Herb-Spiced Mixed Nuts

Once you taste these salty-sweet Herb-Spiced Mixed Nuts, you'll be glad you invited people over to help you eat them. They're dangerously good. Make them right before guests walk through the door and be prepared to make a second batch!

By
Carrie Havranek
Carrie Havranek
Carrie Havranek
Carrie has 10+ years experience as a food writer, editor, and recipe developer. She is the author of Tasting Pennsylvania and a contributor to Simply Recipes since 2017.
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Updated February 17, 2021
Carrie Havranek
Mixed nut appetizer
Alison Conklin

It’s always good to have an appetizer you can make quickly during the holidays—or during any party-going season, really. But there’s something festive and indulgent about spiced nuts that always feels right for the season.

This snack takes the idea of your standard nut mix and, thanks to the addition of some fresh herbs, cayenne, butter, and maple syrup, adds some sweet heat to the situation.

Roasted Mixed Nuts
Alison Conklin

A Last-Minute Party Snack

This is not a make-ahead snack. You have to wait until the last minute to bring it together—preferably 15 to 20 minutes before people arrive.

This is best consumed soon after it’s made because if the nuts sit too long, the melted butter hardens on the nuts and they just get a little slimy. Once it’s not warm anymore, the recipe just doesn’t work as well.

But luckily, batches of these nuts are easy and speedy to pull together. And they are generally consumed fast enough that waste is not an issue.

The bonus? It makes your house smell delicious. There’s no substitute for the smell of welcoming food, especially when it’s cold outside.

Party nuts with herbs
Alison Conklin

What Kind of Nuts in a Nut Mix?

I picked pecans, walnuts, and almonds because that's what I most commonly have in the house, and I like the way the softness of the pecans and walnuts contrasts with the crunch of the almonds.

That being said, you could also do hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, and maybe even pistachios. Just keep in mind if you’re using nuts of various thicknesses and sizes, you need to compensate for that with the toasting time in the oven; smaller ones will brown more quickly.

Please use unsalted nuts that you can buy bagged in the baking aisle or in bulk—not the kind you find in those cocktail mixes, which tend to be salted. You’re basically making your own mix here, except way better.

Mixed nut snack toss to combine
Alison Conklin

More Easy Party Snacks!

Herb-Spiced Mixed Nuts

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Yield 3 to 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 cups (283 to 354g) pecans, walnuts, and almonds
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, olive oil, or coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon chopped sage
  • 1 tablespoon chopped thyme
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
  2. Toast the nuts:

    Place the nuts on an ungreased, rimmed baking sheet and toast them for about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven to cool slightly.

    Roasted Mixed Nuts
    Alison Conklin
  3. Combine the butter, herbs, and maple syrup:

    Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and add the rosemary, sage, thyme, cayenne, maple syrup, and salt. (If you are using oil, you should gently and briefly warm it as well.)

    Mixed nut appetizer melt the butter
    Alison Conklin
    Mixed Nut Snack add the herbs
    Alison Conklin
  4. Toss the nuts with the butter and herbs:

    Using a spatula, toss the warm nuts in a medium bowl with the melted herbs and butter until the nuts are coated.

    Mixed nuts with herbs and spices add the butter and herbs to the nuts
    Alison Conklin
    Mixed nut snack toss to combine
    Alison Conklin
  5. Serve:

    These are best consumed immediately, while warm. They may make your hands a little messy, but it’s worth it. Trust me.