It’s countdown to Christmas over here and I’m freakin’ out.
If you’re like me, you’re a terrible gift planner/giver/buyer/etc., and it’s now too late to purchase anything meaningful.
But, like me, you likely have one redeeming quality: You love food and always have it around. Let’s use our kitchens as a resource and make candied nuts, shall we? Who doesn’t love the gift of food?!
These nuts are extra, extra easy because they require 9 basic ingredients, about 15 minutes to make, and 1 PAN.
That’s right. No bowl required. Just dump walnuts and pecans onto a baking sheet, season, roast for 12-15 minutes, and BAM. You have roasty, toasty, delectable gifts or snacks. Wasn’t that simple?
These nuts truly are so easy they’ve become my go-to last-minute snack, salad– and oatmeal-topper, and gift (of course).
They’re:
Insanely crunchy
Perfectly sweet
Subtly spiced
Surprisingly healthy
& Insanely delicious.
Keep them all for yourself or double the recipe and portion out into jars wrapped with twine and a little gift tag. Awe, isn’t that cute? And festive? Yeah, it totally is.
We hope you give this recipe a try. If you do, let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and tagging a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
15-Minute Candied Spiced Nuts (1 Pan!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1 1/2 Tbsp melted coconut oil or olive oil
- 2 Tbsp coconut sugar (plus more for topping)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 healthy pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C).
- Add pecans and walnuts to a bare (or parchment-lined) baking sheet (or more baking sheets if increasing batch size) and top with oil, coconut sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, salt, and half of the maple syrup (1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Toss to coat.
- Bake for a total of 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant, tossing/stirring once at the halfway point to ensure even cooking. Then remove from oven and immediately drizzle with remaining maple syrup (1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). I also like to sprinkle on a little more salt, cinnamon, and coconut sugar to coat, but this is optional.
- Stir to combine/coat and enjoy warm or let dry/cool completely on the pan (they’ll crisp up as they dry/cool) before storing in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2-3 weeks (or in the freezer up to 1 month).
- These make an excellent snack or topper for things like smoothies, salads, oats, baked oatmeal, pancakes, and roasted sweet potatoes. They also make a lovely gift! Portion into small jars, tie with ribbon or twine, and give the gift of plant-based goodness.
Video
Notes
*Recipe (as originally written) yields 2 cups total.
Gail says
Surprisingly good!…..almost addictive!
:) Thank you for the lovely review, Gail! xo
Bethany Sager says
Oh, how I love this recipe! I make these each year, for holidays, parties, and gifts. I LOVE that these delicious nuts are not overly spicy or sweet. I always make them with
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Bethany! Thanks so much for the lovely review. xo
Nina M Phelps says
My daughter is very allergic to walnuts. Can I make this using all pecans or substitute another nut with it?
Hey Nina! You can definitely use another nut!
Joanne says
This is one of my favorite recipes! I’ve made them at least three times and they’re like crack. My family requests them for holidays now. The recipe is simple and delicious. Just be careful not to burn them!
Amazing! We’re so glad this recipe has become a holiday go-to in your home. Thank you for sharing, Joanne! xo
Jeffrey Blyseth says
Hi! Can one use a different sugar that coconut sugar? What is the reason for that sugar?
Hi Jeffrey, Brown sugar is another option! Coconut sugar keeps it naturally sweetened and has a lovely caramel-y flavor. But either will work!
prashanthi atluri says
Is there a video on this.
Yes, it is available on YouTube (here is the link).
Marnie says
I just made these and am waiting for them to cool a bit more before I really dig in! But.. oh my god.. are these ever good.. and so easy to prepare! I mixed all the ingredients together and heated the mixture up in the microwave for 30 seconds. I mixed the nuts and heated mixture together in a bowl before placing them on a baking sheet. Once out of the oven I sprinkled more cinnamon and the remaining maple syrup on the nuts. I did not sprinkle any more coconut sugar on the nuts as they were already sweet enough. Unfortunately, I did not add enough cayenne pepper or nutmeg – I just don’t understand what a ‘pinch’ is. LOL! And based on other comments, I made a double batch.. so glad I did! Thank you for such a simple, delicious recipe!
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy the spiced nuts, Marnie. Thank you for the lovely review! There are measuring spoons for a pinch/dash, but we prefer to taste test and add more, as needed :)
Katherine Palacios says
I don’t have maple syrup. Can I use agave?
Hi Katherine! That should work!
Stacey Conley says
Not super sweet , perfect blend. I used mixed nuts.
xoxo!
Diane Julian says
This is the best & easiest recipe. I’ve made double batches of this recipe to give for Christmas. These nuts are addictive! Highly recommend for a tasty gift or just to munch.
Whoop! We’re so glad this recipe is a repeat for you, Diane. Thank you for sharing! xo
Lindsey says
This recipe has been my go to homemade holiday gift, for years. Coupled with a gift bag of cookies, this makes for a fantastic, super easy gift that you can give to literally anyone and they will text you with so much love and appreciation. Thank you for creating such an easy, reliable recipe that truly makes my life easier (and more delicious).
Aw, thank you SO much for this amazing review, Lindsey! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe! xo
Darcie Greenland says
Not a good recipe. Much easier and more consistent recipes from all recipes. Coating didn’t harden, and oil seemed redundant.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy this one, Darcie! It’s usually a reader favorite. Did you make any modifications?