I wanted to give Skylar’s teachers and a few friends of mine a little something homemade for the holidays.
Knowing that cookies, brownies, and chocolate this-or-that goodies are very plentiful this time of year, I decided to get nutty to go in a different direction and roasted some almonds instead.
Roasting these nuts was a continuation of the Butter Up My Husband Project since he goes ga-ga for roasted almonds and maybe he’ll spring for a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for me.
I can dream.
So far I haven’t gotten that stand mixer.
But Skylar’s teachers told me they liked them and so did my friends so that was a success.
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Coconut Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Almonds (Vegan; Gluten, Soy, & Dairy Free)
1- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (or olive oil, grapeseed oil or other preferred oil if you don’t like coconut)
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp white sugar + pinch more after roasting
1 c almonds (I used smoked but raw, roasted, salted, plain, smoked; use what you have and prefer)
Optional, all to taste:
1 tbsp+ shredded coconut flakes
pinch ginger
pinch nutmeg
pinch cardamom
pinch brown sugar
Directions: Preheat oven to 325F. Combine all ingredients except for the almonds in a bowl and mix. Add the almonds to the oil and spice mixture, and toss to combine. Spread almonds in a single layer on a parchment, foil, or Silpat-lined cookie sheet (for easier cleanup) and roast for 15-20 minutes until lightly toasted, or until desired toasting and browning level is reached. Watch them because sugar burns so keep an eye on them. Allow to cool slightly and serve. Top with a pinch more sugar, coconut flakes, or other spices, as desired. Will keep in an airtight container or jar for week(s).
Double, triple, or quadruple recipe as desired if making for a party or making extra in advance for leftover, for gifts, etc.
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If you have more of a sweet tooth than a savory tooth when it comes to nuts, these are for you.
And if you want to deepen the flavor, add some warming spices to them like ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, garam masala, or whatever floats your nutty boat.
Or add brown sugar. That will cause them to become more caramely like cinnamon and sugar roasted chickpea “peanuts”.
The more brown sugar you add, the more caramely and saucy things will become which is my preference but I kept these nuts drier because not every loves goopy saucy nuts
Scott’s more of a dry nut guy. Yes, keep the nut jokes coming. It’s okay. I know everyone’s mind is in the gutter.
If you have more of a savory palate when it comes to nuts, try Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds
Or just go to town on the cinnamon ‘n sugar variety.
Questions:
1. Are you making any homemade gifts this year?
Either food or baked gifts, crafts, sewing gifts, a photo book you made, etc.?
I am so inspired by all the things I see on Pinterest from crafts to food. More “inspiration” than time to create that’s for sure..
2. If you’re making food items for others or as a gift, do you have a go-to or a signature item you like to give?
I never know what to give people so just go with what I feel like making that day and what I think they’ll enjoy but an never quite certain.
I hope that old adage is true, ‘the best gifts are the homemade kind’. Sure, I’ll go with that and hope for the best.
P.S. The winner of the Enjoy Life Giveaway is Claire @ Live and Love to Eat. Congrats, Claire!
3. Any Black Friday Shopping for you?
I didn’t set foot in the stores and actually tried to take advantage of a few rock-bottom online deals I saw on a couple items, but the items I wanted were sold out. At 12:05am!
Have a great Holiday Weekend!
I am all about homemade gifts! I was going to make honey roasted peanuts for my sweet nut, but I’ll give these a try too! They sound delicious!!
If you do, LMK! :)
I just made roasted almonds the other night and actually put some in my salad. It was so good. I must try your recipe next time!
I am always giving away cookies. Everybody loves them and I am known for standing in the kitchen for 8 hours straight (baking christmas cookies.).
I still have to make those chickpeas – they looks so sticky and goooood!
Yes and so easy. Make them. And I still want to make your baked grapes.
So cool! I’m planning on making nut/seed/dried fruit candied mixes for a good part of my holiday gifts. This sounds like a good recipe. I’m guessing it wouldn’t work as well in the dehy because you want the sugars to caramelize–am I right?
Spent Black Friday in the airport, and honestly didn’t feel like I missed anything!
I hope you get your mixer!
well that and it would take about….36 hrs and by that time the urge to eat them has long since passed. Im more of a 20 minute gratification girl :)
Oooo I love cinnamon almonds.. and I’d do anything for a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer! This year I plan to make baked gifts, haven’t decided what I’m making yet :)
Love cinnamon almonds! I will be making and jarring spaghetti sauce and maybe more of my chipotle cranberry relish again. I think homemade gifts are much more special.
Oh your chipotle cran relish sounds awesome….I don’t remember seeing that one. Thanks for the reminder to look for it on your site because…yum!
Definitely no Black Friday shopping for me! Insanity. I totally miss almonds, wish my body could tolerate them! But walnuts and peanuts rock. And I totally have to your chickpea “peanuts” because caramel and sugar is just about the greatest thing ever.
I think you’d love ’em!
LOVE toasting and roasting my own nuts!
Mmmm I love just about anything with a sweet, sugar-cinnamon-y glaze!! I would definitely add in the optional nutmeg and brown sugar. Coconut oil to hold it all together is an awesome idea, too!
These look delicious! I love the addition of coconut flakes!
And I really dislike shopping, so no Black Friday for me. I think I’ll try to make as many gifts as I can this year!
What an elegant and tasty gift idea. Yeah, I did buy a $50 itunes giftcard online for $45. That was the extent of my Black Friday deal-wrangling. I looked at some online deals, and yep, you’re right, they were sold OUT. Boo.
You are awesome. I love almond everything, and I bet these are fantastic still hot from the oven. I’d gift them, but I’d probably have to sample each batch and…well…it’s just too risky.
Thanks for another good recipe!
I am making most of my gifts this year — I paint and draw so that comes in handy! We did go shopping downtown yesterday, and bought a used book from a local bookstore — we figured that was a safe bet!
You could seriously make a business selling these online or in stores — they look so delicious and professionally done! ALthough giving them as gifts is super nice, too!
Ohhhh just what I needed as I have a bag of almonds to use up :-)
I am determined to avoid any kind of crazy christmas shopping, spending crazy amounts of money or rushing around this year. I really want to make some homemade gifts and treats… we’ll see how that goes…
I was just debating the finer points of nuts iwth my dad and brother yesterday. We each have very distinct and strong opinions – I prefer dry roasted, unsalted; my brother likes anything sweet (honey roasted), and my dad…well, he’ll eat them all, but like the super oily, super salty ones.
My brother would LOVE these almonds. But, we are all more into the basic and boring peanut. Or cashews. That, we could agree on.
I actually love cashews and peanuts more than almonds…Scott is the almond guy :)
Awesome recipe to add to my home made gifts this year. For the most part it will be coffee we grew and roasted in our first year here in Hawaii. It’s awesome, 100% Kona coffee. It’s been a real experience. Just picking the last of this seasons cherries (beans). Lots let to roast.
No Black Friday for us. Decided to participate in White Friday and do something for someone else while spending no money instead. :)
Aloha wags!