the inside with the tip of your knife and drop the seeds, along with the half pod, into the cream mixture. Place the saucepan back over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it is warmed through and the mixture coats the back of a metal spoon. Do not allow the cream mixture to come to a simmer, as that will curdle the eggs.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in 4 oz. of chopped chocolate. It’s best to go with a good-quality, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate for this. Our Godiva 72% Dark Chocolate Bar is a good choice. Leave the mixture on the stove to cool, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Then, fish out the vanilla bean and transfer the liquid to a container with a lid. Refrigerate the cream mixture overnight to get it nice and cold.

When it’s time to make your ice cream, add it to your ice cream maker and process it according to the instructions. It should take 20 to 30 minutes to freeze into a soft dessert. Transfer the ice cream back to its container and freeze it until serving to firm it up even more.

This rich chocolate ice cream is amazing on its own, but can be even better with some mix-ins. Add chips, nuts and other goodies to the ice cream during the last five minutes or so of processing it to make a customized treat.

We love to serve this ice cream rocky road style, using quality sweets from NutsOnline. Add white marshmallow bits, semisweet chocolate chips and pecan pieces to make a truly unforgettable dessert.

Of course, we offer plenty of other options to make this delicious ice cream even more decadent. Try throwing in some Mini M&Ms, macaroon crunch, sliced almonds or organic chocolate covered cacao nibs to turn this basic sweet into your dream treat!

As our name may convey, here at NutsOnline we’re just nuts about…you guessed it…nuts! We love all kinds, and when snack time rolls around sometimes we have a difficult decision on our hands. Should we go for tender pecans, crisp macadamias or rich cashews?

Luckily, we don’t have to make the choice. Our supreme roasted mixed nuts contain all of these selections, plus Brazil nuts, almonds, filberts and pistachios. The freshly roasted combination of nuts is lightly salted, perfect for munching as a snack, serving at a party or using in recipes.

As much as we like to gobble down this treat ourselves, we also love to give it as a gift. Father’s Day is coming up soon, and if you’re stumped as to what to send to good old Dad, this may be your answer. Supreme roasted mixed nuts are decadent enough for even the most seasoned snacker, and surely your father will enjoy munching them himself (and sharing them with you, if you’re lucky!)

If you’d like to offer something with a homemade touch, you can dress up our mixed nuts to make a spicy snack that your father might just love. Melt 3 to 4 tbsp. of butter in a wide, shallow skillet. Add 1 lb. of mixed nuts and ¼ tsp. of Worcestershire sauce to the skillet and sauté the mixture for about five minutes, until the nuts are hot and coated with the butter and Worcestershire sauce.

In a small bowl, mix a pinch each of paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder and ground cumin to make a total of about 1 tsp. of seasoning. Transfer the nuts from the skillet to a clean kitchen towel to cool slightly and drain, then place them in a container with a tight lid. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top of the nuts, place the lid on the bowl and shake to coat. Before giving them to Dad, pour the nuts into a decorative tin. If he’s anything like us, he’ll go nuts for ‘em!

Have we ever got a sweet way to kick off your summer! June is National Candy Month and, just in time, NutsOnline has added some new treats to our vast selection of creamy chocolates, glorious gummies and nutty novelties.

When we think of candy, we’re swept back to the favorites of our childhood. Gummy treats, in particular, hold a special spot in our hearts. We’re pleased to now offer a truly unique confection: gummy butterflies. These gorgeous treats come in assorted packages of six flavors and colors. The best part? They’re enormous! One gummy butterfly should easily satisfy your craving for this type of treat, but we’d understand if you couldn’t stop there. They are as scrumptious and soft as they are stunning.

If your candy cravings lean more toward the decadent, we have some new specialty treats that are sure to please. Our chocolate covered vanilla sandwich cookies are rich, creamy rounds that pair well with a cold glass of milk. Tempting milk cookies malted milk balls are addictively fantastic and refreshing. Delicate silver almond jewels and gold almond jewels are almonds with a rich dark chocolate coating and a sparkling finish, perfect for parties and wedding receptions.

If that isn’t enough for you, we now also carry Wonka bars in various flavors. Kick off National Candy Month by hosting your very own screening of the classic film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Facory” (or the more recent “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” if you prefer) and munching on one of these unique movie-inspired sweets.

The Wonka Waterfall Chocolate Bar is swirled with white and dark chocolates. The Wonka Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar is a smooth milk chocolate bar sprinkled with toffee pieces, roasted peanuts and crispy nuggets.

Of course, our candy offerings don’t stop at our newest products. Take a leisurely look through the hundreds of different chocolates and sweets available on NutsOnline.com and treat yourself to your favorite!