Nuts for Christmas

You guys, I’ve been making nuts for Christmas, and my kitchen smells like one of those roasted nut stands at the fair or farmers market, right now. <drool>

Two batches of holiday nuts for Christmas are just out of the oven: Cinnamon Vanilla Roasted Almonds and Sweet & Spicy Party Nuts.

If you’re looking for easy nut recipes for Christmas parties or just for holiday snacking, either one (or both) of these recipes would be perfect.

These would also be great nibbles for a cocktail party, to munch on while watching your favorite team on TV, or even for a holiday treat exchange!

My mom always set out a bowl of traditional Christmas nuts for the holidays, complete with the holder for the nutcracker, so nuts at the holidays feels like home to me.

I made them to serve with a charcuterie tray at a party on Saturday, which is another great use for these Christmas nuts.

Plus with only 10 days left until Christmas, it’s time to crank things up a notch if you still have people on your list to figure out a gift for!

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A Great Gift Idea, too!

Packaging some of these nuts in a cute little treat bag with a bow, or even a mason jar would make the sweetest gift.

Remember my post earlier this week about 10 Great Gifts That Aren’t Stuff?

Well, here’s another consumable gift idea that you can whip up in your kitchen in no time. It’s a win/win– it keeps you out of the crowded malls looking for a gift, and it won’t add extra clutter to your recipient’s home.

Sweet & Spicy Party Nuts

These glazed Christmas spiced nuts have just the tiniest bit of kick to them.

Don’t let the name worry you though. They aren’t super hot and spicy at all, just more of a little hint of spice in the background that goes so well with the sweetness.

With just 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and cumin, they are mild enough for even the kiddos to enjoy.

Sweet & Spicy Party Nuts

Niky @ The House on Silverado

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 16 minutes mins

Course Snack

Ingredients

  

• cooking spray
• 1 cup walnut halves untoasted
• 1 cup pecan halves untoasted
• 1 cup almonds untoasted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• Combine nuts in a large bowl.
• Heat sugar, water, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat. Add salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper to liquid and stir.
• Slowly pour butter mixture over the bowl of nuts and stir to coat.
• Transfer nuts to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Bake nuts in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Stir nuts until the warm syrup coats every nut.
• Spread into a single layer, return to the oven, and bake until nuts are sticky and roasted, about 6 minutes.
• Allow to cool, and then break into smaller pieces.

  Store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.

Notes

Per Serving: 219 calories; 18.1 g fat; 12.7 g carbohydrates; 4.8 g protein; 2 mg cholesterol; 206 mg sodium.

Keyword Holiday Baking, Nuts, Snacks

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cinnamon Vanilla Roasted Almonds

For a fraction of the price, you can make these Cinnamon Vanilla Almonds that are similar to the ones you see (and smell) at festivals, fairs, and markets.

While the Sweet & Spicy Party Nuts are more of a glazed nut, these Cinnamon Vanilla almonds have a crunchy, granulated coating. Both are delicious and different enough that you can serve them both at the same event without it feeling like they are too similar.

Cinnamon Vanilla Roasted Almonds

Niky @ The House on Silverado

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Snack

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 egg white
• 1 lb whole, raw almonds

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
• In a small mixing bowl, add both sugars, cinnamon, salt and ginger. Stir to combine. Set aside.
• Whisk egg white until frothy, either by hand or with a mixer. Add vanilla bean paste and beat to combine.
• Add almonds to egg white and stir to combine. Add sugar mixture and mix to coat completely.
• Spread almonds in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring almonds every 15 minutes.
• Let almonds cool, uncovered.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.

Keyword Almonds, Nuts

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I put both of these recipes together in just about an hour. If you make sure to line your baking sheets with foil, the cleanup is a breeze.

If you decide to make these, I highly suggest buying your nuts in bulk at a warehouse store, like Costco. Their huge bags of raw almonds, walnuts, or pecans are a great value and make this recipe really affordable.

Check back tomorrow, when I will share a recipe for the best oatmeal cookies that also make great gifts!

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