40 minutes
A delightful snack featuring pecans, walnuts, or almonds coated in a spiced vanilla sugar mixture and baked to perfection.
each
cups
tablespoons
teaspoons
Ground Cloves
pinches
pinches
teaspoons
teaspoons
Pecan Halves
0 lb
1. Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 325°F to ensure it reaches the right temperature by the time you’re ready to bake the nuts.
2. Whisk Egg White
In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white until it becomes frothy. This helps the sugar and spices stick to the nuts.
3. Combine Sugar and Spices
Add the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, cayenne pepper, salt, and vanilla extract to the bowl with the egg white. Stir until well combined into a thick, fragrant syrup.
4. Coat the Nuts
Add the nuts to the bowl and mix until they are evenly coated with the spiced mixture. Ensure each nut is glossy and well-covered.
5. Spread Nuts on Baking Sheet
Pour the coated nuts onto a lightly oiled baking sheet, spreading them out into an even layer to bake uniformly.
6. Bake the Nuts
Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. During this time, turn the nuts at least once with a large offset spatula to ensure even baking and proper coating.
7. Cool and Store
Allow the nuts to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving. Store any leftover nuts in an airtight container to keep them fresh and crunchy.
Replace part of the vanilla extract with bourbon, use brown sugar for a deeper flavor, and pecans would be the ideal nut to soak up these rich flavors.
Swap the sugar for pure maple syrup, increase the amount of cinnamon, omit nutmeg, and use pecans and walnuts for a fall-inspired treat.
Introduce pumpkin pie spice into the mix, consider adding a small amount of pumpkin puree to the binder (this will require careful monitoring as it may affect cooking time), and great with pecans or cashews.
Infuse the sugar with citrus zest (orange, lemon, or lime), add fresh thyme leaves for a fragrant twist, and this would be delightful with almonds or pecans.
Swap out the white sugar for pure maple syrup and add a generous sprinkle of ground cinnamon. This variation will give you a warm, autumnal flavor that's perfect for the cooler months.
Start with the best quality nuts you can find. Freshness is key, so if possible, buy nuts from a store with a high turnover rate. Opt for raw, unsalted nuts to control the flavor development throughout the cooking process.
Instead of vanilla extract, use a vanilla bean pod. Scrape out the seeds and add them to your sugar mixture, and also throw in the pod itself while cooking for an extra infusion of vanilla essence.
Spread the nuts out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet for even roasting and to prevent clumping. Rotate the sheet halfway through baking for uniform browning.
Ensure each nut is evenly coated with the sugar and spice mixture. Use a silicone spatula to fold the nuts gently and effectively to avoid sticky or burnt spots.
The spice blend is crucial. Consider adding a pinch of cardamom or a small amount of cayenne or smoked paprika for a complex flavor profile. Use freshly ground spices for the most potent flavor.
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