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Caramelized Spiced Pecans

Caramelized Spiced Pecans will add the perfect amount of crunch, spice and sweetness to almost anything you add them to.
Makes 1 cup
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Cooling Time15 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Course: Ingredient, Snacks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: great on-the-go snack, great for salads
Servings: 8
Calories: 126kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • ⅛ to ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper* (depending on the amount of heat you want)
  • 1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup raw pecan halves

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine the spices with the sugar and salt. In another small mixing bowl, add the olive oil and honey to the pecans, and stir to coat them. Then sprinkle with the spice mixture and stir to blend evenly.
  • Spread this into a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the nuts are very aromatic, a deeper brown, and sizzling, about 12 minutes.
  • Let the nuts cool for about 5 minutes. Then use a flat-bottomed spatula to mix them with the melted spice mixture.* Then let them cool for at least another 10 minutes before breaking them apart and serving/using.

Notes

*When you initially pull these out of the oven, you will see that the spice mixture has melted into one piece connecting the pecans. Do not worry! Use a spatula to mix them and everything will come together.
*The amount of cayenne pepper you use will vary. I like a little heat to balance the sweetness, and I usually use ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon. Use as much or a little as you'd like. 
The nuts will be sticky for a little while after they come out of the oven, but once they cool, the coating should harden.
You can make these up to three days ahead of time, keeping them stored in an air-tight container in a cool dark place.
Calorie count is only an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcal