America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Rosemary-Lemon Spiced Nuts

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 8, 2009

Time

1 hour, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 20 (Makes about 5 cups)

Rosemary-Lemon Spiced Nuts

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 large egg white 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound unsalted nuts (see note)½ cup packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Before You Begin

Try a combination of almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts for this Italian-inspired recipe. To double the recipe, adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and bake the nuts on 2 baking sheets, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking.

Instructions

  1. COAT NUTS Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Whisk egg white, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt in large bowl. Add nuts and toss to coat. Drain in colander thoroughly, 4 to 5 minutes.
  2. SEASON NUTS Mix brown sugar, minced rosemary, and red pepper flakes in large bowl. Add drained nuts and toss to coat. Spread nuts evenly on prepared baking sheet and bake until dry and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking time. Cool completely. Break nuts apart and serve. (Nuts can be stored in airtight container for 3 weeks.)
Rosemary-Lemon Spiced Nuts

Rosemary-Lemon Spiced Nuts

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

1 hour, plus 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 20 (Makes about 5 cups)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound unsalted nuts (see note)
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound unsalted nuts (see note)
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound unsalted nuts (see note)
½ cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Oil, melted butter, and other common Rosemary-Lemon Spiced Nuts coatings made for greasy hands and didn’t coat the nuts evenly. We found egg whites mixed with a little lemon juice and salt worked best. Slow-roasting the nuts at a low temperature ensured they cooked completely without scorching the exterior.

Before You Begin

Try a combination of almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts for this Italian-inspired recipe. To double the recipe, adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and bake the nuts on 2 baking sheets, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking.

Instructions

  1. COAT NUTS Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Whisk egg white, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt in large bowl. Add nuts and toss to coat. Drain in colander thoroughly, 4 to 5 minutes.
  2. SEASON NUTS Mix brown sugar, minced rosemary, and red pepper flakes in large bowl. Add drained nuts and toss to coat. Spread nuts evenly on prepared baking sheet and bake until dry and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking time. Cool completely. Break nuts apart and serve. (Nuts can be stored in airtight container for 3 weeks.)

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

Keep Exploring

This is a members' feature.