We thought you might like a simple snack that is a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and obviously, a little bit nutty. Everyone likes to be a little bit nutty sometimes. So how about some Sweet and Salty Almonds or Pecans?
When I first decided to experiment with this recipe, I planned to surprise Matt with Sweet and Salty Almonds after he’d put in a hard day’s work. So I searched the pantry. No almonds. I searched my freezer. No almonds. I searched my other freezer. No almonds. I searched my other freezer. (I have a lot of freezers.) No almonds.
What I did find was package after package after package of pecans. Apparently my desire to stock up for our Pecan Pie needs way back at Christmas time took over my brain and prevented me from ever adding almonds to a shopping list. After all, there’s no such thing as Almond Pie. At least I don’t think there is.
Anyway, Matt never knew about the Sweet and Salty Almonds because on the day of this nutty experiment, I presented him with Sweet and Salty Pecans and all was well.
Aside from the time it took for me to search through all my freezers behind all the leg of lamb, cube steak, and bags of peaches from last summer’s harvest in a futile effort to find almonds that didn’t exist, making these Sweet and Salty Pecans was super fast and easy.
So grab either almonds or pecans (or both if you’re feeling extra nutty). Make a batch or three of these Sweet and Salty Nuts. They make a great snack to enjoy when you need a pick-me-up!
Sweet and Salty Almonds or Pecans
- 1 cup whole almonds or pecans
- ¼ cup water
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar, maple syrup, or sucanat
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- Stir water, sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium sauce pan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Pour the almonds or pecans into the boiling liquid, stirring for about one minute until the nuts are coated with the syrupy mixture.
- Spread prepared nuts onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Cool and serve or bag them up to give as treats!
Looking for more Simple Snack Recipes?
We’re sharing new recipes all month! So far here’s what we’ve come up with:
- No Bake Cookie Cups (5 minute prep!)
- Cream Cheese Salsa Dip (2 ingredients!)
- Pineapple Coconut Quick Bread (blends together fast!)
- Parmesan Crisps (so easy you won’t believe it!)
Can’t wait to share more!
I have walnut trees. Any reason I couldn’t substitute walnuts that you can think of? I have been looking for something like this. I like to add them to salad.
Well, now you’ve made me curious – wouldn’t there have to be almond pies out there? And wouldn’t that be awesome? We don’t make pecan pies here anymore, because allergies, but SOMEONE must have replaced pecans with almonds by now, right?
Turns out, right. Quick Google search and BAM. Toffee Almond Pie. That’s what popped up first. There were more. But I also got hits on Italian almond tarts that have almond paste (pretty easy to make at home), which are amazing. I’ve never made any of these things, and I’m kicking myself now because I MISS pecan pie and why didn’t I think of just replacing the almonds, plus I love almond paste enough that there’s a danger I would just eat all of it before it made it anywhere near a pie crust…
Anyway, I digress. Almond pie. It’s a thing. (Yay!)
I think an extra cup of nuts was added accidentally to the recipe :-)
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Ha!!! Ooops. I fixed it. I can’t even blame autocorrect. :)
Walnuts should work great!
Ooh, great find!!
Are the cooled nuts sticky to the touch?
My first batch was (pictured above), then I adjusted the measurements (shared in the recipe above) and they became much less sticky!