There is something that feels especially Christmassy about roasted nuts, especially when tossed together with rosemary and sugar. With Christmas just around the corner (although you might not want to admit it!), we thought it would be the perfect time to start sharing our favourite festive recipes.
Not only do these nuts get tossed together and cooked in under half an hour (making them a fuss-free snack for party guests!), but they also work well as a topper for salads and soups!
For this recipe, avoid nuts that are already salted and roasted. If they are, add slightly less salt and adjust the cooking time as needed.
Method
Follow these steps to make our Festive Roasted Nuts
Preheat your oven to 180ºC. In a large mixing bowl, combine your almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds. Add in your seasonings, sugar, olive oil, and honey and stir well to combine. Taste and adjust the salt and seasoning levels if desired.
Tip your coated nuts out onto a lined baking sheet and spread out, trying not to overlap any of the nuts. It helps to press them down with a spatula (make sure you don’t leave any yummy goodness in the bowl!).
Place your nuts into the middle of the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Stir your nuts every 10 minutes until your nuts are golden brown. Try not to let any of the nuts catch and burn, as this can result in a bitter taste.
Once roasted, leave your nuts to cool on the tray before transferring to air-tight Kilner jars (okay, they don’t have to be Kilner… we just think they are cute!). As they cool, they will become crisper. If you’re hosting a dinner party or a casual gathering, serve your Christmas nuts warm, almost straight out of the oven.
Serve alongside a glass (or three!) of your favourite bubbly and enjoy!
Storing Your Festive Roasted Nuts
As mentioned in the recipe above, we recommend storing your festive roasted nuts in air-tight jars, but you could also use:
- Tupperware
- Cellophane or Kraft sweet bags (these are great party favours for guests!)
- Mini jars (again, great for party favours)
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We hope you enjoyed making these easy but delicious festive roasted nuts – try not to eat them all before your next get-together! Don’t forget that you can switch up the flavours depending on the seasons. We love to make pumpkin-spiced nuts during the Autumn months, or simple cinnamon & nutmeg ones around Christmas time. Just use the same spice-to-nut-and-honey ratio.
If you’re looking for more exciting festive recipes, explore the ‘recipes’ page on our blog. We also post food and nibble ideas regularly on our Instagram and Facebook pages, and you can also keep up to date with us on Pinterest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Get Spices To Stick To Roasted Nuts?
You need some sort of wet ingredient in order to stick spices, such as paprika or salt to roasted nuts. Our favourite is honey but you could also use:
- Honey or maple syrup
- Olive or coconut oil
- Good quality butter
- Egg whites
Can You Season Already Roasted Nuts?
Yes, you can! Simply follow the same roasted nut recipe but shorten the cooking time and adjust the salt levels as needed. Use honey to help the seasonings stick to the nuts. If you don’t want the nuts to be sweet, cooking spray or a small amount of melted butter or olive oil helps for a better adhesion of seasonings.
What Nuts Are Associated With Christmas?
Nuts play a significant role in traditions and are often associated with Christmas. While there are no strict rules about which nuts are used during the festive season, certain nuts have become more closely linked to Christmas due to their use in various recipes and traditions, such as:
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Chestnuts
- Hazelnuts
How Do You Serve Nuts At a Party?
Serve your nuts warm if possible. We love serving our Christmas nuts in small, flat dishes or pretty bowls. We wouldn’t recommend serving them in a jar as they can be a little awkward for guests to reach, and could result in sticky hands.
If you’d like to learn more about serving food at a party, read one of our most recent blogs: How to Host a Fuss-Free Dinner Party
Are Nuts Healthy?
Yes, nuts are healthy when consumed in moderation. They are a great source of essential nutrients like vitamin E, minerals like magnesium and potassium), as well as fibre and healthy fats. Not only do we love snacking on them, but we love sprinkling our nuts and seeds over salads and soups!
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