Introduction

Some formulas that call for nuts list them as optional ingredients. While it is true that leaving nuts out of many formulas will not result in a failed product, nuts add important value to many baked goods. They provide flavor, textural contrast, and visual appeal. They can be used almost interchangeably, without making adjustments to a formula. Taste, of course, will change, since nuts differ markedly in flavor. But for the most part, nuts function similarly in baking. Chestnuts are the exception. Chestnuts are very different from other nuts and generally cannot be used in place of others.