The Easy Recipe I Make for Every Holiday Gathering

It’s not a holiday party without a classic, festive nut mix. My recipe is flavorful and easy to make, ready in just 30 minutes.

The Easy Recipe I Make for Every Holiday Gathering
overhead view of Classic Mixed Nuts on a sheet pan
Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

What would the holidays be without a festive sweet and spicy nut mix to munch on? This recipe is my go-to easy snack for when I’m entertaining. It makes the entire house smell fantastic. 

I like to make a big batch the day we put up our Christmas tree to fill the whole house with the scents of the season, then we have it on hand throughout the entire holidays. If I know company is coming, I like to make a huge batch and portion it out in gift bags to give as party favors when guests leave. 

A touch of cinnamon and ginger gives the nut mix a warm holiday flavor, while the cayenne and black pepper leave a lingering savory note that keeps you coming back for more. The nuts are fantastic on their own, but I also use them chopped in holiday salads or on top of savory casseroles for a pop of texture.

overhead view of a bowl of Classic Mixed Nuts
Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

Easy Recipe Variations

Spices: Play around with what you have on hand. I like cayenne for the bright, floral heat it lends, but if you prefer something more mild, you could swap it for 1/2 to 1 teaspoon smoked paprika instead. I also like to add a dash of ground nutmeg and cloves to punch up the festive flavor even more. 

Nuts: Anything will do! I like the combination of pecans, walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts as that is what is available at my Costco (which helps keep costs down), but any raw unsalted nut will do. I like to roast the nuts myself for the best flavor, but you can use already roasted unsalted nuts and skip that step if that’s what you have on hand.

Party Snacks

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Toast the nuts:

Line a rimmed half sheet pan with parchment paper and scatter the nuts on top. Place in the oven until they are lightly golden brown and smell toasty, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven (leaving the oven on) and set aside.

Meanwhile, make the spice mix:

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the butter mixture from the heat and whisk in the salt, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper, if using.

Coat the nuts and toast:

Pour the butter and spice mixture over the toasted nuts. Use a rubber spatula to toss the nuts to ensure they are all equally coated. 

Return the pan to the oven and roast for 8 minutes. Stir the nuts again to evenly coat, then roast until the nuts are deeply golden brown and slightly sticky to the touch, an additional 5 to 7 minutes.

Let cool and store:

Let the nuts cool completely. As they cool, they will go from slightly sticky to very crisp.

The cooled nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.