Nuts are an all-time favorite snack. You can eat them alone, toss them in a recipe, or add them to cereals, salads, ice cream and baked goods. They are delicious and benefit your health, making them an ideal ingredient.
These six easy recipes will make you love nuts even more.
1. Nut Brittle
Enjoy sweetness with a bit of saltiness in the snappy bite of a brittle. It’s a popular candied recipe enjoyed by many nut lovers.
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces of roasted nuts (pecans, peanuts, cashews or pistachios)
- 2 cups of white sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Crushed flaky salt
Add sugar, butter, water and corn syrup to a large saucepan and boil on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally. After about 10 minutes, the mixture will turn light brown and reach a temperature of 300 F.
Remove from the stove and add the baking soda while stirring slowly. Add the nuts, stir and transfer the brittle to a nonstick baking sheet.
Spread the mixture into a thin, even layer, sprinkle with salt and cool for 30 minutes. Break the brittle into smaller bite-sized pieces.
The key to achieving the perfect brittle is the right temperature in cooking.
2. Nuts and Seeds Trail Mix
This recipe is a simple and healthy option for nut lovers. You can take this on the go and snack on it while working or training at the gym.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup salted pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup walnut halves
- 1 cup unblanched almonds
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup unsalted sunflower kernels
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
Toss everything in a large bowl. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer.
You can customize this trail mix to suit your taste or diet needs. For example, if you have high sugar levels, you can remove the chocolate chips or substitute them with sugar-free candy bars.
3. Nut Butter
Nut butter is an all-purpose spread. You can use it instead of maple syrup on pancakes or in protein bars. It’s effortless to make since you only need one ingredient and kitchen tool.
Ingredients:
Choose almonds, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pecans or anything else as your base. Add a second variety of nuts for an interesting fusion.
Pecans meld well in a food processor and come out luscious and buttery even without adding oil, delivering a silky and smooth texture. Be sure to use nuts harvested in Georgia for your pecan recipes because they’re of the highest quality.
You can also mix a few flavor add-ons, like sea salt, chia seed, vanilla and dark chocolate. Feel free to make your own blends and add other ingredients.
Add the nuts and blend for 10 to 12 minutes using a food processor at a high-spend setting to achieve a deliciously creamy nut butter. Spread your freshly made nut butter on toast, use in salad dressing or add to a smoothie.
4. Crispy Citrus-Candied Pistachios
Pistachios are colorful and have many health benefits. Nuts contain zinc, magnesium and selenium, which are crucial for neurological function. Crispy citrus-candied pistachios are a delicious and fresh twist on a favorite and a fun way to boost your brain.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of shelled pistachios (raw or roasted)
- 1/4 cup of organic sugar
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon syrup
- 1 tablespoon of grated lemon zest
Mix pistachios and lemon syrup and stir for an even coating. Place the oven rack in the lower middle position and preheat to 350 F.
Add parchment paper to the baking sheet and spread with the pistachio mixture. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until it changes color to deep amber.
In another bowl, sift powdered sugar and mix with grated lemon zest. Add the pistachios to the bowl to coat and cool for 30 minutes before storing them in an airtight container. Enjoy your candied nuts for three months.
5. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Including pumpkin seeds in your diet can improve the quality of your skin and prevent acne. They’re tiny but packed with nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and potassium. You can enjoy a handful of them with or without shells for a delicious snack. Here’s an easy-to-prepare recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons melted butter
You’ll need to clean and prepare your seeds if they’re from a fresh pumpkin. Scoop them out and soak them in water to remove pumpkin strands. Rinse until the seeds are clean.
You can also boil the seeds with a bit of salt for 10 minutes. Dry them thoroughly.
To roast the seeds, begin by heating your oven to 300 F.
Mix the melted butter, salt and pumpkin seeds in a bowl, ensuring they’re evenly coated. You can add other seasonings, like chili powder, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
After coating, transfer the seeds to the baking sheet and arrange them in an even, single layer.
Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Stir every 10 minutes and rearrange into a single layer.
Enjoy your roasted pumpkin seeds alone or added to soups, salads or casseroles.
6. Rustic Nut Bars
Rustic nut bars let you indulge in your favorite variety and are ideal for any occasion. You need several ingredients, but the crunchy crust is well worth the effort.
Ingredients:
For crust
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten lightly
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into pieces
For topping
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 1 cup roasted almonds
- 1 cup salted roasted cashews
- 1 cup salted roasted pistachios
- 2/3 cup mild honey
- 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Position the oven rack in the middle and preheat to 375 F. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with foil, ensuring you have over one-inch excess on each side. Use 1 tablespoon of butter to grease the foil.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the remaining butter until you get rough textured crumbs. Blend in the egg.
Press the mixture firmly on the greased baking pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. It’s cooked when the edges are golden brown. Let it cool.
In a large saucepan, add honey, salt and brown sugar. Boil on medium heat to dissolve the sugar, stirring frequently. Let boil for two minutes without stirring, then add the butter and cream. Cook for another minute until it’s smooth.
Remove from heat and toss in all the nuts. Once done, spread over the crust.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. When the topping is bubbly, remove from the oven to cool. Remove from the pan by lifting the foil and cut into bite-sized bars.
Enjoy the balanced sweet and salty combination of these bars. You will definitely want to make them again.
Make Your Own Healthy Snacks With These Nut Recipes
Some nuts, like cashews, can be costly, but healthy options are affordable. You just have to know how to be creative with whatever ingredients you can access. Use your favorites to whip these delicious recipes you and your family will surely enjoy.