Sweet and Spicy Nuts are easy to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Cashews, almonds, and walnuts are coated in a sweet and spicy seasoning mix and baked until crunchy and toasted.
Although you can make this sweet and spicy mixed nuts recipe any time of year, they're really great during the holiday season. We make them for parties and gifts - they're sweet with some spice and have a great crunchy texture.
So, if you're looking for easy holiday appetizers, this recipe is for you. They pair great with cocktails as a light snack, or you can add them to charcuterie or cheese boards. Or, just leave a bowl out for the family to enjoy. They really are delicious.
This is a sweet and spicy nuts recipe with cayenne, cinnamon, and paprika, and it's easy to make adjustments based on your tastes.
Ingredients for Holiday Nut Mix
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Sugar
- Kosher salt
- Smoked paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Cinnamon
- Large egg white
- Raw cashews
- Raw almonds
- Raw walnuts
Recipe Instructions
Preheat the oven to 300°F and spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Whisk the sugar, salt, and all of the spices in a small mixing bowl. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until it turns frothy.
Add all of the nuts to the whisked egg white along with the spice mixture. Stir and toss it all together until the nuts are evenly coated.
Spread the nuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake them for 35 to 45 minutes or until they are toasted and browned. Cool them before serving or storing them in an airtight container.
Recipe Variations
You can control the spiciness by reducing the amount of cayenne. Or, use ground cumin in place of the cayenne if you don't want any heat.
The easiest way to switch up this recipe is to change the nuts. So, feel free to use your favorites! Raw pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and peanuts would all work well in this recipe.
Storage Tips
This is a great recipe because you can make a big batch of spiced nuts and then store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Just make sure they are thoroughly cooled before storing them, and then keep them at room temperature.
Because they keep so well, these party nuts make great gifts. Package them in jars, bags, or tins lined with parchment paper and hand them out during the holiday season. Everyone always loves them. Whether you make a batch of this sweet and spicy nut mix for you or to give away, I think you'll enjoy them. They're better than any mixed holiday nuts you buy in a can and so easy.
More Recipes Perfect for Parties
Sweet and Spicy Nuts Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- 1 ½ cups raw almonds
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 large egg white
- Nonstick Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl whisk sugar, salt, paprika, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. In a large bowl whisk the egg white until it becomes frothy. Add the cashews, almonds, walnuts and spice mix and toss until all nuts are covered.
- Pour nuts onto the baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Cook for 35-45 minutes or until browned. Let cool before serving!!
Nutrition
Sweet and Spicy nuts are so easy to make with ingredients you most likely already have! If you leave a bowl of them out, I guarantee they won’t last long.
Mel is an IT guy turned blogger and is discovering his love of cooking and photography. If you ever have Fantasy Football questions, he's your guy.
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