Candied nuts

by Vimerson Health Team December 09, 2019

Candied nuts

We’re very much into the holiday season now: people are dropping by for a visit, to catch up over hot drinks, to sit by the fire and just spend time together.

I like to make sure that I have a little present 🎁 to give everybody that comes into my house during this special season of giving and communion with those we love. This year, I’m making sure I don’t add to the endless loop of regifting and throwing unwanted gifts away by preparing little jars of candied nuts to give away to my friends and family.

Last week, we made granola together, and I bet that if you made it, you still have a lot of nuts in your pantry, waiting to be used. Here’s a wonderful way to avoid wasting them, make something new from scratch, and add a fun craft project to a weekend. These candied nuts are vegan 🌱, gluten-free, grain-free and guaranteed to please everybody!

You can portion them in small jars or bags, and you can get the kids to help with preparing ribbons and decorating little tags for each one.

What do you think? Shall we head to the kitchen to craft a bit of happiness?

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pecans
1 cup walnuts
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar (plus extra for topping)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 Tbsp maple syrup (divided)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add pecans and walnuts to a bowl, plus the oil, sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, sea salt, 1 tbsp the maple syrup. Stir to coat the nuts in the oil and spices mix.
Spread the mix on the baking sheet.
Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring once at the halfway point.
Remove from the oven and drizzle the mix with the rest of the maple syrup.
Sprinkle more sea salt, cinnamon, and sugar and stir to coat
Let the nuts cool down completely on the sheet.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 weeks