Spiced Candied Nuts

Naked Nuts, haha!

Caution, these are highly addictive! Make in large batches to share or to hoard and eat alone! I made a batch for a girls' night and am making two more for my dad and my father-in-law for Father's Day. Its okay to splurge on the nuts, I bought bags of walnut pieces, pistachios, and almonds at Trader Joe's for $6 each, I don't think I would be able to put together a good party snack or two gifts for under $20!!

Spiced Candied Nuts

Ingredients
Mixed raw nuts of your choice, about 4 or 5 cups worth, unsalted
2  Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp agave nectar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp raw sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne

Heat oven to 400 F. On a baking sheet lined with wax paper or pachement arrange nuts in a single layer. Bake for about 15-30 minutes until nuts are toasted and fragrant, stirring every 10 minutes. Be careful not to let the nuts burn. While nuts are roasting combine maple syrup, agave nectar and vanilla in a bowl large enough to hold all the nuts. In a food processor combine sugar, salt and spices until ground to a medium fine powder. Pour the hot nuts into the syrup mixture, stir to thoroughly coat. Sprinkle half the sugar mixture over the top, stir gently, then add remaining sugar and stir gently to coat. Place nuts back on sheet pan and return to oven for approximately 10 minutes, or long enough for glaze to set. When nuts have cooled, salt to taste. Store in a covered container at room temperature.

Roasty Glazed Goodness!

Feel free to adjust seasonings to your taste, if you like things a little spicier add more cayenne, less spicy feel free to omit or add your favorite flavor. Enjoy! To give as a gift, fill a ball jar with nuts and top with a bow, nothing fancy to get in the way of digging right in!

heh heh, nuts!