Nov 23, 2008
Spiced nuts are always a hit at holidays, but I use them all year long for toppings on muffins, sweet yeast breads, salads and yogurt. There is a simple trick to making them though. I use a candy thermometer and cook the sugar, cinnamon, and water mixture to the "soft ball" stage, approximately 238 degrees. Then I add the nuts (I use about 3 cups of any kind of nuts I happen to have on hand), and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture starts to lose it "shine". (It will look almost "dull") Immediately pour onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. My mother used to add nutmeg and cloves to her spiced walnuts. There were rarely any left over after the first day!
—Tinkerbell