The Corkscrew Hazel (also known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick) is a total fan favorite in the gardening world, mostly thanks to those funky, twisted branches. But did you know it actually grows nuts, too? They’re usually on the smaller side, but they are 100% edible!
A Quirky Cousin of the Common Hazel
The Corkscrew Hazel isn’t actually a man-made hybrid; it’s a “spontaneous mutation” of the common hazelnut that was first spotted in England around 1900. Because those spiraling branches look so cool, it didn’t take long for it to become a staple in gardens and parks everywhere. To keep those twists looking sharp, gardeners usually prune them back hard in the spring right after they bloom. This prevents the wood from getting too thick and woody, but it also means the plant doesn’t produce nearly as many nuts.
Small but Tasty
Because of that heavy pruning, you won’t see a massive harvest on a Corkscrew Hazel very often. You’ll usually only spot nuts if you go easy on the pruning or if the plant is absolutely loving its location and growing conditions. Just a heads-up: these nuts are much smaller than the ones you’d find on a standard hazelnut tree. But don’t let the size fool you—they taste just as good!
How to Use Your Harvest
You’re definitely going to need a nutcracker because these shells are just as tough as their full-sized cousins. Once you’ve cracked them open, you can snack on them raw or get creative in the kitchen. Depending on how many you managed to harvest, here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:
- Homemade Hazelnut Spread: If you’re lucky enough to get about 14 ounces (400g) of nuts, grind them up and mix in a tablespoon each of cocoa powder and xylitol (birch sugar). Add a little oil—hazelnut oil works best—to get that perfect creamy consistency.
- Hazelnut Herb Crust: If you only have a handful (about 2 ounces), you can crush them up and mix them with the contents of two herbal tea bags, some salt, and canola oil. It makes an amazing crunchy coating for pork or chicken cutlets!
- The Breakfast Boost: If you only find a couple of nuts here and there, just toss them into your morning oatmeal or muesli for a nice little crunch.
