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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Dips

    Published: Dec 23, 2019 · Modified: Sep 10, 2020 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 3 Comments

    Sweet Spiced Cocktail Nuts (2 recipes!)

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    Sweet spiced nuts long pin with text
    Sweet spiced nuts long pin with text
    Sweet spiced nuts long pin with text

    I come bearing my two favorite cocktail nuts recipes! Both are sweet and spiced, incredibly easy to make and can be more or less hot according to your taste! Any nut can be used, are ready to eat in less than an hour, and last several days.

    Cocktail nuts in white bowl on white marble

    How is your holiday season coming along? Ready for the last stretch?

    These recipes today are super easy to make, of course, so you can add them at the last minute. Just in case you think you need one more thing on your holiday buffet table.

    • Walnuts and almonds (image above), one of my favorite combinations when it comes to cocktail nuts.
    • Sweet and spiced pecans (image below), the eternal favorite, with that creaminess that we all love.
    Bunch of cocktail pecans on white napkin

    These two recipes are very similar.

    And great when you have leftover egg whites!

    The first one is the old reliable favorite I made constantly. Not only for Christmas and New Year's but for everyday snacking also.

    The second one, a variation, came to be when I ran out of two of the ingredients and had to improvise. It turned out amazing!

    So I started alternating between both, depending on the hotness I wanted in my nuts. Because one has cayenne pepper and that always comes with a lot of heat attached, doesn't it?

    Sweet Spicy Nuts ingredients in bowls on white surface
    Table of Contents Hide
    Ingredients
    Steps for making sweet spiced nuts.
    Sweet Spiced Cocktail Nuts (2 recipes!)

    Ingredients

    These sweet and spicy nuts are made with very simple ingredients. Give or take.

    • Nuts - my favorites are pecans, walnuts, and almonds. I used pecans for the process shots for this post, but some images have walnuts and almonds. They all work wonderfully.
    • Sweet part - I use regular granulated sugar. But, truth be told, you can use any type you like. Brown sugar works well and adds a caramel undertone. If you use coconut sugar or muscovado, take into account that they don't sweeten as much as white does.
    • Spiced part - the recipe with cayenne pepper is spicier than the other. This spice is very hot, so take that into account, you may want to start small the first time you make them. And then the paprika, which can be sweet, spicy, smoked. I love smoked.
    Making Spicy Nuts in glass bowl with fork, process Collage

    Steps for making sweet spiced nuts.

    Grab a bowl, a fork or whisk and a spatula.

    Lightly beat egg yolk with sugar until foamy (image 1). You can use an electric beater if you want and beat until beginning to form peaks.

    Add all spiced and mix (image 2). It will be a reddish-brown, quite ugly color if you ask me.

    Add pecans (or whatever nuts you're using) and mix well (images 3, 4).

    Mixing Sweet Spicy Nuts in glass bowl with red spatula, process Collage.

    Line a baking sheet with aluminum paper if you want. I always do this to avoid having to clean the baking sheet.

    Spread the nut mixture with the spatula (image 5). Try to not overlap them so they bake better.

    Baked cocktail Nuts in aluminum foil, process Collage.

    Bake as directed and stir them after 5 minutes in the oven (image 6). This is important for them to bake as evenly as possible. Do this carefully and try not to tear the paper.

    When they are done, remove the pan from the oven and move the nuts carefully with a spatula so they cool down without sticking to the aluminum paper.

    Close up of reddish sweet spicy pecans

    Sweet and spiced nuts are a great idea as an appetizer for a party, a gathering, a buffet table. Even a picnic if you ask me.

    They keep well and are ready so fast that it really is a savior recipe when it comes to celebrations!

    Paula ~
    Cocktail nuts in white bowl on white marble

    Other recipes you might like:

    Mushroom Leek Quiche
    Mushroom Cheese Strudel
    Eggplant Hummus
    Baked Ricotta with Roasted Tomatoes and Onions
    Semolina Bread
    Corn Basil Empanadas

    Let me know in the comments below if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it. Thank you for being here, I appreciate it! Let’s connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    If you like the recipes in this blog, consider subscribing and getting all new posts by email. As a thank you, we'll also send you a FREE recipe e-book and our Guide to Freezer Baking!

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    Bunch of cocktail pecans on white napkin

    Sweet Spiced Cocktail Nuts (2 recipes!)

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    Two recipes for wonderful sweet spiced nuts! The recipes are for 1 egg white, so you can double, triple or multiply it at will. 

    • Total Time: 55 minutes
    • Yield: 2 cups

    Ingredients

    Units

    For both:

    • 1 egg white
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 2 cups nuts of choice

    Recipe 1:

    • Dash to ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

    Recipe 2:

    • ½ teaspoon ground chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350ºF /180ºC.
    2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum paper. Reserve.
    3. In a bowl lightly beat egg white with sugar and salt until thick and foamy, about 1 minute with a fork or whisk. 
    4. Add paprika and extra ingredients depending on what recipe you're making (recipe 1 or 2, above).
    5. Add nuts and mix until well coated. 
    6. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. 
    7. Remove, stir the nuts with a spatula being careful not to tear the paper, and return to the oven 10-15 more minutes, stirring once more before they're done. 
    8. Remove from oven and immediately stir again so they don't stick while cooling down.
    9. Let cool completely and store in airtight containers. 
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cooling time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Appetizers
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: International

    Keywords: cocktail nuts

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    More Appetizers & Dips

    • Easy Roasted Olives
    • Mushroom Quiche
    • Ham and Cheese Quiche
    • Tomato Galette (savory recipe)

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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    1. Tami Price says

      December 24, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      This was perfect for gifts for my co-workers! Made Christmas jars with this recipe and passed them out as gifts! They were a huge hit! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    2. David says

      December 24, 2019 at 9:24 am

      Mmm, thinking this would be perfect to nibble on with a glass of bubbly on New Year's!

      Reply
    3. angiesrecipes says

      December 24, 2019 at 12:36 am

      That's how I made my sweet cinnamony nuts too. Merry Christmas, Paula.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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