Sweet and Savory Party Nuts
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Published Dec 03, 2021, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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These sweet and savory party nuts are lightly sweetened, have a touch of spice and are absolutely addicting. They are the perfect snack to serve at a holiday party or make for an easy DIY gift.
I love to be the host that has snacks available for people just in case someone is hungry! There is nothing worse than wondering when dinner is coming or if someone is going to offer you an afternoon snack. Enter: party nuts. This simple snack is so easy to make and so tasty!
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sweet + savory… is there anything better?!
- Completely customizable recipe – use your favorite nuts and spices to customize this recipe.
- So simple to make and sure to be a crowd pleaser!
What You Need
- raw nuts – I used a combination of almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews but you can use any combination of nuts you’d like!
- maple syrup – add a hint of natural sweetness to this nut mixture with maple syrup. You can swap for a different liquid sweetener if you’d like.
- coarse sea salt – brings all of the flavors together and adds a great texture to the mix!
- cayenne pepper – add just a touch of spice with cayenne pepper. You can add more or less to taste.
- cinnamon – trust me on this one! The cinnamon pairs perfectly with the sweet and spicy flavors in this mix.
- fresh rosemary – remove the leaves from the stem and finely chop.
How to Make Homemade Party Nuts
Start by mixing the maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and cayenne in a small bowl. This mixture will coat the nuts. Prep a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Add the nuts and fresh rosemary to the syrup mixture, mix together and then spread on the prepared baking sheet.
Roast at 350ºF for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, toss the nuts and roast for another 5-10 minutes. The nuts are done when they are fragrant and slightly brown.
Variations
This recipe is completely customizable!
- Switch up the nuts – use any combination of nuts you’d like.
- Add seeds – pumpkin seeds would be a great addition to the mix!
- Adjust the spices – have fun experimenting with the spices! Chili powder would be a delicious addition.
- Add mix-ins after baking – after allowing the nuts to cool, mix in some extra ingredients! Chocolate chips or dried fruit come to mind but feel free to get creative!
How to Serve Party Nuts
I love having party nuts for any gathering I’m hosting! I like to set out a few bowls for guests to snack on until dinner is ready. They’re also a great addition to an appetizer spread. Here are some pairing suggestions:
- Sweet Potato Bites
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Stuffed Dates
- Vegetarian Mezze Platter
- Sweet Potato Skins
- Smoked Salmon Dip
How to Store Leftovers
After letting the nuts cool completely, store them at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks. You can freeze for longer storage!
Gifting Party Nuts
I love giving people edible gifts around the holidays. There’s something so special about homemade gifts, especially ones that are tasty! Who wouldn’t love a box of homemade cookies (check out my healthy Christmas cookie recipes for inspiration), a mini loaf of this cranberry banana bread or candied nuts like these party nuts, candied walnuts or rosemary candied pecans?! The great thing about giving candied nuts as a gift is they’re snackable, sharable and have a longer shelf-life than most baked goods.
These party nuts would be a great addition to a food-centric present with some cured meats, cheeses and a bottle of wine. Or you could simply add the nuts to a nice jar like these tulip jars, weck jars or mason jars, add a nice hand-written label and a bow and voila – you’ve got the perfect edible gift! Pro tip: Just make sure to let the nuts cool completely before adding them to a jar for gifting.
More Snack Recipes to Try
- Beet Hummus
- Tortilla Pizzas
- Portobello Pizzas
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Zucchini Pizza Bites
- Healthy 7-Layer Dip
- Easy Edamame
Party Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 heaping Tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix maple, salt, cinnamon and cayenne in a small bowl.
- Add nuts and fresh rosemary and toss to coat.
- Spread nuts on a baking sheet and roast in oven for 10 minutes, toss and roast for another 5-10 minutes. Nuts are done when they’re fragrant and browning just a bit.
- Let nuts cool completely before serving or transferring to containers for storage or gifting. Store leftover nuts at room temperature in a sealed container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just made the 4 th batch in a week! We love it with just cashews! Delicious and addictive!
If I use mixed raw nuts and do 4 cups of them, do you think the ratio will be the same?
Yes! That should be fine. Enjoy!