Sweet Spiced Nuts
I usually do a combination of 3 cups walnuts, 1 and 1/4 cups pecans, and 3/4 cups almonds. This recipe works VERY well using Splenda instead of sugar. It is delicious and nutritious too.
I usually do a combination of 3 cups walnuts, 1 and 1/4 cups pecans, and 3/4 cups almonds. This recipe works VERY well using Splenda instead of sugar. It is delicious and nutritious too.
- Carbohydrate 17.7033483349768 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 81.4464910431553 g
- Fiber 8.68377976055052 g
- Protein 19.7594164391445 g
- Saturated Fat 7.67692404492445 g
- Serving Size 1 1 1 cup Serving (132g)
- Sodium 13.5947397456997 mg
- Sugar 9.01956857442631 g
- Trans Fat 3.73973224416633 g
- Calories 821 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 325(F) degrees.
- Grease a 15x10x1" baking pan; set aside.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of water to the egg white and then beat it with a fork until slightly frothy.
- In a large bowl, mix together the nuts and beaten egg white/water mixture.
- Toss to coat.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar (or Splenda), cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
- Sprinkle sugar mixture over nuts, toss to coat.
- Spread nuts in prepared baking pan.
- Bake in 325 degree oven for 20 minutes.
- Spread on wax paper; cool.
- Break into pieces.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Makes 5 cups nuts.
The Chemistry of the Binder
The ingredient list mentions a single egg white combined with water, but it omits how this protein film actually functions under heat. Whisking the albumin until merely frothy rather than stiff creates a delicate adhesive layer that traps the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt without forming an impenetrable meringue coating. When subjected to the 325 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes, this moisture evaporates slowly enough to let the sugar melt into a crisp glaze instead of burning into bitter caramel.
Storage and Freezing Realities
Many assume nut batches last indefinitely in the pantry, yet high oil content means rancidity sets in quickly without proper intervention. Storing the cooled, broken pieces in an airtight container at room temperature preserves texture for roughly two weeks before the surface loses its crunch. Freezing is entirely viable for extending this shelf life up to three months, provided the nuts are sealed in heavy-duty freezer bags to prevent moisture absorption during thawing.
Kitchen Workflow and Panning
Timing the preparation requires coordinating the wet tossing bowl with the dry spice mixture before the baking sheet goes into the oven. Grease the 15x10x1-inch pan thoroughly because molten sugar adheres permanently to ungreased metal. Spreading the coated walnuts into a single layer prevents uneven roasting spots that inevitably ruin the final batch.
