by Rosalee de la Foret

Here’s a spicy sweet idea combining pecans and spices that your friends and family will love to receive as gifts.

Not only is this a tasty treat, but a potentially healthy one as well.

Scientific research into the nutritional profile of pecans reports that these nutrient dense nuts have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and even may help with diabetes.

Pecans are high in anti-oxidants, magnesium and vitamin E.

Also, this wholesome and yummy treat is low in sugar, something we can all cut down on during the holiday season.

Cinnamon and chili spiced pecans

To make this recipe you’ll need:

• 4 cups of pecans
• 6 Tablespoons of butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1/8 cup of honey or to taste

(Get cinnamon and chili powder here)

Pre-heat the oven to 325^o.

Place the pecans in a shallow roasting pan.

Gently heat the butter in a small pan.

Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the spices and honey.

Once this mixture is combined, pour it over the pecans and stir well until all the pecans are coated with the sauce.

Place the pecans in the pre-heated oven. Total cooking time for the nuts will be about 20 minutes, but you want to stir them about every 5-7 minutes.

When they are done they will have darkened slightly and smell temptingly delicious!

Let the nuts cool. You can either place them in cello bags to be given as gifts,  or even use them as party appetizers for your next holiday get together. 

You can buy the spices for this recipe along with cello bags (vegetable cellulose bags) at Mountain Rose.

Nuts can be spiced in so many different ways. Sweet or savory, buttery or dry.