I’m Nuts For You: Spicy Garlic Nuts and Candy Glazed Nuts

Happy Father’s Day!  Since I went the homemade route with bath scrubs for Mother’s Day, I wanted to do something homemade for my dad and father-in-law as well.  I always think the dads are hard to shop for, and obviously, I needed something a little more manly than bath scrubs.  Homemade for dads is tricky!  I had seen a cute idea somewhere about using some store bought nuts, but making a new “I’m Nuts for You” label, perhaps as a teacher gift or something similar.  I decided to run with that idea, but make my own seasonings for mixed nuts and package them in mason jars with cute little labels.  Every time I visit my parents’ house, my dad has flavored almonds or mixed nuts in some strange new flavor (wasabi, salt & pepper, salt & vinegar, etc), so I figured this would go over well with him for sure.  I selected two different flavors: Spicy Garlic and Candy Glazed.  I thought both flavors were delicious (couldn’t stop eating them!), and the dads loved them, too!  The jars, gift bags, bandana ribbon, and bandana paper were all purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The Picky Apple helped with the labels, and The Littlest Apple helped decorate the gift bags (dot markers over contact paper letters).  These nuts are so easy to make.  Perfect for Father’s Day, teacher appreciation, holiday giving, or just to have on hand for your next party!

Spicy Garlic Nuts

adapted from King Arthur Flour

Ingredients:

• 4 cups unsalted nuts (I used equal parts peanuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans)
• 2 tablespoons garlic oil (I found roasted garlic oil near the olive oil on the baking aisle)
• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Pre-heat oven to 250°F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place all nuts in a large bowl and toss well to combine.

Pour the garlic oil and Worcestershire sauce over the nuts and toss to coat. Mix the dry spices in a separate small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the oiled nuts. Again toss well to coat. Use a silcone spatula to scrape the bottom of the bowl so that there are no pockets of oil.

Spread the coated nuts on the parchment lined pan. Bake the nuts for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir well with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the nuts are mostly dry to the touch. They will continue to dry as they cool, so be careful to not overbake.  (Picky Apple Note: I baked mine 10 minutes longer than the recipe calls for because they still seemed a bit wet.  Next time I might reduce the oil to 1 1/2 teaspoons, bake them an another 5 minutes, or both)

Remove nuts from oven and let cool on baking sheet. Sprinkle with additional salt if desired and serve. Store any leftovers airtight at room temperature.

Candy Glazed Nuts

from Gooseberry Patch Christmas All Through The House

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. nuts (the original recipe calls for pecans only, but I used a mix of pecans and almonds…not everyone loves pecans as much as I do!)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Arrange nuts in an aluminum foil-lined 13×9″ baking pan; set aside.  Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add brown sugar, vanilla, salt.  Stir one minute; remove from heat.  Continue stirring until sugar dissolves; pour over nuts, stirring to coat.  Bake at 325 degrees F for 25 to 35 minutes; stir every 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove from oven; spread on wax paper to cool.  Store in an airtight container.

PS. If you’re wondering what I got for The Picky Apple for Father’s Day, we simply exchanged cards/thoughtful notes this year.  He got a homemade card from The Littlest Apple (made by me) with a list of 25 Things I Love About Dad.  Many of them are inside jokes that would take an entire blog post to explain.

What did you give the dads in your life this Father’s Day?