These spicy roasted cashews are crunchy and full of flavor and are an easy peasy snack that you just can’t stop eating.
They’re gluten free, vegan and are super easy to make, making them the perfect recipe to batch make over the weekend, and store for later.
I’ve recently been trying quite a few variations of roasted nuts and seeds- my Tajin nuts and chili lime pepitas, which I seasoned with my homemade Tajin seasoning mix were big hits.
I also tried keeping the flavors simple and tried a salt and vinegar almonds recipe, which was again, a huge success.
But when I saw some of that beautiful rosemary in my little herb garden, I just knew I had to put it to use, and that’s when I tried out this recipe.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
My favorite part about these crunchy spicy cashews is the fact that they’re super versatile and healthy.
These cashews pack in lots of protein and are chock full of nutrients and healthy fats, which make them a great snack to have at hand.
The easy recipe is literally the cherry on the top- you just can’t go wrong with it.
Ingredients For the Spicy Roasted Cashews Recipe
Ready to try this spicy cashews recipe? Here’s what you’ll need.
Cashews: You’ll need some unsalted, plain cashew nuts to make this crunchy appetizer.
Herbs: I used fresh rosemary and dried thyme to add some flavor to the roasted cashew nuts.
Seasonings: I kept the seasonings simple and used cayenne pepper, ground black pepper and some kosher salt.
Olive oil: You can use olive oil or any other cooking oil of your choice. Butter is also a great choice to consider if you’re not trying to keep it vegan.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Spicy Roasted Cashews
Transforming your plain, raw cashews into a treat for your taste buds is super easy. Here’s all you’ll need to do.
Preheat the oven to 375 F
In a small mixing bowl, combine all the seasonings, herbs and the oil.
Add the raw cashews and toss to coat.
Spread the cashews in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the nuts cool completely before you transfer them to an airtight container.
Substitutions & Variations
- I used a bit of cayenne pepper to season the cashews, but if you want to take it up a notch, you can also add some paprika or chili powder into the mix.
- To lend some smokiness to the cashews, you can also add some smoked paprika.
- To balance out the kick of heat, you can add some white or brown sugar or a dash of maple syrup along with the other ingredients, and whip up a batch of sweet and spicy roasted cashews.
Equipment
How to Store Spicy Roasted Cashews
Once you remove the cashews from the oven, let them cool down completely.
After this, you can store them in an airtight container or a mason jar and let them stay at room temperature for up to a week, if not longer.
Just remember that these cashews should be in a cool and dark place, ideally your pantry.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- Make sure you grease your baking tray before you spread the nuts on them. If possible, use a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper to keep the seasonings from burning or sticking to the pan.
- When tossing the raw cashew nuts in the spice mixture, make sure the nuts are evenly coated.
- You may also want to give them a stir midway through their baking time to make sure they’re perfectly crunchy.
- If you’re using nuts that are already roasted, make sure you let the seasoned nuts stay in the oven for just 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Since these nuts are already roasted, they won’t need a lot of time in the oven.
- If you have salted cashews at hand, you can use them too. All you’ll need to do is skip adding the kosher salt that the recipe calls for.
How to Serve Spicy Roasted Cashews
You can enjoy these sweet and spicy cashews in lots of different ways.
These roasted cashews are my favorite healthy snack to munch on when I’m craving for something flavorful and spicy- I always have a jar of these cashews on hand, which really helps!
These nuts are absolutely delicious, and quite frankly, hard to stop eating. I love to make them in a big batch and carry them along for a hike or for a road trip.
You can also make this easy and delicious batch of spicy roasted cashews, jar it and turn it into a fabulous holiday gift.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Spicy Roasted Cashews
Ingredients
- 1 lb cashew nuts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the seasonings, herbs and the oil.
- Add the raw cashews and toss to coat.
- Spread the cashews in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let the nuts cool completely before you transfer them to an airtight container.
Notes
- To balance out the kick of heat, you can add some white or brown sugar or a dash of maple syrup along with the other ingredients, and whip up a batch of sweet and spicy roasted cashews.
- Once you remove the cashews from the oven, let them cool down completely. After this, you can store them in an airtight container or a mason jar and let them stay at room temperature for up to a week, if not longer.
- Make sure you grease your baking tray before you spread the nuts on them. If possible, use a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper to keep the seasonings from burning or sticking to the pan.
- You may also want to give them a stir midway through their baking time to make sure they’re perfectly crunchy.
