Air Fryer Honey Roasted Nuts
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Sweet with a hint of saltiness, these air-fried honey roasted nuts make a fantastic snack on the go and are perfect for entertaining. They are super easy to make using an air-fryer – all you need is about 10 minutes!
Have you tried honey roasted nuts?
It is a snack where nuts such as almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, and pecans are combined in a honey and butter glaze and a few seasonings. This mixture is then roasted in an oven, microwave, or air fryer to create this warm sweet nuts dish that turns crunchy as it cools down.
They go by many names such as honeyed almonds, glazed nuts, sweet nuts, flavored nuts, candied nuts, etc. Irrespective of what it is called, the process to make them stays more or less the same except for candied nuts, where egg whites are also used.
Looking for a spicy roasted nuts version? Try this Air fryer spiced nuts recipe.
Reasons to love this recipe
We all know that nuts are good for us and daily consumption provides. While we can always get these munchies from the store, here’s why you should make it at home.
- No added preservatives!
- Cheaper than store-bought.
- Great way to repurpose nuts in your pantry.
- Perfect for satiating your 3 pm cravings or as an after-school snack.
- Put these homemade caramelized nuts in a glass jar, label, and tie a ribbon to make a cute hostess gift.
- Serve it during your holiday parties – your guests will love them!
- Meal prep– Make a big batch and stash it in the freezer.
Ingredient notes
- Unsalted nuts – Buy in bulk to make it budget-friendly. You can use any nuts of your choice. I love to combine almonds, nuts, and peanuts in this mix.
- Ghee (melted butter or oil) – Most recipes call for butter, but I urge you to try ghee. Makes the whole dish so much more fragrant.
- Honey (or maple syrup) – To sweeten and bind the nuts.
- Salt – Use kosher or sea salt for added crunch.
- Sugar – granulated or brown sugar.
Substitutions
Vegan version: Replace honey with maple syrup and butter/ghee with coconut oil for a vegan version.
While I have used almonds and cashews in this recipe, you can also try the following nuts:
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Macadamia
- Brazil nuts
Tools
You’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. Here are the two that I recommend
- Basket style (Phillips – 1725W) – easier to flip food but cooks a smaller amount (2-3 servings).
- Oven-style (Ninja Dual Heat Air Fryer – 1800W) – The oven-style ones usually take more space but what’s unique about this Ninja one is that it flips vertically for easy storage on the countertop. Most importantly, it allows you to cook six chicken breasts, 2-lbs roast, or 4-lbs of fries – perfect for families of 4 or more.
Tester’s notes
- Make sure all the nuts are coated evenly with honey glaze.
- Always arrange the nuts in a single layer and cook in batches if needed.
- Toss the nuts halfway during cooking to ensure even cooking.
- The nuts will initially be soft after air frying and should turn crunchy as they cool down.
- Spread the nuts to cool down. Once they are cool enough to handle, break the clumps.
- Let it completely cool before storing it in an air-tight container.
- The time to cook will vary depending on the air fryer used. Make sure to keep an eye on the nuts to avoid burning.
Variations to try
- Use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar. Any kind of coarse sugar should work to give that extra crunch. Cinnamon sugar also makes for a great substitute.
- Add a hint of spice to the mix. You can use smoked paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, etc.
- Top it with roasted sesame seeds to add more texture.
SERVE IT WITH
- Makes a perfect topping over oatmeal or homemade yogurt.
- Mix it with popcorn or homemade granola.
- Serve it with dried fruits, nuts, and cheese on a cheeseboard.
- Serve it with cocktails as an accompaniment.
- These caramelized nuts are great on salads.
Storage
Place them in an air-tight container away from direct sunlight, and they should last for a good 1-2 weeks.
You can also freeze them for up to 5-6 months. Make sure to use a freezer bag.
Frequently asked questions
You can use any nuts of your choice – almonds, cashews, peanuts/groundnuts, pecans, walnuts, macadamia, etc.
Honey-roasted almonds are a good source of riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese.
Candied pecans are typically made with white sugar and egg whites, whereas glazed pecans don’t have eggs and use white sugar.
Nuts will be sticky when fresh out of the oven or air fryer. They’ll lose their stickiness once they cool down. Adding granulated sugar or brown sugar after it is cooled down should help prevent the nuts from sticking.
If the nuts are still sticky after cooling down for an hour or so, it was probably because more liquid (honey and butter) was used in the recipe than needed. To fix this, mix dry roasted nuts with 2-3 teaspoons of granulated sugar. This should help get rid of some stickiness.
Yes, sugared nuts can be frozen for a couple of months. Make sure it is stored in an air-tight container.
The nuts were possibly not placed in a single layer while cooking and cooling.
Other air fryer recipes to try
- Air-Fryer Roasted Chickpeas – Crispy air-fryer roasted chickpeas take your healthy snacking to a whole new level.
- Air fryer roasted nuts – Learn how to air-fry this oil-free, one-ingredient healthy snack at home today.
- Air fryer sweet potato fries – Healthy, hot, and crispy, these air fryer sweet potato fries are the perfect snack or side dish for any occasion.
- Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, these air fryer chicken wings are finger-licking good!
Air Fryer Honey Roasted nuts
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheating is not required but if your air fryer requires it then preheat at 325°F.
- To a medium-sized bowl, add the nuts along with ghee, honey, and salt. Mix them until all the nuts are evenly coated.
- Line the air frying tray with parchment paper. Place the nuts on the parchment paper and spread them evenly.
- Air fry at 325°F for 6 minutes till the nuts change color. Toss the nuts at the halfway mark for even browning. If using a toaster-style air fryer, make sure to rotate the tray.
- Transfer the nuts to a baking tray and spread them evenly.
- Let the mixture cool down for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the granulated sugar or brown sugar over it and stir it in while breaking any clumps that may have formed.
- Let the mixture cool for another 20 minutes or until it becomes crunchy. Do a taste test and add more sugar / salt if needed.
- Let the nuts completely cool before storing in a glass container away from direct sunlight.
Notes
- Start with 1 tablespoon of sugar and add more if needed. Ditto with salt – use 1/2 teaspoon and mix it well. Do a taste test and add more if required.
Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
