Honey Sesame Cashews (Print Page)

Crunchy roasted cashews in a sweet honey sesame glaze, ready in just 25 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 2 cups raw cashews

→ Glaze

02 - 1/4 cup honey
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)

→ Coating

06 - 3 tablespoons sesame seeds (white or mixed)
07 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional, for extra crunch)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the honey and sea salt until well combined. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract if using.
03 - Place the raw cashews in a mixing bowl. Pour the honey-butter glaze over the cashews and toss thoroughly until every nut is evenly coated.
04 - Spread the coated cashews in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes.
05 - Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the cashews and stir gently to coat evenly. Add granulated sugar if desired for extra crunch.
06 - Return the cashews to the oven and roast for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden and fragrant. Watch closely to prevent burning.
07 - Remove from the oven and let the cashews cool completely on the baking sheet. They will crisp up as they cool. Break apart any stuck clusters once cooled.
08 - Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sticky sweet glaze caramelizes in the oven and creates this shatteringly crisp shell that makes store bought nuts taste like cardboard.
  • These come together in under thirty minutes with ingredients you probably already have sitting in your pantry.
02 -
  • Watch the oven like a hawk during the last five minutes because honey goes from golden perfection to acrid black faster than you can say fire alarm.
  • Letting them cool fully on the parchment is what creates that satisfying crunch so resist the urge to move them while they are still warm and sticky.
03 -
  • Toss the sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a minute before adding them to deepen their nutty flavor and make them even more aromatic.
  • If your honey has crystallized just warm the whole jar in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes and it will pour smoothly again.

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