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.
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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

Mom’s Spiced Nuts Recipe (7)

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 long do homemade nuts last? ›

If you keep nuts at room temperature, ensure they are away from direct heat; this will maintain their freshness for up to 3 months, considered short-term storage. However, you can keep them longer, up to 6 months.

Can spiced nuts be frozen? ›

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to three weeks. These nuts will get sticky and clump together if they are left in areas that are too warm or humid. Can you freeze spiced nuts? Spiced nuts freeze well and thaw quickly, so keep some on hand for last minute gatherings.

How to store seasoned nuts? ›

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 eat nuts 2 years out of date? ›

Once past this date, foodstuffs may still be consumed (provided the given storage instructions have been followed), as their consumption does not represent a food safety risk, although the organoleptic properties and the aspects that distinguish the food - such as taste and smell - gradually deteriorate.

Which nuts go bad? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Why are my spiced nuts sticky? ›

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. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

How to tell if nuts have gone bad? ›

When it comes to detecting spoiled nuts, the best bet is to use your nose. As LaMarita explains, the most dominant sign is an unpleasant odor. "Rancid nuts give off an aroma—a sour, moldy, paint-like, plastic-like smell," he says.

Can nuts go rancid in the 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.

Can you store nuts in mason jars? ›

The thing is that nuts and seeds are rich is good plant fats and oils. If exposed to humidity and heat, these oils get rancid, and you can only throw away your nuts. Money wasted… We think that glass jars and airtight containers are safe, but they are actually not that good for storing nuts and seeds.

What is the best container to store nuts in? ›

Nuts should be stored in their own airtight containers, such as glass, ceramic, or sturdy plastic containers. Even freezer bags are a good option. In selecting the container it's important to assess them for their airtightness.

How long before nuts go rancid? ›

Even if the bag's been opened, shelled nuts should last an entire year, and in-shell nuts will last about a year and a half. If you're going to use your nuts in the immediate future, it's fine to keep them in a cool, dark spot in your pantry.

How long does homemade peanut last? ›

Just be sure to store it properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Homemade peanut butter can last for up to 3 months in the refrigerator and up to 6 months in the freezer. If your peanut butter has gone bad, it will have a sour or rancid smell. It may also have a strange colour or texture.

Which nuts go rancid the quickest? ›

"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.

How do you preserve fresh nuts? ›

The nuts can be stored shelled or unshelled. They can be stored up to a year in your refrigerator set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Almonds can be stored in your freezer (set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) for a year or more, walnuts and pecans for two years plus, and pistachios for three years.

How to preserve nuts long term? ›

Light, oxygen, and heat are the enemies of nuts. Storing them in an airtight container in the freezer helps to limit their exposure to all three of these elements and slow the rate of spoilage.

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