CrockPot Roasted & Spiced Nuts Recipe


Day 341.

How are you doing on your holiday shopping? If you're still in need for a quick gift and would prefer the homemade touch, these nuts are perfect.

Unless your recipient is allergic to nuts. Then you should make something else.

The Ingredients.

1 cup raw, unsalted pecans
1 cup raw, unsalted almonds
1 cup raw, unsalted pistachios (no shells, just the meat)
1/2 cup raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
1 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon curry
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
cooking spray

The Directions.

I used a 6.5 quart crockpot. Anything over a 4 quart should work just fine. This makes enough nuts to feed 12 people as a snack; I'd guess maybe 3-4 gift containers.

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. This is the only grease/butter, which creates a fantastic non-oily nut. I love this.

Put in your nuts/seeds, and add all of the spices and the maple syrup. Toss well to coat.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so. The nuts will burn if you don't stir, but if a few do get burnt, don't worry about it. That's part of the charm of a homemade gift.

Spread the nuts out on a layer of foil or wax paper to completely cool, and store in an air-tight container.

The Verdict.

We all really liked these, and so did my dad. The kids ate a bunch, and then waved at their tongue because of the slight kick from the cayenne, but kept going back for more. Both the maple syrup and cayenne is there, but not over-powering, which is sort of scary because you can eat a bucket load.


Spot on flavor combination of herbs, spices, and nuts. The flavor profile is maple and rosemary with a tiny kick from cayenne pepper. These are sure to be a hit at your next party! Slightly addicting though.... don't say I didn't warn you!


Looking for more gift ideas?

Rocky Road Candy
Frito Candy
Peanut (not brittle) Candy
Apple Butter
Jam
Puppy Chow
Caramel Apples
Candles!
Soap!
Brownies-In-a-Mug

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at December 06, 2008

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What they say about this article

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. I am SO going to try this nut recipe! Looks delicious!

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  3. Anonymous12/06/2008

    Yum!! Those sound great...good present, too!

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  4. Anonymous12/06/2008

    Do you know what the sodium contant would...or what if I deleted the salt? F is on a low sodium diet.

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  5. Hi Lisa,
    I'd give it a try without the salt---and then maybe tweak to taste with the other flavors. The salt isn't the stand-out flavor, and I'm sure wouldn't be missed at all.
    xox
    steph

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  6. Totally random, but I love that you use TJ's ingredients. My DH works there - so thanks for supporting our family in an indirect way :) I noticed you don't use their boxed broth (which is waaay cheaper than other places) and was wondering why?

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  7. Hi Elise,
    I do. I go back and forth, depending on what store I'm in. Sometimes I need to grocery shop early in the morning and the 9am open-time at TJ's isn't practical. I love Trader Joe's---we can walk there, and do quite often!
    xox
    steph

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  8. Great idea! I am making soap for the "girls" for this Yule however, I had no idea to make the guys... this is perfect.

    This... some grilling spices and a good pair of grillin' tongs should do nicely for the boys!

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  9. Anonymous12/06/2008

    This is the best blog ever!

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  10. This sounds so good. I am a new BIG fan of your blog. I have even asked for a crockpot for christmas because you have some many great ideas here!!!

    I love to use my crockpot but have stayed with the basics, roast, etc. I'm ready to expand my crockpot horizons

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  11. I can't wait to try this reciipe! However there is one small thing, my 4 year old twins broke the lid to my oval 6 qt. crock pot last night! Yes, they are still alive, but I am deeply sad. I was wondering, can I still use the crock and just cover it with foil? Will this mess with cooking time and temp?

    Blessings, Beth Ann

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  12. Anonymous12/06/2008

    I have fallen in LOVE w/ you blog!!! & I finally glad to meet someone who loves their crockpot more than me.
    I was back looking in Oct about freezing the dried beans after cooking them--have you tried to use them from the freezer? When I tried last yr after they were in the freezer they tasted off & the texture was funny

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  13. oh no, Beth Ann! I know that they sell replacement parts on the crock-pot website, but woah, that stinks. I've heard of people using foil successfully, but I haven't personally tried it.

    cheryllsm, I have used the beans, all of them. I wonder what happened? Was the flavor plastic-y? Texture-wise, were they too soft?

    xxo
    steph

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  14. Thank you!!! This is exactly what I need for my carb-consciou father-in-law :)

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  15. Those look fantastic, and what a great idea to use them as gifts. Thanks!

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  16. YESSSSSS! Can you guess what my guy is getting for Christmas?
    I sooo can't wait to try these.
    :-)

    I just love your blog and it's inspired me... but I'm wondering what you have planned when your "Year of Crockpotting" is up?

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  17. Just wanted to say again that I really love your site and I've passed it on to many, many people. They all love it,too. If only it weren't December already...

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  18. I am very new to crockpot cooking. Y husband has just been put on a very low salt diet and I bought the pot to make soup and stock in. I would love to have recipes for cooking various cuts of meat that would give me stock as well as the finished dish.

    I love the thought of being able to put the ingredients in the pot and get a fully cooked meal out at the end.

    I had always used a pressure cooker in the past for quickness, but guess the slow low cooking would preserve more of the goodness.

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  19. We've been doing a lower carb diet in our house and this will be GREAT!! And I love the gift idea. I'm always looking for things to bring to co-workers. Thank you!

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  20. They look yummy! Do you think these would ship well?

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  21. I found you yesterday looking for a yogurt recipe (yours, btw, is *amazing*). You are now being followed by oatmeal-mama. I love my crockpot too!

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  22. Oooh Steph, great idea!! I usually make these in the oven & what a PITA that is...crock pot = so much easier! Thanks for sharing.

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  23. YUMMMMMM! Gotta try this one!

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  24. Anonymous12/08/2008

    Hi Steph,

    I was inspired by you to buy a crockpot. Before reading your blog, I thought Pot Roast was the only thing that could be made in a crockpot.

    I've decided to use this and other recipes of yours for gift giving. I was wondering if your craftiness in cooking crosses over to gift wrapping as I have no clue how to make these holiday snacks presentable. How have you packaged them?

    -Taylor

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  25. Hi Taylor, I'm not very crafty, and prefer to go the decorative tin or jar route from the dollar store.
    xxo
    steph

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  26. Anonymous12/09/2008

    I've got a batch of this in the CP now. TJ did not have the raw pistachios, so I used cashews and peanuts instead. Also left out the curry as I am not a curry fan. I added a dash of cinnamon though.

    Hope this works! I was thinking also that this would taste good using the cereal and pretzels from the Chex mix recipe, but with the spices from this (minus the curry of course).

    I often make recipe hybrids. How about you?

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  27. Anonymous12/10/2008

    My nuts are delicious! The cinnamon is a nice touch. I am still going to try to find the pistachios and try it with those.
    I love that I can make this salt free or at least low salt.

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  28. I made this today to take to an International Woman's Club afternoon tea. It's really good! I am making it again but no rosemary, more cayenne. Thank you!
    regards,
    Theresa

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  29. Anonymous12/11/2008

    I made ANOTHER batch yesterday to send to my son and dil in Arizona. I think they will "go nuts" over these!

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  30. Anonymous12/12/2008

    These are amazing. I just hope we don't eat them all before Christmas!

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  31. Anonymous12/19/2008

    Do you think this would work with walnuts instead of pecans? I'm in China and can't get pecans here. (Well, I can get them, but I have to pay a small fortune.)

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  32. anon, absolutely.
    xox
    steph

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  33. I hope to try this someday! In the meantime, I shared the link. It's on simplemakes (see at http://www.simplemakes.com/2008/12/last-minute-links-holiday-gifts-foods.html).

    Thanks for the post :-) Any comments on mine will be much appreciated! :-)

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  34. Anonymous12/24/2008

    Sorry, this recipe did not make nearly enough. I don't know how I am going to keep enough until tonight when I was going to bring them to an open house. Ohmygosh yummy! So...can I double the recipe but keep the time at 2 hours?

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  35. New Crockpotter11/10/2009

    what on earth did I do before I had a slow cooker? (3 days ago) and thank heavens I found this blog!!

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