These honey-roasted cashews are baked to golden perfection and have the best crunch. They're the perfect snack for game day, a great addition to your charcuterie board, or a tasty topping to your morning breakfast.
Some mornings, I need a bit of a pick-me-up. Okay, I need something sweet. I love adding these nuts to my yogurt, and these gluten-free yogurt brands are some of my favorites. But I'll let you in on a bit of a secret: Cashews are not actually nuts! According to Iowa State University, they're seeds. You've got to admit you do learn something new every day.
Easy Honey Roasted Cashews Recipe
We love snacking on these honey-roasted cashews. The struggle is real when you need to up your intake of nuts and seeds but with this candied version, you can hit those goals with some help. According to Harvard Health cashews are a better choice than low-fat chips.
My favorite thing about these "nuts" is that they are so versatile in what you can use them for. It is not just about a good snack that is perfect for entertaining. But they're delicious sprinkled over your favorite yogurt, ice cream, or parfait. You can even add them to your favorite salad.
One of our favorite things to do is package these up into edible gifts in mason jars for our neighbors, teachers, and friends over the Christmas season.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Versatile ingredient. It can be used as a salty snack, an addition to your dessert treat, and even added to your favorite salad.
Make it ahead. These roasted nuts can be made ahead of time for any sporting event like the Super bowl and other game days. Everyone loves the blend of salty and sweet.
Perfect for gift giving. Add these to a nice recycled jar, pop on a ribbon and you have an edible gift everyone loves.
Note that these are some of my favorites, but I have many more gluten-free appetizer and snack recipes.
Main Ingredients For This Honey-Roasted Cashews Recipe
These ingredients are a little different from pantry staples, so you may need to find a specialty grocery store depending on where you live or place an online order.
- Cashews are the main ingredient. I always suggest you buy plain cashews so you can then add your own flavor to it.
- Honey is used for the thick glossy and sticky coating. This coating helps the spices stick to each nut.
- Melted Butter helps the honey to spread evenly.
- Smoked Paprika adds a smoky flavor and helps to balance out the sweetness.
- Kosher Salt helps all the flavors to work together. I also use sea salt.
- Cayenne Pepper is an optional ingredient but if you like a bit of spice, I strongly recommend you add it in.
Equipment Needed For This Honey-Roasted Cashew Recipe
This recipe only needs a few pieces of equipment which you more than likely have available. You'll need a nice big mixing bowl. A whisk to combine the cashew coating. A baking tray is great for you to distribute the cashews out and then they can bake evenly. Don't forget to add parchment paper so it makes for an easier cleanup. I also have a nice jar I place them in, so they stay nice and fresh.
How To Make This Honey-Roasted Cashews
Follow along for the step-by-step process below, so you can visually see the results.
Prepare the Honey Mixture
In a small mixing bowl, add honey, melted butter, paprika, salt, and cayenne.
Mix the Ingredients
Stir the mixture until fully combined.
Prepare the Cashews
Add the raw cashews to a large mixing bowl.
Coat the Cashews
Pour the honey mixture over the cashews.
Mix Until Evenly Coated
Fold gently with a spoon until all cashews are fully coated.
Transfer to Baking Sheet
Spread the coated cashews onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake the Cashews
Bake (also known as roasting) at 325°F for 15-20 minutes, tossing every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
Cool & Serve
Remove them from the oven. Serve warm or let cool to room temperature. Toss them apart to break any clusters and enjoy!
Making These Honey-Roasted Cashews (Recipe In Eight Steps)
Here is a collage showing you all the steps above. It's so easy to make and taste so good!
Tips For Making This Honey-Roasted Cashews
- Use raw cashews. Other varieties that are salted or with added flavors may not go with this coating.
- Mix the coating well. You want the coating to be mixed so all the flavors are combined.
- Check the cashews. When baking them make sure you check them every 5 minutes or so as they can burn quickly.
- Bake with parchment paper. The coating can be hard to remove from the baking sheet, so use parchment paper.
- Break them apart. Let the cashews cool completely, and if they clump together while warm enough to touch without burning yourself, break them apart.
- Store them in an airtight container. You want to maintain that nice crunch so store them in a container for up to 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is fairly easy to make, but here are some common questions that are asked.
Where Do You Find Gluten-Free Cashews?
We found certified gluten-free raw cashews at Karma Nuts and Nuts.com!
How Do I Store My Honey-Roasted Cashews?
Store them in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Can I Freeze Honey-Roasted Cashews?
I would not freeze these as the coating will not be as crunchy. However, if you do decide to you can place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure you cool them first. I would suggest you place them back in the oven after they have defrosted so you can develop the crunch again.
Can You Make This Honey-Roasted Cashews Recipe Ahead Of Time?
Yes. You can make this easy recipe up to 7 days in advance. Make sure to store it in an airtight container.
What Variations Can I Make To This Honey-Roasted Cashews Recipe?
Here are a few variation ideas you can try:
- Change the flavor - One nice thing about this recipe is you can mimic your favorite flavors like cinnamon, curry powder, or cumin.
- Change the type of nuts used - Use almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or hazelnuts.
Honey-Roasted Cashews
These honey-roasted cashews are the perfect snack for game day with a nice honey coating and a great crunch.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cashews
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper, optional for spicy version
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl add honey, butter, paprika, salt, and cayenne. Stir well.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cashews and pour over the honey mixture. Fold gently until all of the cashews are evenly coated.
- Spread the nuts into a single layer on a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing the nuts every 5 minutes to ensure they cook evenly.
- Serve the nuts warm, or let them cool and serve at room temperature. Break the nuts apart if they stick together. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use raw cashews. Other varieties that are salted or with added flavors may not go with this coating.
- Mix the coating well. You want the coating to be mixed so all the flavors are combined.
- Check the cashews. When baking them make sure you check them every 5 minutes or so as they can burn quickly.
- Bake with parchment paper. The coating can be hard to remove from the baking sheet, so use parchment paper.
- Break them apart. Let the cashews cool completely, and if they clump together while warm enough to touch without burning yourself, break them apart.
- Store them in an airtight container. You want to maintain that nice crunch so store them in a container for up to 7 days.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 629Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 674mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 3gSugar: 27gProtein: 13g
This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.
Did you make this Honey-Roasted Cashews recipe? If so, please leave a comment and a starred review and let me know what you think.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Tag @glutenfreepalate on Instagram and hashtag it #glutenfreepalatebaker so we can see all the deliciousness!
Leave a Question or Comment