Texan BBQ candied nuts – RecipeTin Eats

July 24, 2025

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These Texan BBQ flavoured candied nuts are my present nibbling obsession. Savoury sufficient for pre-dinner drinks. Simply candy sufficient to be an after dinner deal with! You could possibly even package deal them up and present – assuming they don’t mysteriously “disappear” beforehand….

Texan BBQ candied nuts

Hi there weekend. And whats up celebration nuts!

I’ve been that means to share a candied nuts recipe for ages, being my go-to means to make use of up half-empty nut packets. I used to be going to maintain it basic with simply cinnamon……. however then I made these BBQ spiced ones and couldn’t return.

Smoky, savoury, candy and a teeny bit spicy, impressed by Texan barbecue flavours, these nuts have a crisp sweet coating (not sticky!) and are dangerously moreish. Put out bowls for pre-dinner drinks and also you’ll should maintain topping them up as a result of everybody retains “simply having yet another!”

Elements in Texan BBQ candied nuts

Right here’s my favorite nut mixture for these celebration nuts, however use what you’ve obtained and what you want, whether or not roasted or uncooked. For even cooking, attempt to use nuts across the similar dimension.

The nuts: Use any unsalted nuts, uncooked or roasted, however intention for related sizes so that they roast evenly (eg. don’t combine pistachios with Brazil nuts). I used cashews, almonds, and pecans – I like the mix of textures and flavours. Pecans get additional sweet caught in crevices whereas cashews get a shiny toffee coat – I like this distinction. And sure, totally different nuts = totally different flavours!

Uncooked vs roasted? Uncooked is good as they roast whereas candying, however I’ve used each (and combined uncooked with roasted) and actually couldn’t inform a lot distinction. I believe the sweet coating supplies safety so the warmth that will get inside is extra ambient than for bare nuts – robust sufficient to roast uncooked nuts however not so harsh that it burns already roasted nuts. Idea – however gosh, does that sound like I do know what I’m speaking about?!!🤣

Different nuts: I’ve accomplished this with combined nuts, single varieties (pecans = fave), and the whole lot in between. I wasn’t an enormous fan of pistachios with the spice combine, and Brazil nuts are a bit chunky for my style. However actually, go along with what you’re keen on!
White sugar works higher than brown (bit extra sticky). Honey and maple don’t crisp up as properly, they’re sticky too (within the portions we want for this recipe).
Butter – Smidge of fats to assist the sweet coat the nuts a bit of extra evenly and offers it a beautiful shine. Plus – butter flavour. We like, at all times! 🙂
Spices – Chipotle and smoked paprika deliver smokey Texan vibes to the spice combine, then the opposite spices are assist acts. However don’t fret in case you are lacking one or two! As with most recipes with a lot of spices, you possibly can swap and sub:
- Smoked paprika – it’s paprika, however smoky. 🙂 Not spicy. Substitute with common paprika (aka candy paprika) or spicy paprika in case you dare.
- Chipotle powder is spicy and superbly smoky – sub with extra smoked paprika + 1/4 tsp cayenne (skip cayenne for no spicy)
- Cumin and coriander – if lacking one, depart it out. If lacking each, you gained’t get Texan Cowboy vibes. 🥲
- Garlic and onion powder will be substituted with extra of both.
- Cayenne pepper – Additional spice kick for the courageous.

How you can make Texan BBQ candied nuts

The straightforward strategy to make candied nuts is to do it solely on the range or solely within the oven. Way back I used a hybrid technique from Chef John of Meals Needs (hilarious and is aware of his stuff, I really like him!) and I’ve by no means seemed again: make the sweet coating on the range, toss with nuts, then end within the oven.

Sure, it’s one additional step nevertheless it’s value it as a result of the tip result’s higher: no burnt patches (infamous range drawback), decrease upkeep, with a lightweight even coating on every nut that’s crisp and dry, not sticky.

BBQ sweet coating – Soften the butter then add the sugar, water, all of the spices and salt. Give it a combination then simmer gently for two minutes, stirring frequently so the bottom doesn’t catch. Going for the total 2 minutes is essential right here to get a very good dry crispy coating on the nuts, moderately than the sticky kind that will get caught in your tooth.
Pour the sweet coating straight over the nuts.

Toss properly! Take a very good 30 seconds and a rubber spatula to toss properly and coat the nuts as evenly as you possibly can. The sweet coating ought to all keep on with the nuts, no pool on the backside of the bowl – as a result of we went a bit of additional on the range to toffee it properly.
Bake – Unfold the nuts in a single layer on a foil and paper lined tray then bake for 10 minutes at 180°C/350°F (160C fan-forced).

Toss properly (I take advantage of a rubber and metallic spatula collectively) then bake for additional 10 minutes till deep golden. There must be no toffee on the paper, it’s all caught to the nuts – yay!
Break up and harden – Let it cool for 10 minutes on the tray then break it up together with your fingers into particular person nuts (simpler to do when barely heat). Then depart it to totally cool so the sweet coating crisps up. Then – assault!

Retailer these in an hermetic container in a cool dry place for a few weeks. If it’s highly regarded and humid the place you’re, they could get a bit sticky however that is simply mounted – simply pop it within the oven for five minutes then let it totally cool once more.

It’s Friday. I do know you’ve obtained a hodge-podge of random nuts in your pantry, simply ready for use. What are you ready for?!! These nuts and a beer are calling your title!!! 😊 – Nagi x

PS Forgot to say – they make a fantastic present too, as a result of they maintain for weeks. 🙂 Additionally wonderful so as to add to platters, roughly chop and sprinkle on salads.