The gift of nuts

I am a fan of homemade gifts. When you are an adult, however, you don't get automatic points for making it yourself unless it's really frickin' good. These nuts are really frickin' good. 

Party nuts - Jan 2016.jpg

You’ll need:

  • 1 cup untoasted walnut halves

  • 1 cup untoasted pecan halves

  • 1 cup unsalted, dry roasted almonds

  • 1 cup unsalted, dry roasted cashews

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/2 cup white sugar

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

  • Parchment paper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Combine walnut halves, pecan halves, almonds, and cashews in a large bowl. Add salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat.

  3. Heat sugar, water, and oils in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until the coconut oil is melted. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat. Slowly pour liquid over the bowl of nuts and stir to coat.

  4. Transfer nuts to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer. (This is why it needs to be a rimmed sheet. No nuts overboard!)

  5. Bake nuts in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or so. Stir nuts often to ensure they are well-coated in the syrup. Bake until nuts are sticky and roasted. (They will smell amazing.)

  6. Remove from baking sheet into a bowl to cool. While the nuts are cooling, stir them every few minutes so they don’t harden together. (Unless you want nut balls. No judging here.)

I made four batches and packaged them up in 250 ml mason jars for my co-workers this Christmas. And, of course, I didn't give them to anyone they might kill. I had jars of red and green jelly beans for the allergy kids. 

Recipe adapted from Chef John's Sweet, Salty, Spicy Party Nuts at allrecipes.com.