1 cup raw almonds*
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the nuts, brown sugar and vinegar in a heavy sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until their is no liquid left and the sugar has dissolved, about 5-8 minutes. Add the salt and chile powder. Stir until dissolved (about 30 seconds) then pour the nuts on the the prepared pan and quickly use a spatula to separate the nuts into one layer, no touching. Cool completely before eating.
*I used skin on, but blanched would probably work just as well.
My thoughts:
This year I decided to make flavored nuts to give as gifts. However, this first recipe was all for me. Look for several new recipes in the days to come.
These are perfectly caramelized almonds with a secret. I love that the candy shell that envelopes the nut is not too sweet and not sour at all- just right. I honestly have never been much of a nut** person, but I wish I had made two or three times the amount I did.
Those look delicious (as do the next in line which I apparently caught a sneak peak at in my feed reader). A question – I live in Israel and can’t get chipotle chili powder. How hot is chipotle so I can figure out which other chili powder would be a reasonable substitute?
Thanks.
Chipotle is not too spicy but smoked. I’d sub smoked paprika or even just a little bit of cayenne or chili powder. Or leave it out, it isn’t a dominate flavor.
Cardamom or cinnamon (either with the chile powder or instead of it) could be interesting. Looking great, and ripe for experimentation.
Thanks Rachel, I’ll definitely be trying these this weekend.
Nathan: I thought of that would be good too. I made 6 (!) varieties of nuts today and I think 2 of the other have cardamom and 3 have cinnamon. Great spices for nuts.
Awesome: thanks for the recipe. I love nut recipes! I will definitely try this one; if you have a hankering for ginger, I have a ginger sugar pecan recipe that is equally mouth-popping:).
Happy Holidays!!
yum, i’ve got all the ingredients available! i’m totally making these for my boxing day gathering! yum.
Those look amazing! I love balsamic vinegar.
Thanks for this recipe, I’m on my 7th or 8th batch since a friend pointed me your way. I’d been frustrated smoking them with my Cameron stovetop deal and unhappy with the usually uneven and overly smoky result. Your method totally nails what I was after. Yum.
I am glad you enjoyed them! I don’t want to eat almonds any other way now.
these look amazing! Did you use an aged balsamic?
Yes, but any tasty balasmic should be okay.
oh my god… these almond recipe is AWESOME! srsly.. i never thought that something so simple could taste so great. thank you thank you thank you!
.. i forgot to mention that i added 1, 2 spoons of raspberry balsamico. heavenly!
Hi, do you think this recipe could be doubled or tripled easily? I was thinking this would make a fun homemade gift or party snack…
Carrie
I'd do it in batches.
I think a smoked paprika would be a good starting point.