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This spiced nuts recipe comes out crunchy, sweet and perfectly spiced! It’s an ideal party appetizer or snack.
Looking for a fun party snack everyone will love? Try this Spiced Nuts recipe! This simple idea gives a crunchy, candy-like coating to the exterior of nuts. They’re spiced with cinnamon, chili powder and bit of cayenne for an intriguing mix of sweet, savory and spicy. You won’t be able to resist taking another handful! These were a big hit in our house, and they’re perfect for parties, holiday and Christmas appetizers, and more. They save well in the pantry and freezer, so make a big batch! You’ll be glad you did.
Ingredients for this spiced nuts recipe
There are lots of ways to make party perfect nuts, and here’s our version! This spiced nuts recipe is coated in a crunchy sugar and spice coating, which helps pack in the flavor. It uses an egg white to help the spices adhere to the nuts and adds a glossy, firm exterior. We used a mix of pecans, walnuts, peanuts and almonds, which was perfect: but you can use any nuts you have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Mixed nuts: a mix of pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, etc
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Chili powder
- Cayenne
- Vanilla
- Egg white
- Salt
How to make spiced nuts
This spiced nuts recipe is based on our method for candied pecans and candied walnuts. In our research for those classic treats, we found a no-fail method: bake the nuts with spices, sugar, and an egg white in a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven. This process locks in the flavor and you don’t have to worry about candying nuts on the stovetop and checking the temperature with a food thermometer. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):
- Mix: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then toss them with the nuts.
- Spread onto a baking sheet: Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet.
- Bake 30 minutes at 325°F, stirring once. When you stir the first time, the nuts will look very foamy: that’s ok! Give them a thorough stir and then continue to cook until they are light brown and hardened.
Storage info
Spiced nuts store well and stay crunchy over the entire storage time! This makes them great for making a big batch in advance. Here are a few tips for storage:
- Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks in a sealed plastic bag or jar.
- Or, store frozen for up to 2 months. If so, remove all extra air from the bag using a straw.
- Make sure to fully cool them before storing. The nuts cool in about 10 minutes and are ready to eat. But before you store them, allow them to cool for at least 45 minutes so they don’t have an residual moisture.
- For holiday gifts, store in lidded jars. This spiced nuts recipe makes for great DIY holiday gifts, too! Make sure to indicate on the jar to store for up to 2 weeks.
Ways to serve these spiced nuts
You can use spiced nuts for many other things, outside of a big bowl on an appetizer table! Here are some ideas:
- Use for salads like a crunchy apple salad, strawberry salad, or spinach salad
- Crumble over ice cream for a quick and easy dessert
- Add to pancakes or waffles as a fun breakfast topping
- Crumble over oatmeal for a crunchy way to start the day
- Add to an appetizer spread like an antipasto platter or cheese board
More party appetizers
Love entertaining and snacking trays? Here are a few more ideas for easy appetizers:
- Try an Ultimate Antipasto Platter or Ultimate Cheese Board
- Go for Olive Tapenade or Marinated Mushrooms
- Make Easy Fruit Dip or Quick Veggie Dip
- Whip up this Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer or Bruschetta
- Go classic with Spinach Artichoke Dip
This spiced nuts recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free.
Print
Spiced Nuts
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
Description
This spiced nuts recipe comes out crunchy, sweet and perfectly spiced! It’s an ideal party appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups mixed nuts, unsalted (pecans, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, etc)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Whisk the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, spices, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white, water and vanilla extract until foamy. Toss the nuts with the egg white mixture with a spatula until well coated. Add half the sugar mixture and stir with a spatula until fully coated, then add the remaining sugar mixture and stir until coated.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the nuts in an even layer on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven and stir (the nuts will look foamy at this point). Bake for another 15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool about 10 minutes before eating and completely (about 45 minutes) before storing. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months.
Notes
*Vary based on your taste. This quantity makes for a mild heat level; if you love spicy food, increase to ¾ or 1 teaspoon.
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Spiced nuts recipe, spiced nuts
