It seems like everyone loves munching on snacks made with nuts. At your next gathering, make up several varieties of flavored nuts and watch them disappear. These recipes can easily be doubled or tripled.



Spiced Pecans
Makes about 1-1/2 cups

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice blend
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups pecan halves

Combine sugar, milk, and cinnamon in a heavy sauce pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture reaches soft ball stage, about 10 minutes (see cook’s notes 1). Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Add pecans and mix until pecans are well coated. Turn out onto wax paper or a Silpat and separate into individual pieces with a fork. Let cool before storing in air tight containers or zip-loc baggies.


Spicy Roasted Pecans
Makes about 2 cups

2 cups pecan halves
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Cajun Seasoning to taste (see cook’s notes 2)

Place pecan halves on a baking sheet and bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter. While still hot, sprinkle the nuts with Cajun Seasoning to taste.

Cook’s Notes:
1 - Soft Ball Stage – is between 234°and 240°. If you don’t own a candy thermometer, you can test by dropping a drop of the boiling sugar syrup into cold water. Remove the little ball of syrup from the cold water and it should flatten.

2 - Cajun Seasoning – if using a salt free seasoning blend, such as Bayou Blend, you will probably want to lightly salt the nuts, while still hot. If you don’t have Cajun Seasoning on hand, you can sprinkle lightly with red pepper.


Where to purchase specialty ingredients for this recipe:
Name of Item from The Posh Gourmet
Gourmet and other fine specialty foods, including quality olive oils, sea salts, and seasonings directly from The Posh Gourmet