Butternuts

Butternuts — also called white walnuts — are the edible seeds of Juglans cinerea, a tree native to eastern North America and closely related to the common walnut. They have a rich, distinctly oily and buttery flavour that is sweeter and milder than regular walnuts, with a softer texture.

The nuts can be eaten on their own as a snack, added to baked goods, or used in confections and ice cream. Their high oil content gives them a luxurious mouthfeel but also means they turn rancid relatively quickly, so they are best stored in the fridge or freezer after shelling.

Butternuts are uncommon in Australia and are primarily found through specialty suppliers or imported from North America. The trees themselves are increasingly rare due to a fungal disease (butternut canker) that has devastated wild populations.