Holiday Gift Ideas: Candied Nuts

Update and Redux: C – Sweet and a little spicy nuts. You can also just add your own seasonings to the mix. It’s a great personalized gift for someone who loves to snack and isn’t allergic to nuts. Make it fancy with expensive nuts you can find for an affordable price in the bulk foods section of your local grocery store.

I love this gift. Put them in small mason jars. So great to make and easy, too.

C – I will save even one egg white to make something.

As you may already know, I hate wasting things. Yup, I am crazy and frugal. But, I do love the challenge of not wasting much. These candied nuts are so simple. An easy snack for anyone to make.

Mix a few spices and sugar. Beat egg whites in a bowl. Toss the nuts into the bowl. Add the spice mix and bake. Mix them up a few times while baking. Let them cool down. You are done.

A nice freshly baked snack that doesn’t let anything go to waste.

It’s so much better than buying candied nuts from a store. These nuts are perfectly coated with sugar and spice. They aren’t hard as a rock to eat.

Perfectly crispy and tender. They aren’t too sweet or filled with too much spice. They are perfect.

I couldn’t believe how addicting these were. I started to think what other nut and spice combinations I could come up with.

Egg White Week: Candied Nuts
Recipe type: Snacks
Author:
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 40 mins
Serves: 1 quart
Ingredients
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • Generous pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 cup almonds
  • ¼ cup watermelon seeds
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 egg white, room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp water
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Mix sugar, salt, cayenne and cinnamon, making sure there are no lumps. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, beat egg white and water until frothy, but not stiff.
  4. Add nuts and stir to coat evenly.
  5. Sprinkle the nuts with the sugar mixture and toss until evenly coated.
  6. Spread sugared nuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven. Separate nuts as they cool.
  9. When completely cool, pour the nuts into a bowl. Break up until desired size.

 

Pistachios, cashews with lots of spice or a little bit of spice?

I can’t wait to have more left over egg whites to make more of these great treats.