Orange Spiced Nuts
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Recipe type: Candy, snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6 cups
 
These crunchy, buttery, sweet nuts have a hint of orange and spice. They are completely irresistible and are sure to be a hit at any party. Recipe from The Land O' Lakes Country Cookbook
Ingredients
  • 2 cups whole blanched almonds
  • 1 ½ cups pecan halves
  • 1 ½ cups filberts (hazelnuts)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp. cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. nutmeg
  • Pinch salt
  • 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp. grated orange peel
  • ½ cup butter or margarine
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Spread nuts in jelly roll pan. Bake, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly toasted. (Omit this step if using toasted nuts.)
  2. In small bowl stir together sugar and spices.
  3. Using a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat egg whites at high speed, scraping bowl often, until soft peaks form, about 1 to 2 minutes. Continue beating, gradually adding sugar mixture, until stiff peaks form, another 1 to 2 minutes. By hand, fold in orange zest and nuts.
  4. In same jelly roll pan, melt butter in oven—about 4 to 6 minutes. Spread nut mixture over butter. Bake, stirring every 5-10 minutes, for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until nuts are brown and no butter remains. Cool completely and transfer to an airtight container.
Notes
-As long as you have 5 cups of nuts, it doesn't really matter if you have the ones specified in the recipe. You could even do all one kind of nut. The mix I buy from Costco includes Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, cashews (really good), almonds, and pecans.
-Add other spices, if desired, such as clove, allspice, cardamom, cayenne or chili powder.
Recipe by Cafe Johnsonia at https://cafejohnsonia.com/2008/12/orange-spiced-nuts.html