By Samantha Iovino, University of Minnesota – The Emily Program Dietetic Intern
Honey-Maple Roasted
Nuts
(Serves a holiday crowd!)
One of my favorite parts about going home during the
holidays is visiting New York City! It’s only a 40 minute drive away from where
my family lives in New Jersey and I always try to make a trip in at least once
during my time home. The city is transformed in a winter wonderland during the
holidays. Buildings are adorned with lights, mini Christmas tree markets pop up
on the streets, and carolers are on every corner (along with dozens of Santa’s
ringing bells!).
It’s also the one time of year when I actually look forward to
the smells of the city. The air is
crisp and full of roasted chestnuts and honey roasted nuts! After ice skating
in Central Park, I love to visit one of the infamous nut stands for a bag of
honey roasted almonds (see above photo). They are sweet, toasty, crunchy, and
warm! Plus, they are totally great for your heart, thanks to their
monounsaturated fat content, and they are rich in fiber, magnesium, iron, and
calcium.
If you ever find yourself in NYC for the holidays, I highly suggest trying
those roasted nuts! In the meantime, here is my adaptation of those magical
roasted nuts! Enjoy and happy holidays!
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. honey
- 1 1/2 tbsp. real maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 lb. mixed nuts
- 2-3 tbsp. sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat
oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a
baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper.
- In a
small bowl or pot, combine honey, maple syrup, and butter. Microwave or
heat on stove top until butter is melted.
- Add
salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg to mixture and stir.
- Place
nuts in a large bowl, pour honey-maple mixture over nuts and toss to
evenly coat nuts.
- Spread
nuts on lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 6 minutes.
- Remove
from oven, toss again using a spatula, and place back in oven for 6 more
minutes.
- Remove
and pour into a new bowl, toss with 2-3 tbsp. sugar (enough to coat the
nuts).
- Let
nuts cool, stirring occasionally.
- Once
nuts are completely cooled, serve in your favorite serving bowl and enjoy!