Spiced Bar Nuts

SPICED BAR NUTS 💫 This was the second recipe we ever posted on Habitual Hostess and probably the recipe I have made more than any other in my life. They are special, and after making this recipe so many times I have made some tweaks, starting with doubling the recipe, because you are going to want to have extra to stash in your freezer. This is the perfect snack to put out if someone pops by for a cocktail or to bring as a hostess gift with a bottle of wine. We love the idea of gifting these for the holidays because they just feel so festive! Swipe ➡️ to see how we package them in a nut bowl as the perfect holiday gift 🎄🎁

4 cups assorted unsalted nuts
1/4 cup of finely chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 teaspoons kosher salt (use Diamond Crystal)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Spread nuts out on a baking sheet and roast 10 minutes, turning and shaking the pan half way through.

Cut your butter into two pieces and melt in the microwave for 45 seconds. While the melted butter is still warm, whisk in the brown sugar. Continue to whisk for a minute or two until the mixture is combined and resembles a caramel consistency. If your mixture isn’t emulsifying pop the mixture back into the microwave for fifteen seconds to heat the butter enough that the sugar can melt into the butter.

Fold the rosemary, cayenne and salt into the butter sugar mixture.

Spread spice mixture over the nuts as soon as the nuts come out of the oven—you want the nuts to be warm. Toss very well until all nuts are coated (I like to use two spatulas and toss like you would a salad). Let nuts cool and dry completely. They will be chewy when warm from the oven but will harden as they cool.

Tips:

We like to use herb scissors to cut the rosemary leaves off of the stalk, so a first round of chopping, and then finally chop the rosemary again with a knife on the cutting board.