Homemade Gifts: Spiced Cocktail Nuts

There is still more than enough time to make some really fantastic holiday gifts.  These spicy spiced cocktail nuts cook up in no time, are a cinch to make, and require very few ingredients.

Spiced Cocktail Nuts

slightly modified recipe taken from the fabulous Tartine Bakery Cookbook

5 sprigs fresh thyme

3 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
7-8 cups or 40oz mixed nuts (I used mainly almonds, but also included peanuts, pepitas, and cashews)

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a jelly roll pan with parchment or a silpat.

Pick the leaves from the thyme and rosemary, then coarsely chop.  Mix together the herbs, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and the corn syrup in a large bowl.  Mix in the nuts with your hands.  The mixture will distribute more evenly once it's heated.

Put the mixture on the jelly roll pan and into the oven.  Make sure to mix your nuts and turn your pan several times during cooking.  They should be roasted and toasty brown in about 15-20 minutes.  Cool the nuts completely.  Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

I plan to package them up simliary to this, though I'd do them in small ziplocks inside the brown back to help with freshness.

Adorable bag tutorial found at The Party Studio