The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
These air fryer sweet and spicy mixed nuts are one of those snacks that feel gourmet but take almost no effort.
With just a quick toss in a simple glaze and a few minutes of heat, you’re munching on a bowl of delicious nuts that are good for holidays, game day, charcuterie boards, or simple snacking.
We love them because the three different nuts – pecans, almonds, and walnuts – work together and bring out the flavors of the glaze differently. Taste for yourself!
Ingredients
To make these mixed nuts in the air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:
- Pecans, raw – They taste delicious in this mix (Eric’s favorite), but can be expensive, so feel free to substitute with walnuts or almonds.
- Almonds, raw – Be sure to use raw almonds, not previously roasted almonds.
- Walnuts, raw – Use unseasoned, raw walnuts (Lisa’s favorite when roasted).
- Maple syrup – Use real maple syrup for the best taste.
- Melted butter – Preferably unsalted so you can better control the salt content, but you can also use salted butter and reduce the extra salt you add.
- Salt – We use regular table salt, but you can also use fine sea salt. Adjust to taste.
- Ground cinnamon – For some additional flavor.
- Cayenne pepper – Adds the spicy kick; adjust the amount depending on your heat tolerance and preference.
- Smoked paprika – Optional addition.
Recipe Tips
- You can adjust the ingredients accordingly – more sweet, more heat, salt, or otherwise – to suit your taste.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer, or the nuts may not toast evenly.
- Watch closely, the nuts can go from perfect to burnt very quickly.
- The nuts may feel slightly soft when hot. They will crisp more as they cool.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Add the nuts as well as the maple syrup, melted butter, salt, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika (optional) to a mixing bowl.
Mix well until the nuts are evenly coated.
Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Then add the nuts to the air fryer basket in one even layer.
Air fry for approximately 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes, or until roasted. Watch closely during the last 1-2 minutes to prevent burning. The exact cooking time can vary.
Remove the nuts from the air fryer and spread them out on a large plate or baking sheet to cool. Then transfer them to a serving bowl or an airtight container. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
These sweet and spicy nuts are great because they store well. Allow them to cool fully, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Honestly, they probably won’t last that long, though – we eat them in a few days every time.
Related Recipes
If you need more air fryer snack ideas, we’ve got you:
- Air Fryer Roasted Almonds
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Air Fryer Potato Peels
- Crispy Air Fried Fava Beans
- Air Fried Pumpkin Seeds
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
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Air Fryer Sweet and Spicy Nuts
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans, raw
- 1 cup almonds, raw
- 1 cup walnuts, raw (halves, not chopped)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, unsalted
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
Instructions
- Add 1 cup pecans, 1 cup almonds, and 1 cup walnuts to a medium mixing bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more to taste), and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional) to the bowl. Toss well until the nuts are evenly coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Add the coated nuts into the air fryer basket and give the basket a shake to settle them in an even layer.
- Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for approximately 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes, or until roasted. Watch closely during the last 1-2 minutes to prevent burning. The exact cooking time can vary.
- Remove the nuts and spread them out on a large plate or baking sheet to cool. They will crisp up further as they cool.
- Transfer the cooled nuts to a serving bowl or airtight container.
Video
Notes
- Pecans taste delicious in this nut mix but can be expensive, so feel free to substitute with more walnuts or almonds.
- You can adjust the ingredients to your taste (more maple syrup for slightly sweeter nuts, more cayenne pepper for more spice, more smoked paprika for a smokier flavor, etc.)
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer, or the nuts may not toast evenly.
- Watch closely, the nuts can go from perfect to burnt very quickly.
- The nuts may feel slightly soft when hot. They will crisp more as they cool.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
