Name: Sweet Spicy Christmas Nuts
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 24
Ingredients: 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ginger; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup sugar; 2 egg whites; 1 tablespoon water; 6 cups raw, unsalted nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, almonds cashews, macadamias, pistachios)

If you’re looking for food gift ideas this holiday, these Sweet Spicy Christmas Nuts are a universal favorite. Coated with a tongue tingling blend of spices, these spiced mixed nuts are the most requested holiday treat in our house and one that my friends and neighbors look forward to every year. The egg white coating ensures that the sugar and spices stay on the nuts, not on your fingers.

It’s the gifting season and as is customary each December, I make a bevy of homemade treats for co-workers, neighbors, family, friends, the mailman. I’m always on the lookout for good food gift ideas, but these Christmas nuts make the short list every year. I think there would be an uprising if they didn’t. Spiced mixed nuts are nothing new and everyone has their own special blend. This is my go-to recipe. I’ve also got some delicious Coconut Curry Spiced Nuts and Mexican Hot Chocolate Spiced Nuts that are awesome, but if this recipe doesn’t get made, well — much like the Grinch — I’m pretty sure it would prevent Christmas from coming.

Which Nuts To Use For Spiced Mixed Nuts

The short answer is make what you like! The spice blend in these Christmas nuts will pair fine with any type of tree nut you throw at it. Some of my favorites include:

Pecans
Walnuts
Almonds
Cashews
Hazelnuts
Macadamias
Brazil Nuts

One nut (that’s really not a nut at all) I wouldn’t throw into the mix: peanuts. The flavor of peanuts is so distinct that I think it would compete with any other nuts you use. If you want to do peanuts — do ALL peanuts. (I avoid peanuts for one other reason — my daughter is allergic to them).

There are as many different ways to make spiced mixed nuts as there are elves in Santa’s workshop. Some are all sugar and cinnamon, others call for Indian spices or Caribbean. I love to try them all, but there’s one thing I always stay true to — egg whites.

Of all the methods I’ve tried to achieve a well-varnished nut, egg whites are my hands-down favorite. Others use oil to coat the nuts before dousing them with their secret ingredients. I don’t like this approach because your fingers get greasy while you’re munching the spiced mixed nuts. You’ll find yourself repeatedly wiping your hands on a napkin after every morsel, which is tough to do when you have a glass of wine in the other hand. (Don’t judge.)

The egg white method is my preferred technique for coating the nuts.

How To Make Non-Greasy, Non-Sticky Christmas Nuts

Whisk the egg whites with a little water until you have a very frothy, bubbly mix. (This usually takes a minute of serious whisking).
Add the nuts and toss thoroughly with the egg white mixture. Use a large rubber spatula and mix again and again until the nuts are very well coated and there’s no remaining egg liquid in the bottom of the bowl. (This is important because you want the nuts to be tacky, not wet. Tacky ensures a good coating of spices. Wet will yield a big mess when you bake them.)
If there’s egg liquid left in the bowl, add some more nuts about half a cup at a time, and toss until the nuts are lacquered without any residual liquid in the bottom of the bowl.

Coating Spiced Christmas Nuts

Add the spice blend and use a large rubber spatula to toss and coat the nuts very well. There should be no spice mix left in the bowl — it should all adhere to the nuts.
Spread the nuts onto a prepared baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes.
Stir the spiced mixed nuts and spread them into an even layer and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes.
The Christmas nuts will get crispier as they cool to room temperature.

These Christmas nuts are great with cocktails or just for snacking and they make excellent food gift ideas for your friends and neighbors. In fact, my friend Nola and I each make this recipe every year — and gift our Christmas nuts to each other — LOL! 🙂

More Food Gift Ideas:

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