Roasted Orange and Herb Spiced Nuts

The ingredients:

*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

Ingredient information:

CASHEWS - Feel free to use whole, jumbo, or cashew pieces. I used cashew pieces because that's what was available at the grocery store. I also used the roasted salted cashews, and I urge you to do the same.

PECANS - Here I used whole pecan halves (well, that sentence is confusing! LOL) which were pre-roasted and salted. If you use unsalted nuts, you may want to add additional salt (½ teaspoon) to the nut mix before baking.

EGG WHITES - Two lightly beaten egg whites make the other ingredients stick to the nuts as they roast. Save the egg yolks for another use. You can store them in a small bowl in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, covered well.

ORANGE ZEST - Don't skimp on the orange zest, and also feel free to use more than the two tablespoons the recipe calls for, if you genuinely want the orange essence to stand out. Depending on the size of your oranges, you'll get approximately one tablespoon of zest per navel orange.

GRANULATED SUGAR - Not much sugar is used in this recipe considering the amounts of nuts involved so these nuts are lightly sweet, but not what I would call candied. If you'd like a more candied nut, feel free to use ½ cup of granulated sugar instead of the ¼ cup the recipe calls for.

FRESH ROSEMARY - I love rosemary, so I added at least one tablespoon of minced, fresh rosemary leaves to the nuts before baking. You can adjust this amount (more or less) depending on your preference. Dried rosemary may be substituted for fresh. See the section below regarding using dried herbs in place of fresh.

GRATED OR GROUND NUTMEG - You can either grate a fresh nutmeg pod (as I did) or add pre-ground nutmeg in a spice container. A little touch of nutmeg goes a long way in bringing an earthy, nutty flavor to dishes so you won't need much.

GROUND CINNAMON - What respectful holiday snack wouldn't include ground cinnamon, I ask you? There isn't much used for this recipe, so as mentioned above (regarding the granulated sugar), feel free to add additional cinnamon if your taste buds prefer.

CAYENNE RED PEPPER - A little touch of heat for interest and balance never hurt anyone. Feel free to omit this ingredient altogether if you prefer, or add a touch more if you like things a little spicy.

FRESH ORANGE JUICE - This ingredient is optional if you have something else to do with the juice from the freshly zested oranges used for these nuts. I didn't, so I added the fresh juice to the nuts before roasting. Why not, right?

KOSHER SALT - My go-to salt for all my recipes. If you use iodized table salt instead, please refer to the gray box below.

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• mixing bowls
• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• measuring cups and spoons
• fork
• kitchen timer (optional)
• wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• chefs knife (for mincing rosemary)
• cutting board
• nutmeg grater (optional)
• microplane

Swap-out and add-in suggestions:

If you want to add a chewy texture to your roasted nuts, I suggest adding a cup (or two) of dried cranberries after the nuts are out of the oven.

Any dried fruit would be a lovely addition. Just make sure to add the dried fruit after the nuts come out of the oven, or else they'll get tough and difficult to chew.

Adding your favorite shelled seeds, pumpkin (pepita), sunflower, or even hemp might make a tasty addition. I'd again suggest adding them to the mix after the nuts come out of the oven.

I'm all for it if you'd rather use honey or another sugar substitute. Swapping pure maple syrup for the granulated sugar would be delicious, too.

Can other nuts be used for this recipe?

Yes, of course!

Use your favorites. Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazil, macadamia, pignoli, they will all work.

I used cashews and pecans because they're my absolute favorites, and with this nut mix combo, nobody can be annoyed with me that I pick out the best nuts. LOL

What constitutes a serving of these citrus herbed nuts?

As written, one serving equals ½ cup.

What other herbs can be used to make these roasted nuts?

Yes, of course!

Use your favorites. Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazil, macadamia, pignoli, they will all work.

I used cashews and pecans because they're my absolute favorites, and with this nut mix combo, nobody can be annoyed with me that I pick out the best nuts. LOL

What constitutes a serving of these citrus herbed nuts?

As written, one serving equals ½ cup.

Since rosemary is a hearty, somewhat woody herb, it stands up well to the oven's high temperature. Fresh thyme or oregano would also be excellent choices.

Can dried herbs be used in place of fresh herbs?

They sure can, and with this particular recipe, you can use a more extensive variety of herbs if they're already dried. However, when using dried herbs, remember that they tend to be more potent and concentrated in flavor, so use them a bit more sparingly.

For the very best flavor, always crush dried herbs between your fingertips to release more of their essential oils and flavor.

Can these oranged spiced nuts be made in an air fryer?

They sure can, but you may need to work in batches.

Follow the same recipe, but instead of cooking the nuts at 375 F, reduce the air fryer temperature to 325 F and continue as the recipe states. Check on the nuts frequently and stir them as they're air frying to ensure they don't burn.

How to store Roasted Orange and Herb Spiced Nuts?

Store the completed nuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 14 days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Can these nuts be frozen after roasting?

Yes, they can.

Store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 months and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Would these roasted nuts make a good gift item?

They sure would!! Wrap them well in cellophane bags or gift them in airtight containers ready for munching.

Gift wrapping and gift-giving suggestions for these delicious holiday spiced nuts:

I like to gift these Orange and Herb Spiced Nuts in a pretty serving bowl, which also becomes part of the package.

Use some twine to tie dried orange slices and fresh rosemary stems to a cute gift tag, and you're all set to give an adorable gift they won't soon forget.

Additional food gift items you'll enjoy giving (and receiving):

Butter Toffee Cashew Crunch is a delicious homemade butter toffee loaded with fresh cashews and then enrobed in delicious milk chocolate!

Old-Fashioned Apple Chews Candy tastes like apple pie but without the crust. This sweet treat is easy to make with only a few simple ingredients.

Almond Butter Crunch Candy is a recipe that goes way back to my early days of being newly married. This crunchy almond toffee candy is what my Christmas dreams are made of!

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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!