Honey Roasted Cashews

Honey roasted cashews are a perfect blend of sweet and crunchy. They are the perfect snack for any occasion. A light honey glaze brings out the buttery flavor of the cashews. In this honey roasted cashews recipe, I show you how to create this delicious treat at home.

This is only one of many easy honey recipes that you can make quickly with little effort. A small handful is a quick snack. And, honey roasted cashews are great as a topping on your favorite yogurt.

How to Make Perfect Honey Roasted Cashews at Home

Making perfect honey cashews at home is easier than you may think. Achieving the ideal balance of crunch and sweetness makes them irresistible. With only a few simple ingredients (that you likely already have) and a few steps – you will have a delicious snack.

Cashews are low in sugar and high in fiber. Like many other nuts and seeds, they are antioxidant powerhouses.

They provide copper, magnesium and other nutrients that are important for a good immune system and brain health. Per serving, cashews provide almost the same amount of protein as some cooked meats.

Butter

It seems that a little butter makes everything better. I prefer real butter but if you want to use margarine – I won’t tell. You can choose salted or unsalted butter. If sodium is not a major concern, go for the salted option – I think it tastes better.

It is a good idea to slice the butter into smaller chunks prior to melting. This makes it easier to melt without burning.

Honey

Most of the honey you buy at the grocery will be regular wildflower honey which is made from the nectar of many different plants. Monofloral honey – such as clover honey– has a distinctive flavor.

It is not necessary to be overly concerned about the (variety or) type of honey you use for roasting cashews.

Any honey works well. The sweet honey taste is just a tease – the flavor of the nut will take over. Of course, if you want to give your treats a spicy kick – try using my Jalapeno Hot Honey – that might be interesting.

Honey never spoils if stored properly and can be used in so many ways. In fact, the use of honey in baking is common in the food industry.

Sea Salt

Sea salt comes in various grinds – fine or coarse. In any recipe that asks for a sprinkle of sea salt, it seems that coarse ground gives the best results and is easier to spread without putting too much in one place. You only need a little salt for the flavor to really pop.

Equipment Needed

You don’t need any special equipment:

• mixing bowl
• utensils
• baking sheet
• access to oven

How to Roast Cashews with Honey

1. Melt the butter and honey either on the stove or in the microwave. Do this gently, don’t burn either one. If using the microwave, small bursts with plenty of stirring. Both honey and butter will scorch so go slowly.

2. Use a large bowl for mixing everything together, add nuts and honey butter mixture. Toss the nuts until all are coated.

3. While the oven is preheating, spread the coated cashews on a baking pan. Try to get a single layer with the nuts spread out across the pan. Don’t worry about each one – let’s not get crazy. But ,do avoid piling them together in clumps.

Though it is a bit of work, I like to use parchment paper to line the pan because I hate cleaning them. During baking, you will need to stir the honey cashews several times. Keep this in mind and do not fill the pan too full.

4. Just prior to placing in the oven, a light sprinkle of sea salt is nice but optional. I am using coarse grind and only using a small amount. This does raise the sodium level so discard if you are concerned about salt levels.

Bake at 325°F for about 12- 14 minutes.

Storage

After baking let the nuts cool and then break apart into individual pieces. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

I try to avoid putting honey roasted cashews in the refrigerator as this can make them soft and soggy-sometimes they lose their crunch.

However, they do freeze well and will keep for several weeks – if you want to make a large batch ahead of time.

Tips & Variations

You may try some variations such as using brown sugar or cinnamon for the sprinkle instead of salt. To enhance the honey flavor, consider adding 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract flavoring to the recipe.

For those of you who love a little heat – a few flakes of cayenne pepper might be a good idea. Smoked paprika is another flavor that some enjoy on roasted cashews.

As tasty as they are, remember cashews are classified as tree nuts and those with nut allergies must avoid them.

Also, raw cashews are unsafe to eat because they may contain a substance called urushiol.  Always properly cook them before consuming.

More Ideas

Perhaps, cashews are not really your thing? How about these Honey Roasted Almonds. The two could be mixed together for a special treat. Package them in a cute jar or tin with ribbon and labels for a sweet gift idea.

Another treat that people love is mixing cinnamon and butter. This recipe for cinnamon honey butter is a fan favorite – especially around the holidays.

If you really want to impress someone and make any day feel like a holiday – try these Honey Caramel Apples. A great way to dress up the Fall season and make use of the apple harvest.

And, if you have some extra apples on hand and need to do something with them – dry this – dehydrated apples with cinnamon and honey are awesome.

Need a fruity natural topping? Make your own honey blueberry syrup for pancake or waffle topping.

Final Thoughts

These are just a couple of ways to enjoy using honey in preparing food. Let’s say you forgot to pick up a bottle of teriyaki sauce, no problem make your own honey teriyaki sauce. It’s delicious.

A few cashews a day provides energy and helps you feel full longer. They are rich in fiber too. The perfect combination of sweet and salt, this honey roasted cashews recipe is a great addition to your snack line-up.