Sweet and Spicy Roasted Mixed Nuts

These crisp roasted mixed nuts are coated with maple syrup, warm spices, and a touch of cayenne for a balanced sweet-savory snack. They are ideal for entertaining, gifting, or keeping on hand for a quick appetizer.
Prep: 10 min · Cook: 18 min · Total: 28 min · Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup raw whole almonds
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 0.75 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup raw pecan halves
- 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
- 0.25 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) with a rack in the center position, and line a rimmed 13-by-18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper so the sticky coating releases cleanly after roasting.
- Place 1 cup raw whole almonds, 1 cup raw pecan halves, and 1 cup raw cashews in a large mixing bowl, and check for any shell fragments before seasoning.
- In a small bowl, whisk 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp olive oil, 0.75 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 0.5 tsp ground cumin, 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper, 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary for about 30 seconds, until the spices are evenly suspended in the syrup mixture.
- Pour the spice mixture over the nuts in the large mixing bowl, then fold with a silicone spatula for 1-2 minutes until every nut is glossy and evenly coated with no dry spices at the bottom of the bowl.
- Spread the coated nuts onto the prepared 13-by-18-inch baking sheet in a single even layer, using the spatula to separate clumps so the nuts roast instead of steam.
- Bake the nuts at 325°F (163°C) for 8 minutes, then remove the baking sheet with oven mitts and stir the nuts from the edges toward the center with a heatproof spatula for even browning.
- Return the baking sheet to the center rack and bake for 7-10 minutes more, until the nuts smell toasted, the coating looks bubbling and slightly darker, and the cashews are light golden; watch closely in the final 2 minutes because the maple coating can scorch quickly.
- Set the baking sheet on a wire rack and let the nuts cool undisturbed for 10 minutes, during which the coating will firm up and turn crisp rather than sticky.
- Break apart any clusters with clean hands or a spatula once the nuts are cool enough to handle, then let them cool completely on the baking sheet for another 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve the nuts at room temperature in a shallow bowl, or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week once fully cooled to preserve their crisp texture.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 360
- Protein: 10 g
- Fat: 31 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 296 mg
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