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Everybody, meet the perfect last-minute holiday snack, Sweet ‘n’ Savory Roasted Nuts and Pretzels.
Not sure about you guys, but I am such a sucker when it comes to anything salty like nuts and pretzels. Once I start, I just cannot stop, and this snack mix is the worst of them all.
It. Is. ADDICTING.
But it’s cool, because it’s Thanksgiving week and I have decided that anything goes…
Speaking of Thanksgiving week?! Oh my gosh, Thanksgiving is basically just one day away, I am so excited. Currently, my family and I our on our way to Cleveland to spend the holiday with extended family. We don’t normally head back to Ohio for holidays, but with my grandma’s passing in August, this was something my mom and her siblings really wanted to make happen this year. So the Gerard Fam is headed back to CLE for a few days. I’ll be mixing work with family time (as usual), but totally taking Thanksgiving off to cook a (hopefully) delicious meal and hang with family.
We’re staying at my grandparents. Mom and I will be hosting around thirty + people for Thanksgiving dinner, so not exactly a simple meal, but I’m excited to just be cooking for people I love. Curious what you guys do for Thanksgiving? For our family, Christmas is always the more celebrated holiday with the most traditions, but I’m sure this year’s Thanksgiving will be one for the books. It’s a pretty big group, with many, many personalities, so it should be interesting to say the least.
Let’s just put it this way, I expect to have plenty of fun stories to share come Monday.
With so many people coming to dinner on Thursday, I know that having snacks all throughout my grandparent’s house is going to be a must. At Christmas, I always make my mom’s Chex Mix, but for Thanksgiving I like to do something just a little different.
Chex Mix can only be eaten at Christmas…I have rules. Don’t judge.
Here’s the thing, I still wanted that extra salty component that Chex Mix offers, but I thought it would be good to throw in a little heat, a little savory, and even a little sweetness. It might seem like kind of a lot, but trust me, it works.
I used a whole bunch of raw mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, and peanuts…the cashews are my personal favorite) along with the classic pretzel twists. I roasted the nuts until toasted, then added a little soy sauce for saltiness, some spices, plus a little maple syrup for a touch of sweet to balance the spice. Lastly I added some extra rosemary for decoration.
Seriously, I’m really not sure snacks can get any better. These are beyond delicious, and as I mentioned, they’re pretty addicting. Stopping yourself from eating these takes some serious self-control. I know, that sounds a bit dramatic, but at least that was the case for me.
Just make a batch and you’ll quickly understand what I’m talking about. These are spicy, hinted with flavors of rosemary, touched with just a little sweetness, and extra salty…which is how all snack mix needs to be.
My plan is to make a big batch tomorrow, I’m talking a triple batch (again thirty people + very hungry brothers). Then I’ll set the bowls of nuts/pretzels out around the house for snacking. My grandma always had candies and bowls of nuts scattered throughout her house during the holidays, so this feels pretty on point and in good memory of how she used entertain.
Another tradition of my grandmas I’ll be carrying on this Thanksgiving? Setting the table on Wednesday night. I do this every single time I entertain. It’s one of the greatest tips my grandma ever taught me. Well, this and how to make her Dutch Baby (cookbook recipe), which yes, I will be making Thanksgiving morning along with this pumpkin spice french toast.
Cannot wait.
Hoping you are all getting as excited for Thanksgiving as I am!
PS. Do you have your menus set? Are you making some HBH recipes? I cannot wait to hear about how everything turns out. My fingers are crossed that everything turns out delicious!
Sweet 'n' Savory Roasted Nuts and Pretzels
Servings: 6 cups
Calories Per Serving: 804 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed raw nuts
- 2 cups pretzel twist
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 1 1/2 -2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon each onion and garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. On a parchment lined baking sheet, combine the nuts and spread in a single layer. Transfer to the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden and toast. Remove from the oven and add the pretzels, butter, soy sauce, maple, rosemary, cayenne, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Toss well to evenly combine. Return to the oven and roast for another 10-15 minutes or until the nuts are glazed. 3. Serve warm with additional rosemary or cool completely and store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one cup
Sharing a bowl? Yeah, probably not the best option!
PS. for all those looking for a healthy pumpkin pie recipe, I am sharing my all time favorite over on The Chriselle Factor today. Trust me, you need to give this healthy pie a try!
Hey Tieghan,
I just finished making this for my family. I made one batch with mixed nuts (tree nuts) and one batch with peanuts, sunflower seeds and pepitos. We have tree nut allergies here, so I am always making corrections so no one feels left out of the delicious food experience. We all like the peanut version VERY much! It works great! Thanks for your recipes and fun commentary. Many blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
xoxo
That is so great! Thank you Sue, I am so glad you and your family loved this recipe!
Looks delicious!! My shopping is done and I’m doing a lot of my pre baking and cooking today but I will add this to my Christmas recipe list!! (I’m hosting and doing all the food so I have a lot of work to do.)
I’m making your sweet potato casserole for tomorrow and I’m very excited. Everything I make of yours is wonderful. Thanks for what you do. (And your book is on my Christmas list!!)
Having your shopping done probably took a weight off your shoulders haha! I hope you love the casserole and the book! Thank you Liz!
It looks so good! Probably one of the most addictive treats ever 🙂 Have to try it!
Yes! I hope you love these Natalie! Thank you!
Hey Tieghan,
This nut mix looks perfect for the holidays! I hope your trip goes well and you and your mom enjoy spending time together and making dinner for everyone (would your Nonnie in mind) ☺️. My mom is doing most of the cooking for thanksgiving but I’m making your chocolate chip pecan cookies and maybe a vanilla bean apple tarte tatin from Bon Appétit. But I wanted to make one of your recipes for breakfast. What do you think? Should I try your pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes, apple stuffed pretzels, or apple cinnamon pull apart bread (from this fall)? I really want to make your pumpkin French toast but don’t have any brioche (and am not sure if I should make homemade). Is it work making the brioche? Or should I go with one of your pumpkin or apple recipes? Haha It’s only about 5 people here, but I wanted to make a nice (but stress free) breakfast.
Either way, I’m excited to try one of your recipes and I hope you have an incredible (and hopefully calming) thanksgiving! 🙂
hmm I totally love all of those recipes, but I am thinking either the pumpkin pancakes or the pull apart bread! Which ever you make I am sure it will turn out great for your family! I hope you love the pecan cookies, Kristin! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Tieghan! I went with the pumpkin pancakes and put together the dry ingredients tonight. Also, I made your chocolate hazelnut and coffee turnovers as another one of the deserts, and I’m looking forward to baking them tomorrow. Thank you for your help and I hope your cooking is going well! 🙂
I am so happy you enjoyed everything! Thank you!
Delicious looking recipe! Do you think this recipe would be fine without the pretzels (or do you have any substitute ideas)? I don’t have any on hand but would love to make this today! Thanks!
Yes! You can make this minus the pretzels. Maybe add an additional cup of nuts. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! ?
You can just omit them and use a cup more of nuts! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Your endless creativity in the kitchen is as mind-blowing as ever! Thanks for another amazing recipe, Tieghan!
Thank you Tori!
Ingredients says maple syrup. Method says brown sugar. Which is it? I have to make these today!!!!!
It’s maple! Recipe is fixed, sorry about that! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! ?
Between my husband and I, we have seven parents (divorce and remarriage) and because we are both only children and have the one and only grandkid they all insist on coming over. However, they don’t all share the same political views, so we stagger them throughout the day with a number of friends we want to see too. That means a lot of cooking for me (don’t worry I enjoy it). Your recipes, from snacks to drinks to sides, have made me a hero for the past few years. I think the all-time favorite has been the baked brie with seasoned pretzels, but I am going to give this one a try too. Thanks for all the great recipes and have a safe and happy holiday!
Sounds like a busy day, but I am sure it is nice to see everyone! I hope you love this recipe Tibby! Thank you!
I’d like to try this! Is it brown sugar or maple syrup?
It’s maple! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! ?
Got a chuckle out of your Chex Mix comment……same for our family, only at Christmas! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you Joanna! Have a great Thanksgiving!
There’s no brown sugar in ingredient list but the directions call for some?
So sorry about that, recipe is all fixed. It’s just maple. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! ?
So sorry about that. Recipe is all fixed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Making the Salted Treacle Butter Apple Pie from your cookbook and trying to convince my mom that your Chai Spice Pumpkin Pie isn’t too far from the “simple pumpkin” that she’s looking for. Can’t wait to see how they turn out! Happy Thanksgiving!!
I hope they turn out amazing for you Erica! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Looks great – but the ingredients say maple syrup and the instructions say brown sugar instead! And happy Thanksgiving!
Oops, so sorry about that! I like to use maple. Recipe is fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! ?
I’m the same, if you put a giant party sized bowl of that mix in front of me – I’d still have the whole thing gone in minutes! Looks dangerously delicious!
Rebecca
xx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Haha yes! I am so glad you like this Rebecca! Thank you!
Awesome salty snack there! And wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving right here in Cleveland 🙂
Thank you Liz!