Easy Sweet and Spicy Nuts (One Pan!)

These Easy Sweet and Spicy Nuts (One Pan!) are the perfect party nuts! So irresistible and make the best hostess gift! Crunchy, delicious and so easy to make! Just perfect to serve with cocktails and even to toss over salads.

Why you'll love crunchy nut clusters:

1. Easy to make: With just a handful of ingredients and just a few minutes to put together, this is a perfect last-minute appetizer or snack.
2. Versatile: So many ways to enjoy! You could serve these nuts with cocktails, as a topping for salads, or just enjoy them as a tasty snack on their own.
3. Perfect for gifting: With the holidays being just around the corner, these sweet and spicy nuts make a thoughtful and delicious gift for friends and family.
4. Customizable heat level: Like a mild kick or a fiery punch? Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your taste preferences. Remember that just a touch is pretty potent!
5. Irresistible flavor: The combination of sweetness, spices, and crunchy nuts creates an irresistible flavor that is not easy to resist.

Coated with a delicious blend of spices, these mixed nuts are a hit every holiday season! They make a perfect last minute holiday gift idea, too!

My family and neighbors are excited when it's time to make a batch of these. The secret to the spices staying on the nuts is using an egg white coating.

These Christmas nuts go perfectly with cocktails or just like my kids like it, just for nibbling on. They are the perfect food gift idea for your special friends and neighbors!

This week I thought it would be fun to make a Sweet and Spicy Nut recipe. It’s holiday time. I was dreaming of having a wonderful cocktail and a bowl of these nuts. I had a feeling these nuts would be delicious. Yes, I was right!

As you search around you'll find that there are so many different recipes to make spiced mixed nuts. Some recipes are just sweet with sugar and cinnamon, and some have a little heat with cayenne (like mine)and some have a lot of heat or a mixture of fresh herbs.

I love all the different variety of homemade party nuts, one thing I will always use to make them is egg whites! And I'll explain why.

The point of making these nuts is to get that gorgeous varnish that gives them that distinctive (and super irresistible)crunch, and I discovered you only achieve it coating them in the egg whites.  

There are other recipes that use different types of oil to coat the nuts before adding on the spice mixture. Others use oil to coat the nuts before dousing them with their secret ingredients.  I don’t like this approach because your fingers get greasy while you’re munching the spiced mixed nuts.  You’ll find yourself repeatedly wiping your hands on a napkin after every morsel, which is tough to do when you have a glass of wine in the other hand.   (Don’t judge.)

Spiced Nuts

I had posted this recipe back in December of 2010! I make them every year. It was time to revisit them. These are not your average party nuts! I guarantee if you place a dish of these out they will disappear in minutes! I have to make jars of them as gifts and to keep around for our guilty pleasure.

These are nuts that I made years ago for a Dorie Greenspan cookbook club that I was in. I had stopped making them for a while and I’m not even sure why? We have been spending the last few Christmases in Ohio and my cousin Susan makes them as gifts.

When you walk down into the basement there are trays of them cooling on restaurant catering racks. It’s impossible to not take a handful each time you go down to do your laundry. I’m pretty sure she does a riff on Smitten Kitchen’s recipe. I’ve made the Smitten recipe before, but found it too sweet. I keep coming back to this Dorie recipe.

Everyone I made this for this year asked me how do you make them so crunchy and can I have the recipe?

Today my mom came by. She was going to stay with my kids as I had a dinner to go to tonight for my daughter’s school. When my mom saw that I was making aperitivo style nuts, we both agreed that a good cocktail was in order.  I like cooking with my mom. She has some good ideas.

It’s such a joy for me to revisit a beloved recipe like these nuts that we can't get enough of! Hope you enjoy some delicious blasts from the past!

I was planning to bring these gorgeous nuts to my sister-in-laws house tomorrow night for their Hanukkah celebration. She knows I will bring a cake. But nuts? I wanted to surprise her.

What ingredients are in this homemade spiced nuts recipe?

1. Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the nuts and helps create a crunchy coating.
2. Sea salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the nuts.
3. Chili powder: Provides a spicy kick to balance out the sweetness. Leave out if you do not like spice.
4. Ground cinnamon: Gives a warm and comforting flavor to the nuts. Add more or less to your taset.
5. Ground cayenne: Adds heat and spice, but like the chili powder, it could be left out or even adjusted according to personal preference.
6. Egg white: Creates the coating that helps the spices and sugar stick to the nuts. It bakes up like a crunchy varnish.
7. Nuts (almonds, cashews, or pecans): The main ingredient of this recipe, providing protein and texture. Use whatever you like or a combination.

How to roast nuts?

Here is a summary of the steps. Full printable recipe is below:

The first thing to do is gather up your nuts and other ingredients.

I used this time pecans and almonds. You can also use cashews (so good!!). For the spices, I use a combo of cinnamon, cayenne and a dash of nutmeg. You can make these your own by making more spicy or less spicy. You could even leave out the cayenne completely.

Coat it in the egg whites (or aquafaba if making them vegan). Then toss them in the sugar and spice mixture. When they are baking, stir them every 10 minutes.

• Step 1: Heat the oven and prep your baking sheet.
• Step 2: Stir sugar and spices together.
• Step 3: Beat the egg whites.
• Step 4: Coat the nuts in the egg white.
• Step 5: Toss them in the sugar spice mixture.
• Step 6: Bake the nuts until browned and coating dries (about 30-35 minutes).

Which nuts to use for toasted nuts?

You could use whichever combination that you like! The spice blend will go great with any tree nut you decide to use. Some that I enjoy the most are:

• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Brazil Nuts
• Macadamias
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Almonds

These are the original nuts I made back in 2010! I just used cashews and they also disappeared in minutes!

What is the best way to coat homemade party nuts?

As you search around you'll find that there are so many different recipes to make spiced almonds (or other nuts). Some recipes are just sweet with sugar and cinnamon, and some have a little heat with cayenne (like mine),and some have a lot of heat or a mixture of fresh herbs.

I love all the different variety of homemade party nuts, one thing I will always use to coat the nuts is egg whites! And I'll explain why.

The point of making these nuts is to get that gorgeous varnish that gives them that distinctive (and super irresistible)crunch, and I discovered you only achieve it coating them in the egg whites.  

There are other recipes that use different types of oil to coat the nuts before adding on the spice mixture. But here's the thing: oil coated spiced nuts means you end up with greasy fingers while you're snacking on them. Greasy fingers means constantly wiping your hands.

My favorite technique to use to coat the nuts is with egg whites.

How to make non-greasy and non-sticky Christmas nuts:

1. Whisk the egg whites very well with a small amount of water. It has to be very bubbly and frothy. Don't stop whisking until you see it very frothy!
2. Next step is to add the nuts into the frothy egg whites and mix them very well by tossing together with a large spatula. Just keep tossing until they are all thoroughly coated. The goal is to have the nuts be tacky from the egg white coating. If it seems wet, keep on tossing until it is that sticky/tacky feel. If it's wet and you bake them like that, it will be a gloppy mess (and that's not how you want it to bake up).
3. If you have leftover egg white in the bowl, you could add more nuts (do a half a cup at a time)and keep on tossing.  Make sure no more egg whites is leftover in the bowl.

This is how the nuts looked before I baked them. The sweet smell of cinnamon was making me anxious to open the oven door and grab a few!

Happy New Year to all my friends and readers! I'll be back soon with something a little healthier. You all mean the world to me. I appreciate your support! XX

Expert tips to make spiced snacking nuts:

• Make sure to use a large enough bowl when beating the egg white and tossing the nuts, as it can get messy.
• These nuts make for a great homemade gift. Package them in a decorative jar or tin and tie with a ribbon for a delicious and thoughtful present.
• Be sure to break apart the nuts after baking. It's easier to pack them up and enjoy them if they're broken up from the clusters.
• Go ahead and experiment with different types of nuts, such as walnuts or pistachios, for a unique twist on this recipe.
• The stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks, making them a great make-ahead snack or gift option. Simply let them cool completely before storing.
• Want to make this recipe even healthier? Try using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar.
• When mixing the egg white and nuts, be sure to gently stir and coat the nuts evenly to avoid clumping. This will ensure that each nut is perfectly coated and crisp.
• Can be served as a delicious appetizer at your next party. They disappear quickly.
• Don't be afraid to adjust the spices in this recipe to suit your taste preferences. Add more or less of each spice to make these nuts as mild or spicy as you like.
• They're great to snack on as they are, or use them to top salads, yogurt, or ice cream for an added crunch and really great flavor!

Variations for candied nuts:

• For a spicier version, add more cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the sugar-and-spice mixture.
• Change up the nuts and use walnuts, hazelnuts, or peanuts.
• Replace the granulated sugar with brown sugar for a more caramel like flavor.
• Add in some freshly chopped herbs like rosemary or thyme.
• Use honey or maple syrup for in the place of the granulated sugar for a healthier option.
• To make these nuts vegan, substitute the egg white with aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas).
• For a nut-free option, use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of nuts.
• After you have roasted the nuts, to make this sweet and savory, toss in some dried cranberries or apricots to the mix.
• For a festive touch, sprinkle some edible glitter on top of the nuts before baking.

What to serve with spiced nuts recipe?

• Cocktails (perfect for parties or gatherings)
• Salads (adds an extra crunch and flavor)
• Cheese plates (pairs well with a variety of cheeses)
• Ice cream or frozen yogurt (as a topping for added texture and taste)
• Baked goods (such as muffins or breads, adds a savory element to sweet treats)

How to store candied nuts?

As soon as they've cooled down, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.

• To refrigerate:  Homemade candied nuts can be stored in the fridge for several weeks.
• To freeze: Keep in an airtight freezer safe container or a large zipped lock bag (be sure to date the container or bag) for up to 2 months. They need to defrost before you take a bite, or you may chip a tooth!

FAQ's

Originally published December 2020 and updated for content on November 2023.

Some other recipe ideas to enjoy:

• Easy Spicy Peanut Brittle
• Saltine Cracker Candy
• Easy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
• Easy Peppermint Brownies

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5 from 1 vote

Sweet and Spicy Nuts

These Easy Sweet and Spicy Nuts (One Pan!) are the perfect party nuts! So irresistible and make the best hostess gift! Crunchy, delicious and so easy to make! Just perfect to serve with cocktails and even to toss over salads.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas food gift, nuts

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 33kcal

Author: Lora

Ingredients

• ½ cup sugar
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1½ teaspoons chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch cayenne or to taste
• 1 large egg white
• 2 cups nuts such as almonds cashews or pecans, whole or halves

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Mix sugar and spices together in a small bowl.
• In a large bowl, beat egg white lightly with a fork.
• Toss nuts into egg white, stirring to coat. Then add sugar-and-spice mixture and continue to stir, evenly covering nuts.
• Transfer nuts to baking sheet, letting excess liquid drip off first.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until nuts are browned and coating is dry. When they are baking, stir them every 10 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board, break nuts apart, and let them cool completely. The nuts crisp as they cool.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Notes

• Store in a airtight container and label. 
• To gift the nuts, fill festive cellophane bags or decorative jars or tins with the nuts. Seal very well to ensure freshness.
• To make a very large batch of the nuts, make each batch of nuts individually.  Do not mix a large batch of sugar spice mixture or egg white water mixture...the best way is to make it small portion at a time (it is not easy to mix very large batch of the nuts, will be a gloppy mess instead of nice and crunchy when it bakes up).
• Nuts will keep at room temperature for about 1 week, but if stored in a cold room (like a basement), will keep for up to 2 weeks. 

Nutrition

Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0.04g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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