Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (2024)

This savory rosemary spiced nuts recipe is the perfect anytime snack or appetizer. The mix of almonds, pecans, cashews, pistachios and pumpkin seeds are crunchy, salty, savory, sweet and even a little spicy. They’ve got it all!

Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (1)

Why I Love this Savory Spiced Nuts Recipe

My mom makes this recipe every year for the holidays. There’s always a big jar full of these nuts on the kitchen island and it’s hands down one of my favorite holiday treats because they’re perfectly balanced between sweet, salty, savory and spicy. Don’t expect traditional candy-coated sugared nuts, no, these are flavorful, interesting and far more nuanced!

What are Spiced Nuts?

Spiced nuts are essentially nuts (either all the same kind of nut or a mixture) coated in oil, sugar and spices. They’re roasted until golden brown and toasty. Once cooled, the nuts are extra-crunchy and full of flavor.

Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed for Spiced Nuts

A mixture or raw nuts — my favorite combination is almonds, pecans, cashews, pistachios, and pumpkin seeds. This combination hits all the crunch levels but feel free to use what you like or have on hand. Just make sure to use raw unsalted nuts.

Pure maple syrup — this is what (not surprisingly) adds sweetness. But it also makes the nuts even more crunchy once cooled. Make sure you use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.

Dried Rosemary — adds a wintery/earthy flavor to the nuts. Nothing else does the trick.

Spices — curry powder and cayenne add major oomph to these nuts. I don’t recommend substituting the curry powder for something else, but if you have to, check out this DIY curry powder recipe. Use as many of the spices it calls for, if you’ve got ‘em.

Salt — kosher salt is an important ingredient here. Table salt just isn’t the same. I also like to sprinkle flaky sea salt over the nuts right before they go in the oven—but that’s completely optional.

How to Make Spiced Nuts

The process couldn’t be simpler.

  1. Toss the raw nuts together.
  2. Whisk together maple syrup, rosemary, curry powder, salt, and cayenne.
  3. Drizzle maple syrup mixture over nuts and toss to coat.
  4. Transfer the nut mixture to a baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
  5. Roast the nuts until golden brown and fragrant.
  6. Let cool completely then store in an airtight container.

How to Serve Spiced Nuts

  1. Set them out as a snack or appetizer in a small bowl.
  2. Add them to a charcuterie board.
  3. Package them up in small jars and gift them for the holidays.
  4. Most importantly, let the nuts cool completely before serving. I do not recommend serving warm.
Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (3)

FAQs & Test Kitchen Tips

Can I use brown sugar instead of maple syrup?

I haven’t tested this, but I predict the sugar will burn. I recommend sticking with pure maple syrup.

Can I freeze these?

You can freeze these nuts for up to 1 month. I recommend letting then thaw, spread out on a baking sheet, at room temperature, for a few hours.

My nuts have become sticky and kind of soft, why?

If the nuts are not fully cooled before being transferred to an airtight container they will release steam in the jar and cause the nuts to soften and become sticky. It’s absolutely imperative that the nuts cool completely before being stored. Additionally, if the jar or container of nuts are left open and the air is relatively humid, the nuts can soften and become sticky. Keep them sealed when not being eaten.

These don’t need oil?

No olive oil or melted butter needed! Some recipes even rely on egg white for crisping, but the maple syrup does all the heavy lifting here!

Can I use store-bought mixed nuts?

If you can find mixed nuts that are raw and unsalted, go right ahead! I have never found that which is why I call for a cup amount of each.

More Healthy Appetizer Recipes to Try…

  • Asian Turkey Meatballs
  • Garlic Confit
  • Labneh Dip

Did you make this Spiced Nuts Recipe? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave a star rating!

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Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (4)

Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe

★★★★★4.7 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Lauren Grant
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 4 ½ cups 1x
  • Category: Snack / Appetizer
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

Sweet, salty, and slightly spicy, this spiced nut recipe will quickly become a favorite. Serve these as a snack, appetizer or addition to charcuterie boards.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1 cup raw pecans
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • ¾ cup raw shelled pistachios
  • ⅔ cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Flaky sea salt, optional

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 325°F (163ºC); coat a baking sheets with nonstick spray.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together maple syrup, rosemary, curry powder, kosher salt and cayenne. Add the nuts and toss to coat evenly.
  3. Transfer nuts to prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
  4. Sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt over nuts; optional.
  5. Bake until toasted and golden brown, 20—25 minutes, stirring a couple of times.
  6. Let nuts cool completely on sheet. Use a metal spatula to scrape nuts off pans; transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • If you’re sensitive to spice, you can use black pepper instead of cayenne.
  • Raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas) can be hard to find sometimes. Look in the bulk bin section of your grocery store. Roasted unsalted pepitas will work fine—they won’t burn.
  • It’s imperative that you let the nuts cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Keywords: Spiced nuts, Spiced nuts recipe, savory spiced nuts recipe, rosemary spiced nuts

Recipe Card powered byMom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (6)

This recipe and article were originally published on December 14, 2015. It was most recently updated on November 18th, 2021.

Original Post Date Updated Post Date

About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you get seasoning to stick to roasted nuts? ›

To get the spices to stick to the nuts, use egg whites, butter, coconut oil, olive oil or blanch the nuts in boiling water. Some recipes call for nuts to be fried in oil prior to seasoning, but this adds unnecessary fat – you can make them just a delicious without all the extra calories.

What are the ingredients in mixed nuts? ›

Mixed nuts are a snack food consisting of any mixture of mechanically or manually combined nuts. Common constituents are peanuts (actually a legume), almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts (filberts), and pecans. Mixed nuts may be salted, roasted, cooked, or blanched.

How long do homemade nuts last? ›

The general rule is that most nuts retain quality for a few months. However, this does not mean that nuts will remain in good condition for an extended period. Shelled nuts stored at room temperature are expected to last six to nine months. Non-shelled nuts will last for four to six months.

Can spiced nuts be frozen? ›

Freeze chopped, ground, whole, roasted, or spiced nuts in the shell or in an unopened can. Nuts that are salted or spiced have a freezer storage life of 6 months. Plain nuts have a freezer storage life of about 12 months. Seeds can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

How do you get spices to stick to roasted almonds? ›

How do you get spices to stick to nuts? While some recipes rely on added oil or syrup to do the job, we utilize the binding power of egg white to adhere our spiced sugar to the cashews and almonds.

Why are my spiced nuts sticky? ›

My pecans are sticky, what went wrong? When candied pecans are warm, they might be a bit sticky, but once they cool, the sugar coating should harden. If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove.

What is best mixture of nuts? ›

Another healthy mix to satisfy your snack craving is peanut butter bosom friend. You can make this healthy nut mix by combining banana chips, peanuts, almonds, peanut butter chips, dark chocolate chips, and any other ingredient you want to add.

Can you eat nuts everyday? ›

Even though most of it is healthy fat, the calories can still add up. That's why you should eat nuts in moderation. Adults should aim to eat about 4 to 6 servings of unsalted nuts a week as part of a healthy diet. Serving recommendations for kids vary, depending on age.

Can you eat nuts 2 years out of date? ›

Nuts contain oil which will turn rancid when stored at room temperature for an extended period of time. Eating nuts past their prime will not hurt you, but they will taste “funny”. Nuts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life.

Which nuts go bad? ›

"Nuts have a wide range of fat contents," says LaMarita. Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are lower in fat, so they'll generally last longer than nuts higher in fat, like macadamia nuts, pine nuts, cashews, and Brazil nuts, all of which will go rancid quicker, says LaMarita.

Which nuts last the longest? ›

Cashews and almonds last longer and retain more of their nutrients when stored properly than other nuts. Despite being popular and prevalent, peanuts, pecans and walnuts spoil quicker than other nuts, and therefore should be used quicker, which is usually the base as they're often used in baking.

Why do people put nuts in the freezer? ›

Spoilage is accelerated even more in the presence of light, oxygen, and heat. Storing nuts (and seeds) in the fridge or freezer limits their exposure to all three of these, and will result in your nuts tasting less bitter and more flavorful for a longer period of time.

Can you freeze nuts in mason jars? ›

Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason jars. This method frees up your freezer space, and there is no freezer burn.

Can nuts go rancid in freezer? ›

Whole raw nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Chopped nuts, ground nuts, or nut flours — all of which contain more surface area for oxidation — are quicker to spoil and should only be stored for up to six months.

How do you get seasoning to stick to pecans? ›

Just toss nuts with oil, then powder, spread on a pan and bake. Doesn't get much simpler than that. Another alternative that has become popular is kettle roasted nuts. The nuts are cooked in a large kettle with an agitator to keep them from settling and burning.

How do you make seasoning stick better? ›

Saute your food on the stove with 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) of water, vegetable broth, cooking vinegar, or wine to help your seasoning stick without oil. Spritz your food with water or cooking vinegar before seasoning it, then place it in the oven to roast. Or, dry roast your veggies and season them afterward.

How to add seasoning to unsalted peanuts? ›

Directions
  1. Place peanuts in a small bowl; drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Combine sugar and seasonings; sprinkle over nuts and toss to coat.
  2. Transfer to an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. ...
  3. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Jun 30, 2023

What is the coating on dry roasted nuts? ›

The raw nuts are primarily coated with a slurry as glue. This slurry is made of hydrocolloids which have swelling, filming, and adhesive properties such as: Gum arabic.

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