Fragrant, crunchy, sweet and lightly salted caramelized nuts, are no doubt the ultimate nibble. They are perfect for serving with drinks, as a part of a cheese board, or even as a tasty topping for salads. Alas, most of the store-bought ones are usually quite disappointing, so the best way to enjoy them fully is to make them at home.
There are several ways to prepare them, but the method I usually chose is the quick and straight-forward one shown here. The down side to this method is that the caramel can burn fairly quickly, so careful attention, and constant stirring, are required.
The result is these fragrant and tasty caramelized nuts, which tend to disappear very quickly. Try them and enjoy.
Notes:
* If this is your first time making caramel, be extra careful, as the caramel is extremely hot and can cause severe burns.
* Different nuts and spices, can be used instead of the almonds and spices shown here.
Makes: 2 cups
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 5-7 minutes
Ingredients:
1¾ cups almonds (see notes)
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp each: anise seeds, fennel seeds, lavender buds (see notes)
A drop of hot sauce (optional)
2 Tbs butter, cut into small cubes, soft
½ tsp coarsely ground sea salt
1. In a large non stick pan, mix the almonds, sugar, spices, hot sauce and butter. Place on medium-high heat and mix with a heatproof spatula.
2. Keep cooking and mixing for about 5-7 minutes. At first the sugar will look grainy, but gradually it will melt. This is when you want to stir it even more (remember to protect your hands), and make sure all the sugar is melted, and bubbles start to appear.
3. Once the sugar looks like a thick, amber color syrup, transfer the mixture onto a metal or marble work surface, and spread it with the spatula. Sprinkle the salt on top, while the mixture is still hot.
4. Let cool and harden before breaking into smaller pieces. Store in an airtight container, in a dry cool place, for up to two weeks.
Variations:
Almonds as above, but with “everything but the bagel” seasoning (dried garlic, dried onion, black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds and salt).
A mix of almonds and cashews, with the same spices used above.
Delicious treats!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Fabulousness! I love the butter, sugar, and hot sauce combination! Can’t wait to make them! Happy New Year!
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Thank you Mimi, I’m glad you liked the recipe and hope you’ll enjoy it. Happy New Year! 🙂
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What a great treat! Almonds are so good for us!
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Thank you Kendal, these indeed make a great treat, and even a bit healthy, compared to most. 🙂
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Welcome! I’m sure it is a healthy treat!
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Yum!
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Thank you Angela! 🙂
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Oh these would be fabulous to have around when my neighbors pop over (which they do nearly nightly!) 😀
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Thank you Annie. These are always a hit. I’m quite sure your neighbors would love them. 🙂
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Those sound fabulous, Ronit! Happy New Year!
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Thank you Jennifer, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Happy New Year, Chef Ronit! 💕🥂✨😊
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Thank you Jan, Happy New Year to you too! Keep it up with the Haiku. So clever! 🙂
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Like the seasonings you have added to the almonds, very different from what I’ve used in the past. Can’t wait to try your tasty version. Happy New Year!
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Thank you Karen, I’m glad you liked my version. It’s such fun to experiment with different spices and flavorings. Happy New Year! 🙂
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These look great! I’ll have to give them a try!
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Thank you Kelly, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy these tasty treats. 🙂
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Happy New Year
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Thank you. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Yum! This would be great for Purim.😋
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Thank you Carol, I’m glad you liked the recipe. These tasty treats would definitely be suitable for Purim. 🙂
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Happy New Year! Bringing new taste and flavour in your life!
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Thank you. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Thank you! You are welcome!
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Happy New Years Ronit! I can almost smell these. What a lovely combination of flavors and one sure to please those who are eating your caramelized almonds.
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Thank you Ron, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It’s always a big hit and the aroma in the kitchen while preparing is indeed so wonderful.
Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Wowww sign me up for this beautiful snack 😊👍
Happy New Year Ronit🎉🎉
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Thank you Jyo, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Perfect snack and a great way to deal with sweet cravings too. Wishing you a very happy new year.
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Thank you Vidya, I’m glad you liked these tasty nibbles. A very Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Love these guilt-free snacks! Have a wonderful 2019!!
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Thank you Megala, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
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Happy New Year Ronit. The almonds look perfect for my bottle of Port wine!
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Thank you! Happy New Year to you too. These almonds are indeed perfect with Port wine. 🙂
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Liked the seasoning!! Great way to eat them!
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Thank you Prachi, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The almonds turned out very tasty. 🙂
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