The Hip Hostess

Treat your friends to something they wouldn’t normally make for themselves – homemade spiced nuts.  These maple spiced nuts have that great sweet & salty combination, and are the perfect make-ahead snack.  Serve them at a cocktail party in a silver candy dish, or in a plain glass bowl when you’re just kicking back and watching the game.  These nuts are deliciously addictive and will definitely spice things up!

Maple Spiced Nuts 

2 C. raw nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans)

2 Tbs. pure maple syrup

½ tsp. sweet paprika

1 tsp. chili powder (add an additional ½ tsp. for more spice)

1 tsp. kosher or sea salt 

1.       Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  In a medium bowl, combine nuts with syrup, spices and salt.  Using a pair of tongs, toss nut mixture until nuts are well coated.  Spread nuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. 

2.       Bake nuts in the center of the oven for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and toss nuts, breaking up any clumps that have formed.  Lower the heat to 250 degrees and bake nuts for an additional 10 minutes, or until slightly golden. 

3.       Remove nuts from oven and again toss nuts and break up any clumps.  Leave nuts on baking sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.  Nuts will be slightly soft when they are warm but will crisp as they cool.  Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 2 cups

• A mixture of 2/3 C. each of walnuts, cashews and almonds is shown in the picture above
• Walnuts and pecans work especially well in this recipe because the spices get caught in their crevices
• You may substitute roasted unsalted nuts for the raw nuts if you prefer.  If you use salted nuts, omit the salt from the recipe or your nuts will be overly salty