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easy sweet and spicy roasted almonds

The perfect bite delights and satisfies all your taste buds! These sweet & spicy roasted almonds are pretty irresistible and just may become your new favorite way to eat almonds.  Perfectly crunchy and coated in a mixture of chili powder, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, stevia and a bit of sugar, there is a great balance of sweet and savory.

For years I didn’t eat almonds because I thought they were pretty bland and boring.  But this recipe changed my mind. After playing around with the spice blend, I eventually found a flavorful and satisfying blend of warm spices with just the right contrast of sweet.  

The recipe is simple and you can also follow the exact same directions to roast pecans, walnuts or cashews.  The last few years, we have made these Sweet & Spicy Roasted Almonds for coworkers over the holidays, filling up small bags or mason jars with them and tying them up with a ribbon.  It is a great gift that people can munch on for an afternoon snack, add to a charcuterie board at a party they are hosting or throw on top of some greens to jazz up a salad.

To keep the sugar lower, I used granulated baking stevia along with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar (coconut sugar or regular granulated sugar both work fine).  But, you can use what you have in your pantry and what you prefer using.

Instead of using oil to get the sugar and spices to stick, this recipe for sweet & spicy roasted almonds uses an egg white with a splash of water.  Although it might sound odd, this method works perfectly and keeps the calories lower per serving.  Simply separate the egg white from the yolk and whisk the white with a tablespoon of water for about 30 seconds or until it becomes frothy.  The goal is NOT to make meringue but instead to break up the white so it coats all of the nuts well.

Let’s get rid of this idea that yummy food is ‘naughty’ and healthful food is ‘blah.’  That is entirely untrue and these Sweet & Spicy Roasted Almonds is one recipe that boasts some great nutritional value along with irresistible flavor.

Almonds and all types of nuts are known to be energy dense foods.  That means that per serving, they have a higher number of calories due to the amount of fat in them.  But, these are mostly good fats called monounsaturated fats, known to be beneficial for weight loss and management, heart health, and reducing inflammation.  A 1-ounce serving- 23 almonds to be precise- also contains 6 grams plant protein and 3 grams of fiber, along with a nice boost of vitamin E, biotin and phytonutrients.

When it comes to making healthful food choices, it’s important to choose nourishing foods that are completely satisfying.  When we don’t get satisfied, we often go looking for something else in hopes that will ‘hit the spot.’ But this isn’t a train you want to ride.  

If you are bored with the handful of almonds you eat every afternoon OR need an easy gift for some people in your life OR are looking for an alternative to some of your favorite packaged spiced nuts, I hope you will give these Sweet & Spicy Roasted Almonds a try!

low sugar sweet and spicy roasted almonds

Sweet & Spicy Roasted Almonds

Jennifer Hunt, RDN, LD
Servings 16

Ingredients
  

  • 14-16 oz dry roasted almonds or walnuts, pecans
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp water

Sweet & Spicy Seasoning

  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup granulated baking stevia
  • 1-2 tbsp sugar coconut sugar or regular sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat Mat OR non-stick aluminum foil, sprayed with oil spray (I use a Misto). In a medium bowl, whisk egg white and water until slightly frothy. Stir in the nuts so that all of them have a light coating of the egg mixture. In a separate small bowl combine the stevia, sugar and spices with a fork. Sprinkle the sugar and spice mixture over the nuts and gently stir with a spoon or spatula to ensure all nuts have a light coating (don't over-stir).
  • Spread the nuts on the lined pan and bake in oven for 16-20 minutes, making sure to watch them towards the end so that they do not burn. Allow to cool completely after removing from the oven. Store in a mason jar or air tight container.

Notes

  • Look for nuts that are dry roasted (no oil or salt added).  If you can’t find these, you can roast raw nuts for about 15 minutes on 300 degrees to toast them before adding to the spiced egg mixture.  If you don’t use dry-roasted nuts in this recipe, the end product won’t be as crunchy.
  • You can use any variety of seasonings to make this recipe your own.  The nuts can be completely savory, all sweet or a combination. Use your imagination!
  • I used baking stevia to keep the sugar lower.  Don’t swap honey or agave for the sugar as these will burn easier and add too much liquid.  If desired, you can substitute all of the baking stevia for granulated sugar.
  • Carefully watch the nuts towards the end of cooking time! They can burn easily!
Serving Ideas
  • Add to yogurt with berries
  • Stir into cooked oatmeal or hot cereal
  • Sprinkle spiced walnuts or pecans on roasted sweet potatoes just before serving
  • Top your favorite salad or kale dish with any type of spiced nuts
  • Mix with dried fruit for an energy sustaining snack
  • Give as a gift- attach a little card to the lid of the mason jar sharing the type of spiced nut (as a precaution for nut allergies) and then give some serving ideas...
Nutrition
Calories 182; Total Fat 15g (Saturated Fat 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 128mg; Potassium 213mg; Carbohydrate 10g; Fiber 3mg; Added Sugars 2g; Naturally Occuring Sugars 0g; Protein 6g.

sweet and spicy roasted almonds recipe

easy sweet and spicy roasted almonds

 

21 Easy Ways to AMP UP Nutrition

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