HOLIDAY SPICED NUTS
When the holidays come around each year, I LOVE making these super-easy, spiced nuts. They’re a scrumptious combination of sweet and savory with just a little kick (depending on how much cayenne you choose to add). They also make a fabulous little gift, but be warned, if your plan is to gift them, you should pack them up quickly! My family gobbles them up so fast I have to make many batches throughout the holidays 🙂
RECIPE FOR HOLIDAY SPICED NUTS:
-2 ½ cups (500 grams) unsalted pecans or other nuts – I usually use all pecans or a combination of pecans, almonds, and cashews. Walnuts would be great too, but my husband is allergic.
-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (not imitation!!)
-1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon (20 grams) dark brown sugar
-2 tablespoons (9 or 10 grams) chopped rosemary
-⅛ – ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper – depending on your taste for spice
-1 tablespoon melted butter (14 grams)
-1 teaspoon sea salt
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 350F/175C degrees
If your nuts are raw, roast them for 10 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
While the nuts are roasting, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, rosemary, cayenne pepper, butter, and sea salt in a large bowl. Add the warm nuts and toss so the nuts are well coated.
Place the nuts back onto the parchment-lined tray and bake for another 10-12 minutes*. Allow the nuts to cool on the pan set on a wire cooling rack. Once cooled, you can break apart the clusters of nuts with a rubber spatula.
Give as a gift (shown in second pic) or enjoy them yourself. Be careful, these are addicting!
Store for up to a week in an airtight container on the counter.
*Note: if your nuts are still very sticky after they’ve cooled, they could probably use a bit more time in the oven. You can pop them back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.