Candied Nuts & Santa’s Reindeer

Hi Everyone,

Happy Saturday to you!!  Today I have for you a very addicting recipe!!  This recipe is so good, so easy, and so delicious and is perfect for gifting giving.  How much better can it get!  Well let me show you!!

These are my Mixed Candied Nuts.  Oh my gosh, they are so sweet!  With a slight hint of cinnamon and a touch of salt!  You have everything you want in these nuts.  It’s healthy, full of protein, sweet, salty and crunchy.  I am in pure nut heaven and I can’t stop eating them!!!  Really I can’t keep my hand out of the tupperware I have them stored in!!

Since I am trying, ha ha to be good I used my NuNaturals Presweet Tagatose, but you could also probably use splenda, I am sure that would work too.  That way I won’t have added sugar, but I will include the sugar calories for you.  Let me tell you, I so cheated when making these sweet delectable little treats.  To make, I placed all of my nuts in a skillet, turned the heat on to medium high, added water, sugar, and cinnamon.

I brought the nuts to a boil, stirred occasionally while waiting for the water to evaporate.  Then I kept stirring it so the nuts and sugar wouldn’t burn.  Cooked it until it got thick and syrupy and then poured it on to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool.

I used two forks to separate the nuts so they weren’t all stuck together.  However the stuck together pieces are my favorite because there is more sugar stuck to them.  After I separated them I added a pinch of salt for that savory flavor.  The whole process took maybe 20 minutes or so.  I let them cool for about two hours, then it was time for bed, so I broke apart a few more pieces by hand and placed the nuts in a tupperware for safe keeping.

When making these I used the last bits and pieces of nuts that I had from baking last week.  I used 1 cup each of cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts.  You can use what ever nuts you like, just be sure they are all the same size for even cooking.  The cashews and almonds are my favorite.  The candied nuts make for a wonderful gift to give!  They are also perfect for snacking and topping on salads.  Love them in a nice apple salad!!  Candied Nuts reminds me of the time, back in my early, early 20’s when my boyfriend, Husband now, went to Letchworth Park in NY.  There was an arts and crafts festival and it was snowing and cold!!!  I remember walking around freezing to death, so we got hot apple cider and then the smell hit us, fresh cinnamon nuts being made right there.  Oh we couldn’t resist.  We just had to buy a bag.  That was my first time ever having candied nuts.  They were so good!!  Incredibly good!!!  Ever since then I have been hooked.  This is my first time making them and the taste brought me back to that wonderful time in my life.

Candied Nuts

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 4 cups

• Serving size: 16 servings at ¼ cup each

Prep time:  2 mins

Cook time:  13 mins

Total time:  15 mins

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A rich, sweet mixture of nuts candied with sugar and flavored with cinnamon and salt.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup pecans
• ½ cup water
• 2 cups sugar (I used NuNaturals PreSweet Tagatose)
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon, ground
• 2 dashes salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set a side.
2. In a large skillet add all your ingredients (but the salt). Turn the heat up to medium - high. Stir occasionally until water is evaporated, about 7 minutes. Then keep stirring until sugar gets thick and brown, about 5 minutes longer. If you smell the nuts, they are done, you don't want to burn them.
3. Quickly pour nuts onto prepared baking sheets and with two forks, pull the nuts apart the best you can to separate them. Sprinkle with just a pinch of salt.
4. Let them sit until completely cooled. Break apart any nuts stuck together
5. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Calories per serving using NuNaturals instead of sugar: 223.9, Fat: 17, Cholesterol: 0, Sodium: 1.6, Potassium: 168, Carbs: 30, Fiber: 2.4, Sugar: 1.3, Protein: 4.8

Calories using sugar: 284, Fat: 17, Cholesterol: 0, Sodium: 1.6, Potassium: 168, Carbs: 31.3, Fiber: 2.4, Sugar: 26.3, Protein: 4.8

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Oh, I have to tell you, my Husband called me a jerk last night!! Yah, can you believe it?  He asked are you making granola, I said nope.  I said here have some nuts, he said no, I said come on, try them, fine he said.  I said are they good? He said yah!  Then he went to watch tv, and about 30 seconds later he was back in the kitchen pulling the nuts off of the baking sheet, then he said you’re a jerk!!!  I said there addicting aren’t they, yes!!  Needless to say, Hubby likes them! I don’t mind being called a jerk when it’s meant in a good way!  lol

Now I must package the nuts up because I am not kidding you, I can’t stop eating them!!!  I have to stop.  I probably consumed my calories for the day in nuts!  They are so filling, yet I can’t stop!!  I need to go to nuts anonymous!  All week it has been nuts!!!  I think I’m nuts!!  I didn’t make peanut butter this week for the reason I am trying to stay away, so what do I do?  Make PB&J Thumbprint Cookies then candied nuts!  Yah I do have a nut problem!!

Have a great weekend!  Stay warm and make some toasty nuts!  Not only do they taste good, the smell of nuts and cinnamon in the air is so comforting and relaxing!  It’s a smell that will bring people together! Ok, maybe that was a little too much, I am totally out of control!  Going to package the nuts up now!

Again, have  a great weekend!

Toodles,

Jen

P.S.  I totally forgot to share this with you.  My Friend Janet sent me this link to watch Santa feed the reindeer.  It’s a live cam.  She said her granddaughter watches it,waiting for Santa to feed then reindeer and then he waves to the camera.  Her granddaughter asked, can Santa see me, she said yes, and then she begged to turn it off.  he he   Here’s the link!  http://reindeercam.com/  It’s funny!  Going to watch Santa feed the reindeer int he morning so I can see him wave.  I’m so dorky!

When does Santa feed the reindeer?

Everyday November 16th through December 24th. Find your timezone below:

• PST (Pacific) – 8AM, 3PM & 6PM
• MST (Mountain) – 9AM, 4PM & 7PM
• CST (Central) – 10AM, 5PM & 8PM
• EST (Eastern) – 11AM, 6PM & 9PM
• GMT UTC – 4PM, 11PM, 2AM

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