Description
These sweet and smoky Texan BBQ Candied Nuts are the perfect party snack—bold, crunchy, and just spicy enough to keep you coming back for more. Great for gifting or serving with drinks!
Ingredients
- 1½ cups pecans
- 1½ cups raw, unsalted almonds
- 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (adjust if using table salt or flakes)
- For the Texan BBQ Candy Coating:
- 1½ tablespoons (25g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or ¾ tsp extra smoked paprika for less heat)
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Optional:
- Sea salt flakes, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) or 320°F (160°C fan). Line a large baking tray with foil and parchment paper.
- Mix Nuts: In a large bowl, combine pecans, almonds, and cashews. Set aside.
- Prepare Candy Coating: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Once mostly melted, add sugar, water, and all spices. Stir well and simmer on medium-low for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Coat Nuts: Pour the hot mixture over the nuts. Use a rubber spatula to toss and coat for about 30 seconds. The coating should be thick—no liquid pooling at the bottom.
- Bake: Spread the coated nuts evenly on the prepared tray. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Nuts should be deep golden with little to no syrup left on the tray.
- Cool & Break: Let cool for 10 minutes, then break up the nuts while still warm. Leave to cool completely (about 30 minutes) to allow the candy coating to harden.
- Serve or Store: Sprinkle with sea salt flakes if desired. Serve as snacks, package in jars for gifts, or use as a crunchy topping for salads.
Notes
- Be attentive in the last few minutes of baking—sugar can burn quickly.
- If the coating seems too thick, stir gently before baking; if too thin, let the spicy sugar mixture reduce a bit longer.
- Store in an airtight container once fully cooled to keep crunch and prevent stickiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (about ¼ cup)
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
