Spiced Nuts: 17 Sweet and Salty Holiday Mixes That Make the Cheapest Homemade Gift

Spiced nuts are the snack everyone is searching for right now. On Google this week, searches for Ina Garten’s fall spiced nuts jumped to the top of the rising recipe list, and searches for the best candied pecans are up 150 percent. It makes sense: a pan of warm, cinnamon-sugar nuts makes the whole house smell like the holidays, and a jar of them is one of the cheapest homemade gifts there is. Here are sweet, salty and spicy versions, from rosemary brown sugar to chili lime, each with a shopping list and simple steps, plus how to pack them as gifts. Grab a sheet pan..

Rosemary Brown Sugar Spiced Nuts, the Holiday Classic

The homemade holiday gift that costs a few dollars a jar, takes about 40 minutes, and makes your whole house smell like Christmas morning. This is the base method for almost every recipe here: coat the nuts, roast them low on one sheet pan, and let them cool flat so they turn crisp. Rosemary, brown sugar and a little cayenne make these spiced nuts sweet, salty and warm. Ready to fill your first jar?..

You will need: 4 cups mixed nuts (pecans, almonds, cashews, walnuts), 1 egg white, 1 tbsp water, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cayenne

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F and line a sheet pan with parchment. 2. Whisk the egg white and water until foamy, then toss the nuts until coated. 3. Mix the brown sugar, rosemary, salt and cayenne and toss again. 4. Spread in one layer and bake 30 to 35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 5. Cool completely on the pan, then break apart and store airtight.

Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans

These are the ones people eat by the handful straight off the pan. A frothy egg white makes the cinnamon sugar cling to every pecan and bake into a thin, crackly shell. Allrecipes’ top candied pecan recipe has close to 1,000 ratings, and searches for the best candied pecans are up 150 percent this week. Bag them warm for teachers, neighbors and the mail carrier. Would you share or hide the jar?

You will need: 4 cups pecan halves, 1 egg white, 1 tbsp water, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F and line a sheet pan with parchment. 2. Whisk the egg white and water until frothy, then toss the pecans in it. 3. Mix the sugar, cinnamon and salt and toss again until coated. 4. Spread in one layer and bake 30 to 35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 5. Cool completely on the pan; they crisp as they cool.

Maple Cayenne Walnuts

Sweet maple syrup up front and a little cayenne heat at the end: these spiced nuts are made for a cheese board. Walnuts soak up the glaze in all their nooks, so every bite is sticky and crunchy. Use real maple syrup; pancake syrup burns. Toss a handful over roasted squash or a holiday salad, too. How much heat do you like?

You will need: 3 cups walnut halves, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 tbsp melted butter, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 tsp flaky salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F and line a pan with parchment. 2. Stir the maple syrup, butter, cayenne and cinnamon together. 3. Toss the walnuts in the glaze and spread them out. 4. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, stirring halfway, until the glaze bubbles and darkens. 5. Sprinkle with flaky salt and separate the nuts as they cool.

Sweet, Salty and Spicy Party Nuts

This is the bowl that empties first at every holiday party. A mix of cashews, almonds, pecans and peanuts gets brown sugar, chili powder, cumin and a pinch of cayenne, so every handful is a little different. Allrecipes’ sweet, salty and spicy party nuts have hundreds of ratings for a reason. Make a double batch: one for the party, one for you. Sweet, salty or spicy: which do you taste first?

You will need: 4 cups mixed unsalted nuts, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Toss the nuts with the melted butter. 3. Mix the sugar, spices and salt and toss until coated. 4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes on a lined pan, stirring twice. 5. Cool and break up any clumps.

Honey Roasted Almonds Like the Ballpark Bag

Honey roasted almonds taste like the little bags you buy at the airport, only warmer and fresher. Honey and a bit of butter make the glaze, and a sprinkle of sugar and salt at the end gives that sweet, sandy coating. They cost a fraction of the store price. Keep them in a tin on the counter during the holidays and watch them disappear. Do you snack on them or bake with them?

You will need: 3 cups whole almonds, 3 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 2 tbsp sugar, 3/4 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Toast the almonds at 325 F for 10 minutes. 2. Warm the honey, butter and vanilla until runny. 3. Toss the hot almonds in the honey mix and spread on parchment. 4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes more, stirring once. 5. Toss with the sugar and salt while warm and let cool.

Gingerbread Spiced Pecans

All the flavors of a gingerbread cookie, wrapped around a pecan. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves and a spoon of molasses make these spiced nuts taste like Christmas morning. They are wonderful on a dessert board next to chocolate, or chopped over vanilla ice cream. Pack them in small jars with a ribbon and they look like they came from a fancy shop. Gingerbread fan or not?

You will need: 3 cups pecan halves, 1 egg white, 1 tbsp molasses, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F. 2. Whisk the egg white until frothy and stir in the molasses. 3. Toss the pecans in it. 4. Mix the sugar, spices and salt and toss again. 5. Bake on a lined pan 30 minutes, stirring every 10, then cool flat.

Everything Bagel Cashews

Everything bagel seasoning is not just for bagels. On roasted cashews it gives you sesame, garlic, onion and salt in every bite, and they are a savory break from all the holiday sugar. They take 15 minutes and three ingredients. Set them out with drinks before dinner or tuck a bag in a stocking. Would you try these?

You will need: 3 cups raw cashews, 1 tbsp olive oil or melted butter, 2 tbsp everything bagel seasoning

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Toss the cashews with the oil. 3. Spread them on a pan and roast 12 to 15 minutes, until golden. 4. Toss with the seasoning while hot. 5. Cool on the pan and store airtight.

Smoky Paprika and Garlic Almonds

Spanish bars serve smoky almonds with drinks, and they are just as good at home. Smoked paprika and garlic powder cling to the almonds with a little olive oil. The result is savory, smoky and very hard to stop eating. Add a pinch of chili flakes if you like heat. Perfect next to a cheese board. Smoky or spicy?

You will need: 3 cups whole almonds, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Toss the almonds with the oil. 3. Add the paprika, garlic powder and salt and toss well. 4. Roast 15 to 18 minutes, stirring once. 5. Cool completely.

Chili Lime Peanuts

The cheapest nut in the store becomes the most exciting one in the bowl. Lime zest, chili powder and a squeeze of fresh lime make these spiced nuts tangy, salty and a little hot, like a favorite Mexican street snack. Great for game day, too. A jar of peanuts costs a few dollars, so this is the best budget party snack on the list. Who in your family loves spicy snacks?

You will need: 3 cups unsalted roasted peanuts, 1 tbsp oil, zest of 2 limes, 1 tbsp lime juice, 2 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F. 2. Mix the oil, lime juice, chili powder, cayenne and salt. 3. Toss the peanuts in it and spread on a pan. 4. Bake 15 minutes, stirring once. 5. Toss with the lime zest while warm.

Orange and Cardamom Spiced Nuts

Orange zest and cardamom smell like a Scandinavian Christmas bakery. With a light sugar coating, these spiced nuts are warm and bright at the same time. A mix of almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts looks beautiful in a glass jar. Serve them with coffee after a holiday dinner. Have you ever baked with cardamom?

You will need: 4 cups mixed almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts, 1 egg white, 1/2 cup sugar, zest of 1 orange, 1 tsp ground cardamom, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F. 2. Whisk the egg white until frothy and toss with the nuts. 3. Rub the orange zest into the sugar with your fingers, then add the spices and salt. 4. Toss the nuts in the sugar and spread on a lined pan. 5. Bake 30 minutes, stirring every 10, and cool flat.

Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts for a Big Gift Batch

When you need nuts for 20 gift bags, use the slow cooker. It holds a big batch and you only stir now and then, so the oven stays free for cookies. The nuts cook in the pot for a couple of hours, then dry on a sheet pan into crunchy, candy-coated clusters. Peanuts keep it cheap; pecans make it fancy. How many gift bags are on your list this year?

You will need: 6 cups nuts (peanuts, pecans or almonds), 2 egg whites, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 cup water

How to make it: 1. Grease the slow cooker and add the nuts. 2. Whisk the egg whites and vanilla until frothy and stir into the nuts. 3. Mix the sugars, cinnamon and salt and stir in until coated. 4. Cook on low 3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes, adding the water in the last hour. 5. Spread on parchment and cool completely.

Cocoa Dusted Almonds

Like a chocolate truffle without the work. Almonds get a light coat of melted chocolate, then a roll in cocoa powder and a little powdered sugar. They look elegant in a small bowl next to coffee, and they are a sweet answer for anyone who says they do not like spiced nuts. Use dark chocolate for the best flavor. Dark chocolate or milk?

You will need: 2 cups roasted almonds, 4 oz dark chocolate, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, pinch of salt

How to make it: 1. Melt the chocolate gently and let it cool a little. 2. Stir in the almonds until coated. 3. Mix the cocoa, powdered sugar and salt in a bowl. 4. Toss the almonds in the cocoa mix a few at a time. 5. Let them set on parchment, then shake off extra cocoa.

Ranch Spiced Nuts for the Snack Table

A savory one for the snack table. A packet of dry ranch seasoning and a little butter turn plain mixed nuts into something guests ask about. They are also great in lunch boxes and road trip bags. Add some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to stretch the batch. Is ranch on everything a yes or a no in your house?

You will need: 4 cups mixed nuts, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 packet (1 oz) dry ranch seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (optional)

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 300 F. 2. Toss the nuts and seeds with the melted butter. 3. Sprinkle with the ranch and garlic and toss well. 4. Bake 20 minutes, stirring twice. 5. Cool before storing.

10-Minute Stovetop Candied Walnuts

No oven needed. Walnuts, sugar and a little butter go into a skillet, and in about 10 minutes you have glossy candied walnuts. One candied walnut video has passed 2.2 million views on YouTube. The trick is to keep stirring and pull the pan off the heat as soon as the sugar melts and coats the nuts. Spread them out fast so they do not stick together. Easy enough?

You will need: 2 cups walnut halves, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tbsp butter, pinch of salt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)

How to make it: 1. Put the walnuts, sugar and butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. 2. Stir constantly for 5 to 8 minutes as the sugar melts. 3. When the sugar is golden and coats the nuts, take the pan off the heat. 4. Stir in the salt and cinnamon. 5. Spread on parchment at once and separate with two forks. Careful: the sugar is very hot.

Golden Curry Cashews

Curry powder, a little honey and cashews are a perfect match: warm, slightly sweet and a bit savory. These spiced nuts look golden and festive in a bowl and pair beautifully with a glass of something cold. They are also great chopped over rice or salads. A bag of cashews and a jar of curry powder is all you need. Curry fans, would you make these?

You will need: 3 cups raw cashews, 1 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil, 1 tbsp honey, 2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 tsp salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 F. 2. Mix the butter, honey, curry powder and salt. 3. Toss the cashews in it and spread on a lined pan. 4. Roast 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once, until golden. 5. Cool on the pan so the coating sets.

Leftover Spiced Nuts on a Holiday Salad

If you have any left, sprinkle them over a salad. Sweet candied pecans or walnuts with greens, apples or pears, tomatoes, feta and a mustard vinaigrette make a side dish that disappears at holiday dinners. They are also lovely on sweet potato casserole, oatmeal and yogurt. Have you ever put candied nuts on a salad?

You will need: 6 cups salad greens, 1 apple or pear sliced, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup feta, 1 cup candied pecans or walnuts. Dressing: 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, salt and pepper

How to make it: 1. Whisk the dressing ingredients. 2. Put the greens in a big bowl. 3. Add the fruit, tomatoes and feta. 4. Toss with the dressing just before serving. 5. Scatter the candied nuts on top at the last minute so they stay crunchy.

How to Pack Spiced Nuts as Gifts

Spiced nuts are the cheapest homemade gift that still looks expensive. For a final mix, toss pistachios, almonds and dried cranberries together for a red and green jar. Cool every batch completely before packing, or steam will make them soft. Glass jars with a ribbon and a handwritten tag look lovely, and well-sealed nuts stay crisp for about 2 weeks. Always label each jar “contains nuts” for friends with allergies. Need more ideas? See our cheap Christmas gifts in a jar.

You will need: 2 cups shelled pistachios, 2 cups any spiced nuts from this list, 1 cup dried cranberries, glass jars or cellophane bags, ribbon, tags

How to make it: 1. Make sure every batch is completely cool and dry. 2. Toss the nuts and cranberries together. 3. Fill clean, dry jars to the top so the nuts do not move around. 4. Seal tightly and add a ribbon and a tag that says “contains nuts”. 5. Store in a cool place and give within 2 weeks.