3 Healthy Spiced Nuts Recipes
Easy-to-make munchies for snacks, parties, and gifts
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Roasted chestnuts may be memorialized in song, but all kinds of nuts are part of holiday traditions for many people. As satisfying as it is to grab a handful or crack open some shells, though, sometimes you want something a little dressier. Spiced nuts are a festive snack and fancy enough to serve at a party.
Are seasoned nuts healthy?
Yes. The nuts retain all their nutrition goodness—the protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Store-bought varieties, though, may contain too much sugar or sodium, so try one of these three recipes for spiced nuts
. In addition to snacking on these spiced nuts yourself, you can package them in cellophane bags or jars to give as gifts. And they’re so easy to make, you may want to keep them in rotation year-round.
Cocoa Roasted Almonds
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups raw almonds
Photo: James Worrell Photo: James Worrell
Honey Roasted Peanuts With a Kick
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
Pinch cayenne or to taste
2 cups blanched, roasted, unsalted peanuts
1 teaspoon salt
Photo: James Worrell Photo: James Worrell
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 350° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine the butter and honey in a midsized microwave-safe bowl; melt in the microwave. Stir in the cayenne. Add the peanuts and toss to coat.
3. Spread the peanuts on the baking sheet and bake for 5 to 10 minutes. After 5 minutes, stir every minute or so until the nuts are golden and the glaze thickens and darkens.
4. Remove from the oven; stir while cooling until the nuts no longer stick together. Toss with the salt. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Makes about 2 cups.
Nutrition information per serving (about 1 ounce): 130 calories, 11 g fat, 2.5 g saturated fat, 6 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g sugars (2 g added), 4 g protein, 160 mg sodium
Savory Spiced Mixed Nuts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon cumin
Dash of cayenne or red pepper flakes (optional)
1 cup unsalted almonds
1 cup unsalted cashews or peanuts
1 cup unsalted pecans
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Photo: James Worrell Photo: James Worrell
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 350° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Heat the oil in a medium skillet on medium heat. Add the rosemary and thyme and cook until it just begins to sizzle.
3. Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the cumin and cayenne (if using).
4. Add the nuts to the skillet and toss to coat.
5. Spread the nuts on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for 15 minutes. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Makes about 3 cups.
Nutrition information per serving (about 1 ounce): 110 calories, 10 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 3 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugars (0 g added), 3 g protein, 100 mg sodium
Best Baking Sheet Pans
A good sheet pan is key for these spiced nut recipes, and sheet pans have a multitude of other uses, too. In CR’s tests, we rate sheet pans for durability, ease of cleaning, how resistant they are to warping, and, of course, how well they cook your food. Here are some of our top scorers. CR members can access our full ratings.
