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What would the holidays be without a festive sweet and spicy nut mix to munch on? This recipe is my go-to easy snack for when I’m entertaining. It makes the entire house smell fantastic.Â
I like to make a big batch the day we put up our Christmas tree to fill the whole house with the scents of the season, then we have it on hand throughout the entire holidays. If I know company is coming, I like to make a huge batch and portion it out in gift bags to give as party favors when guests leave.Â
A touch of cinnamon and ginger gives the nut mix a warm holiday flavor, while the cayenne and black pepper leave a lingering savory note that keeps you coming back for more. The nuts are fantastic on their own, but I also use them chopped in holiday salads or on top of savory casseroles for a pop of texture.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne
Easy Recipe Variations
Spices: Play around with what you have on hand. I like cayenne for the bright, floral heat it lends, but if you prefer something more mild, you could swap it for 1/2 to 1 teaspoon smoked paprika instead. I also like to add a dash of ground nutmeg and cloves to punch up the festive flavor even more.Â
Nuts: Anything will do! I like the combination of pecans, walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts as that is what is available at my Costco (which helps keep costs down), but any raw unsalted nut will do. I like to roast the nuts myself for the best flavor, but you can use already roasted unsalted nuts and skip that step if that’s what you have on hand.
Party Snacks
This recipe calls for raw nuts and includes instructions for toasting them. This gives the nut mix the best flavor. However, you can use already roasted nuts and skip this step.
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2 cups (7 ounces) raw and unsalted walnuts
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2 cups (7 ounces) raw and unsalted pecans
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1 cup (5 ounces) shelled raw and unsalted pistachios
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1 cup (4 ounces) raw and unsalted hazelnuts
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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2 tablespoons (28 grams) packed light brown sugar
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2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
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1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
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1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Toast the nuts:
Line a rimmed half sheet pan with parchment paper and scatter the nuts on top. Place in the oven until they are lightly golden brown and smell toasty, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven (leaving the oven on) and set aside.
Simple Tip!
If you’re using already roasted nuts, you can skip this step.
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Meanwhile, make the spice mix:
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the butter mixture from the heat and whisk in the salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper, if using.
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Coat the nuts and toast:
Pour the butter and spice mixture over the toasted nuts. Use a rubber spatula to toss the nuts to ensure they are all equally coated.Â
Return the pan to the oven and roast for 8 minutes. Stir the nuts again to evenly coat, then roast until the nuts are deeply golden brown and slightly sticky to the touch, an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
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Let cool and store:
Let the nuts cool completely. As they cool, they will go from slightly sticky to very crisp.
The cooled nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 268 | Calories |
| 25g | Fat |
| 9g | Carbs |
| 5g | Protein |
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| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 18 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 268 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 25g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 18% |
| 7mg | 2% |
| 140mg | 6% |
| 9g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 12% |
| Total Sugars 4g | |
| 5g | |
| Vitamin C 1mg | 4% |
| Calcium 40mg | 3% |
| Iron 1mg | 7% |
| Potassium 230mg | 5% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.