Nothing fills the house with the comforting warmth of holiday cheer like toasted nuts.

I made a bunch of new dishes over the Christmas holiday that I will post here in the next few weeks. Related posts include Rosemary Almonds and Spiced Honey Almonds!

These Spicy Maple Glazed Nuts are wonderfully delicious – sweet, salty and a little spicy! A great holiday treat, but really.. who doesn’t like glazed nuts any time a year? Great for gifts, taking to parties, as an appetizer with cheese, meat and fresh fruit perhaps, or a simple dessert!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used 1 tsp cayenne and it was perfectly spicy.. for my taste, but keep in mind a little goes a long way. If you are sensitive to spice, just omit this ingredient!)
• 4 cups shelled nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans)
• 3 tablespoons turbinado or muscovado sugar

Directions

• Preheat oven to 250° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• In a large saucepan combine butter, syrup, water, salt, cinnamon and chili powder. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, then mix in nuts and stir to coat evenly.
• Spread nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes (I forgot this part and the nuts were fine!).
• Spread on waxed or parchment paper to cool.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Thanks PCC Natural Markets!