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Dec 16, 2019 By Jessica Beacom

Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts

Dairy-Free
Egg-Free
Gluten-free
Grain-Free
Paleo
Vegan
Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe

Food gifts, like these slow cooker spiced nuts, are a great way to share the love this holiday season!

Overhead view of a black bowl on a dark grey surface filled with Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts (includes cashews, almonds, and pecans).

How to have a merrier holiday season.

We all know that the holidays often come with all kinds of stress and emotions, especially when it comes to food. And while I’m not here to open a big can of worms about food and emotions today I am here to share this recipe for Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts because I think it’s one that you definitely need to add to your rotation for holiday meals. They’re a great addition to lots of different dishes – both sweet and savory – and they make a lovely gift for teachers, your hairstylist, gym bestie, host or hostess, mail carrier, neighbor, or anyone who loves food.

Overhead view of a black bowl on a dark grey surface filled with Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts (includes cashews, almonds, and pecans) with stem-on tangerines and a black and white plaid napkin lying next to the bowl.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

These may be habit-forming (in a good way)

It really couldn’t be any simpler than adding nuts, maple syrup, honey, orange zest, vanilla and spices (and LOVE) to a parchment paper-lined slow cooker and letting the low and slow heat work it’s caramelizing magic to create this simply amazing holiday treat.

There’s just something about the heavenly scent of cinnamon, ginger, allspice cardamon, nutmeg and vanilla that fills your home when these spiced nuts are cooking. You may find yourself making several batches this month. Some for you and some to gift to others!

 

You really should make these merry-making, holiday-enhancing, incredibly snackable Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts right now before things get too busy. I love to add them to a cheese or vegetable and hummus plate or sprinkle them over roasted pears or apples. And chances are good that your guests – like mine – will love them no matter how they’re served.

And, they really do make the sweetest little gift when packed into little jars. 

Or better yet, try tucking them into other types of reusable containers like a silicone sandwich bag, a stack of stainless steel lunch containers, an insulated coffee tumbler or water bottle for a fun, eco-friendly gift that can be enjoyed all year round.

A small jar of Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts (includes cashews, almonds, and pecans) on a dark surface with tangerines, a black and white plaid napkin, and small gold ornaments surrounding the jar.

Don’t Forget to Make Merry with these Two Simple Steps (paying particular attention to #1)

  1. Spend more time with family and friends, both old and new. The act of gathering together over food or gifting another with a homemade treat connects people in a way that social media or a quick ‘hello’ can never do. At it’s most basic, food is love.
  2. Make these Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts and share them with all of your friends. Or make them for your next holiday gathering. Or make them for a sweet little treat for lunch boxes or to add to your morning bowl of yogurt or oats. Just make them soon!

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Let's Get Cookin'

Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts

A lightly sweet treat that everyone will love. Made in the slow cooker, these Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts are simple to make and are the perfect food gift for the snack lovers on your list.

  • Author: The Real Food Dietitians
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hours 30 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hours 35 mins
  • Yield: 16 1x
  • Category: Slow Cooker, Sweets & Treats
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews

Ingredients

  • 4 cups raw mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.)
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp. honey (or additional maple syrup for vegan-friendly)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp. ground allspice
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp. ground cardamom
  • ¼ tsp. salt

Instructions

  1. Line a slow cooker with parchment paper, pressing the excess paper against the sides and creasing as needed so it lays flat against the side of the slow cooker insert.
  2. Place nuts in the slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir until nuts are evenly coated.
  3. Place lid on the slow cooker and set to LOW heat. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and stir nuts. Replace the lid.
  4. Continue cooking, stirring every 30 minutes, until nuts are sticky and fragrant (about 2 – 3 hours depending on your slow cooker).
  5. Use parchment paper to carefully lift the nuts out of the slow cooker. Place them, on the parchment paper, on a large baking sheet, stirring occasionally until completely cool.

Notes

Recipe Testing Note: While most any nut (or seed) will work for this recipe, we found that pistachios burned easily and therefore should be avoided. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 cup
  • Calories: 228
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 30mg
  • Fat: 19g
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 6g

 

What are your favorite food gifts to give and receive? Share in the comments below.

Pin this now & Make later!


All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!

 

Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter. 

 

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About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She's been described as a 'real food evangelist' and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Danielle says

    January 10, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    I made these over the Holidays…they were tasty!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      January 11, 2017 at 2:24 pm

      Great! Thanks for sharing, Danielle!

      Reply
  2. Aprille says

    August 10, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Hello,
    I do not have a slow cooker.
    Would it work to cook them in the oven?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      August 11, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      Hi Aprille,

      You can spread the nuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake the oven at 200 degrees F. I’d check them every 30 minutes or so, more frequently as they get closer to being done.

      Reply
  3. Jane says

    September 23, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    Thanks for the recipe! I am looking for some idea for food gifts for Christmas that I can make early and store in the freezer. We are doing a major remodel at the end of the year but I still want to do teacher, neighbor, friend gifts. How do you think these would store for a month or two in the freezer? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      September 26, 2017 at 7:21 am

      Hi Jane! I would suggest making this recipe soon and then freezing them to see how they hold up. You could check after a couple of weeks. My guess is that they will be fine but since they are a gift I wouldn’t want you to making several batches and then they don’t turn out how you’d like. These spiced nuts will make the perfect holiday gift!

      Reply
  4. Tammy Lopez says

    November 28, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    Can I use sugar free syrup instead of pure maple as I am diabetic?

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 8, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Tammy,

      Unfortunately you can’t. You need the sugar in the syrup to get that nice caramelized candy coating.

      Reply
  5. Caitlin says

    December 9, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    Would these need to be refrigerated? I am planning to make as Christmas gifts a few weeks early and wasn’t sure how long they would stay fresh? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      December 9, 2018 at 3:27 pm

      In the fridge would be best. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    December 9, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    Can I use a crockpot liner (bag) instead of parchment?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 10, 2018 at 7:02 am

      Yes, you could.

      Reply
  7. Erin T says

    December 11, 2018 at 8:07 am

    If you plan to gift the day after making, do they need to be refrigerated?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 18, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Hi Erin,

      They do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored at room temperature.

      Reply
  8. Peyton says

    December 16, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    How do i store these? And how long will they last? They are delicious 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      December 16, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      I store them in an airtight container in the fridge if I know they aren’t going to be eaten right away. They will last a good 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

      Reply
  9. Martha S Carapetyan says

    December 20, 2018 at 6:23 am

    These are fab-u-lous!! Is there any reason the recipe can’t be doubled? I have an enormous crockpot and a lot of raw nuts (and a lot of names on the gift list). It would be great to make a double batch in the same amount of time.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 23, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      Hi Martha,

      Thank you! You can double the batch though they’ll probably need to be stirred more often since you’ll have a larger amount of mass in the slow cooker. You may also need to add a little more cooking time depending – though I can’t be sure.

      Reply
  10. Dawn says

    December 22, 2018 at 2:04 pm

    I just made these and though they taste great, they are very gooey. Are they supposed to be gooey and sticky or did I do something wrong. I double checked my ingredients and I cooked them in the slow cooker for 3 hours on low? Thanks

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 23, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Dawn,

      They should not be gooey once fully cooled. It may be that your slow cooker isn’t as hot as ours or that your lid fits tighter (and thus does not allow as much evaporation of liquid during cooking). Next time I’d suggest cooking them longer to see if that remedies the issue.

      Reply
  11. Joanie says

    December 18, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    I can’t find raw mixed nuts at a price I can afford. Can I used roasted nuts?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      December 19, 2019 at 7:37 am

      You sure could. I would recommend using lightly salted or unsalted. Enjoy!

      Reply
  12. Traci Wehrle says

    December 21, 2019 at 7:09 pm

    Slightly disappointed, followed the recipe exactly (even measured – which is not my style at all, lol). At about the 90 minute mark, I noticed a burning smell. After they cooled, I picked out the burned ones – the non-burned remainder were yummy.
    If I try them again I think I’ll stir at 15 minute intervals instead.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 25, 2019 at 7:56 am

      Hi Traci,

      I’m sorry to hear that you had some nuts burn. Stirring more often may be a good idea in case your slow cooker has a ‘hot spot’ or two like mine does.

      Reply
  13. Sue says

    December 22, 2019 at 12:30 pm

    I just made these, delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 25, 2019 at 7:45 am

      So glad you enjoyed them, Sue!

      Reply
  14. galey says

    December 22, 2019 at 12:51 pm

    This sounds amazing! Should the nuts be soaked first?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 25, 2019 at 7:45 am

      Hi Galey,

      You can soak and dry the nuts before adding them to the slow cooker if that is your preference but it’s certainly not necessary.

      Reply
  15. carol says

    January 10, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Can you use a slow cooker liner bag instead of parchment paper? These sound delicious by the way

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      January 13, 2020 at 6:47 am

      Yes, that should work! And they are soooooo delicious! Enjoy

      Reply
  16. Emily says

    January 21, 2020 at 8:25 am

    These look great! But I’m doing a whole 30. Will the slow cooker work the same to toast the nuts with the oil and spices, omitting the sugars? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      January 21, 2020 at 9:43 am

      Hi Emily! Yes you could still use the slow cooker even without the maple syrup. Enjoy!

      Reply
  17. Tanya Batche says

    December 2, 2020 at 8:29 am

    Would agave work in this recipe rather than maple syrup?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 2, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      It should work just fine as it’s about the same consistency as maple syrup.

      Reply
  18. Kayla says

    December 28, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    Made this recipe over the holidays. Delicious!!

    Reply
  19. Marie Trudeau says

    January 7, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    Hi! Jessica.
    I would love doing this recipe, but I do not have cardamon. Should I replace it by something else or just omit this ingredient.
    Thank-You for letting me know. I would like to give them has a present!😊

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      January 11, 2021 at 7:54 pm

      You can just leave it out and they’ll still be delicious.

      Reply

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