Step 1: go to a grocery store that sells bulk goods and buy an assortment of nuts. Whatever kind you want! Whatever proportions you want!
Step 2: mix together some spices, sugar, and salt. Again, get wild! This is your show!
Step 3: throw them in the oven and go relax for a while – you earned it! 
Step 4: pull those beauties out of the oven and give yourself a high five, a pat on the back, or whatever your style dictates.
Then take a moment to reflect: you just made an awesome snack that is way cheaper and healthier than anything you would buy pre-made in the store, AND you made it exactly how you wanted to! No picking out stupid filler nuts or wishing they were spicier. No high-fructose-partially-hydrogenated-whatever-the-hell either.
This recipe is endlessly customizable. You could make sweet ones and add holiday spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Make them chili flavored with things like chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder.
The recipe below is a great starting point. A little sweet, a little smoky, a little spicy. These are always a hit at parties – Superbowl, anyone?
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Perfect Snack – Spiced Mixed Nuts Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
Description
In four very simple steps, you can create a perfect spiced mixed nuts snack.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt*
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg white
- 4 cups (560 g) mixed roasted salted nuts*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the cayenne, salt, cinnamon, ginger, mustard powder, smoked paprika and sugar in a small bowl. Whisk the egg white in a large bowl until frothy. Toss in the nuts, then add the spice mixture and toss until well coated.
- Spread the nuts on the prepared baking sheet; bake until dry, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.
Notes
- * The amount of salt you need depends on the kind of nuts you use.
- For this recipe I used roasted & lightly salted almonds and pepitas, but raw walnuts and pecans.
- I find that for types you wouldn’t otherwise eat raw (raw almonds – ick), you need to use roasted ones for the recipe, since they won’t really be roasting in the oven, just drying out.
- Adjust the salt content for the kind of nuts you bought.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 200
Find it online: https://honestcooking.com/spiced-mixed-nuts-recipe/
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this recipe use an egg white to coat the nuts?
The whipped egg white acts as a binder that helps the spice-and-sugar mixture (cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, mustard powder, smoked paprika, and 1/2 cup (100 g) of sugar) stick evenly to the 4 cups (560 g) of nuts and creates the characteristic crisp, glazed coating as the nuts dry in the oven at 250°F for 45 minutes.
Should I use raw or roasted nuts, and does it matter?
It matters for certain nut types. The notes explain that for nuts you wouldn’t eat raw (like raw almonds), you should use pre-roasted ones because the low 250°F oven is really just drying and glazing — it won’t roast the nuts from scratch. The author used roasted and lightly salted almonds and pepitas alongside raw walnuts and pecans.
How should I adjust the salt if I’m using pre-salted nuts?
The notes flag this directly: the 1 tsp of kosher salt in the recipe assumes a mix of raw and lightly salted nuts. If you use heavily salted nuts throughout, you’ll want to reduce or omit the added kosher salt to avoid an overly salty result.
Great snack. I only used 3/4 t. cayenne as I wasn’t sure about the spice. Next time I’ll do the
full amount.