Spicy roasted nuts build in heat after you’ve had a few, and they sure are a savory delight! You can serve them as a snack, an appetizer or make them for a hostess gift the next time you go to a friend’s house for dinner.

It’s a simple recipe to make, easy to change and add your own favorite spices. A sweet version with cinnamon and warm spices would make an excellent alternative, still using the egg whites to coat the nuts!

My family used to be big on tradition, particularly traditional Christmas gifts. Two things we got my dad each and every year was soap on a rope (do they even make that anymore?) and his favorite jar of nuts. His favorites weren’t spicy, just salted. He loved them.

Years later, my parents started to put out nuts for snacking before dinner when we would all get together. Sometimes there would be nuts with different flavors, not just the salted variety.

This recipe is actually inspired by a good friend who made a sweet and salty mixed nut recipe every year for the holiday season. I don’t have the exact recipe but I remembered egg whites were used to coat the nuts and make the seasonings stick, so when I started making this recipe, this is how we liked it.

You can have a few nuts and they don’t seem that spicy, but the heat builds and begins to warm up. You’ll notice it. :)

For a smaller batch, simply cut the recipe in half. The six-cup version is perfect for snacking and packing some for our guests to take home. Do you prefer sweet, salty or spicy mixed nuts? I’d like to hear about your favorites!