Recipe: Spicy Glazed Nut Mix

About 4 cups

Glazing the nuts with spices and adding a touch of sweetness, makes them the perfect nibble before dinner with an aperitif. Be sure to use coarse salt which has an appealing crunchy texture and more delicate flavor than ordinary table salt.

2 cups mixed nuts (untoasted); any combination of cashews, whole almonds, pecan halves, and hazelnuts

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse or kosher salt

2 cups small pretzel twists

1. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and roast in a 350 degree oven for 12 minutes, stirring once for even toasting.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, and maple syrup. Add the warm nuts, pretzels, and salt, and stir until the nuts and pretzels are completely coated.

3. Spread the mixture back on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 10 minutes, stirring twice during cooking. Remove from oven and cool completely, separating the nuts and pretzels as they cool.

Once cool this mixture can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Once cool, they can be stored in an airtight container for 4 days.