Here’s a fun thing to do! Take a few minutes to close your eyes and imagine yourself as an old person. I’m not talking about late sixties. That’s not old yet. I’m talking about great great grandmother old.. pushing the mid-nineties.
Sounds crazy? Why would you spend time picturing white hair in bobby pins, shuffling feet and rocking chairs? I feel like getting old is a luxury. Not everyone gets to do it, so why not sit and enjoy the thought a bit?
I imagine that I’m the kind of old lady that talks to her over fed cats, and yells across the house to her practically deaf husband. I hope I’m the kind of old lady who has a piano in the house just so my grandchildren can come over and practice their scales while I shuffle around the kitchen baking them cookies.
I want to be the kind of old lady that always thinks a glass of champagne is a good idea.
I want to be the kind of old lady who always has something out on the living room table for that unexpected guest. Maybe it’s those soft chalky mints. Maybe a freshly baked pie. Maybe it’s these Sweet and Spicy Baked Almonds. These nuts, my friends, have me daydreaming of old lady times somehow… with a smile on my face.
So, you might be thinking… really Joy? Nuts? That’s all you’ve got for me today? My answer to that… yes. Nuts. Live a little.
These nuts are simply almonds sprinkled in magic, aka fennel seeds. They’re sweet. They’re spicy. They’re salty and crunchy. They make a super yumtastic snack to have around the house, a snazzy hostess gift, or they’re great to bring to a cocktail party. All around winners, that’s what these almonds are.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Almonds
from Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon fennel seeds
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups raw almonds
2 Tablespoons water
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix sugar, fennel, salt and pepper flakes in a medium sized bowl. Add the almonds and water and stir until coated. Pour onto the foil lined baking sheet and spread out evenly.
Bake the almonds for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir almonds around. Return to the oven and bake for another 17 minutes, checking and stirring the almonds 2 to 3 more times. Almonds will turn beautifully dark brown. Remove from the oven and separate with a fork. Cool and remove from the pan to a serving bowl or an airtight container for storage.
Hope
These are so delicious and simple!! When ever I get a hankering to make something snack-y these are the first items on my list!! I love the spice with the red pepper and the fantastic licorice quality of the fennel…amazing!! Thank you so much for finding these extremely addicting almonds.
Rituparna
I just made these beauties. Yum yum yum ….
roohbaroo
just wanted you to know that i found this page through elana’s pantry, and made these for a christmas dinner hostess present. they were such a hit! i gladly took the compliments but silently, i was thanking you and elana. :)
Reesa
Just wanted to tell you that I ALWAYS come back to these. They are so good as a snack, an appetizer and I’ll make them for all my foodies’ Christmas gifts for the second year running. In fact, I’m making them today for my manfriend’s birthday party. BIG win. Thanks!
Kim P
I’m addicted to these now, and so are the many friends I’ve shared them with…BUT: I’m having a problem lately with them always turning out STICKY (which is so icky and unattractive, erggg!) — anyone have an idea what to do about this? Thanks!
zoe
Yum! However, I would have to leave out the fennel I can’t stand it for some reason. Great photos too.
peasepudding
These look great, I am going to make some and take them to a party this weekend! Thanks for the recipe.
Amy B.- Portland, OR
Oh Joy! I made these for a new Girls Night Out crew and everyone loved them. I failed to mention that I thought I had red pepper flakes but didn’t. I subbed cayenne and it was delicious- just not as interesting looking. Thanks for all of your love.
Food Hunter
I will be trying this tonight! Almonds and feenl how could you go wrong. thanks
Maja
Those sound great! I have no trouble picturing myself as an old lady, i invariably come down the stairs with a tray of cookies to a house full of children … it’s the time in between now and then that scares the shit out of me! ;)
Elyse
Mmm, old lady nuts sound great. I love a nice snack that evokes nice little day dreams of pianos, grandkids and cookies. Reading your posts is always such a pleasure!! (Not to mention, looking at your pictures always makes my mouth water.)
Treehouse Chef
Yum! What a healty treat.
Dilek
I love almonds and great idea to bake them like this and garnish them with fennel seeds. Almonds takes your exhaustion. Thanx 4 sharing.
Terry
Almonds have been hailed by many people to help with acid reflux….
gine
Hey I love nuts, great idea to bake them this way :-) .. have a great weekend, XOXO
Pia
these look so inviting! i’m now on my way to the kitchen to see if i’ve got some almonds in store!
June
I’m putting this on my list of what I need to make very soon! And I also want to say that I sure hope I’m that old lady you’re talking about. But I also want to always have a harmonica on had so I can teach my grandchildren how to play!
Melissa Swisher
Whoa! I made these Friday night and wow are they amazing! It’s been a while since I’ve made a recipe with fennel and I forgot how much I love the licorice flavor – it’s snappy. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Margie
I cannot believe my eyes! These are little bits of heaven, planted right here upon earth, not a care in the world…well, except for granny, cuz she’s gonna eat ’em up until they be all gone.
Seriously, I LOVE nuts and seeds! Thanks for posting this bit of joy. :)
Alisa - Frugal Foodie
How in the world did you think up this unique spice combo!?
my little apartment
BEST NUTS EVER!
I was lucky enough to sample these little treats last weekend and I crave them constantly. I can’t wait to try to make them…Thanks, Joyyyyyy!
thebrunettebaker
Joy, the fennel seeds are killing it for me, think they’d be good without? I’ve made sweet & spicy pecans so I’d love to try something new
karen
oh please please please let me end up your neighbor at the nursing home, and please please please let me be made of steel so that I can still bake things in my 80’s!!!!!!!!
Stiffler
nuts!
kevin
You are the nut here. Very entertaining. I seem to recall my GM having issues with seeds getting between her gums and dentures. Hopefully you practice good dental hygine and will savor the nuts with your own 90 year old chompers.
Jodi
i love almonds those look yummy! :)
Cate O'Malley
They sound and look great – perfect little pick-me-up snack … for even before we’re great-grandmother-old. ;)
Kate
Spiced nuts are my favorites. I think this would be excellent with pecans, too, and they’re easier on the dentures. My grandmothers (one 85, one 90) are both of the opinion that champagne is never a bad idea (as am I), and I agree it’s the best way to be.
vibi
Geez Joy! Those almonds looks terribly appetizing! I’d even say mouthwatering… but I think we should enjoy them while we can, for in our mid-nineties, I doubt any of us have teeth left to savour them… unless suck the great flavoring on them, and put them back in the bowl! LOL
Beautiful!
P.s.: My parents are in their early 80’s and believe you me when I say one has to be made of steel to still be able to bake cookies or pies at that age, nevermind ten years later!
siri
Oh girl, your nuts look good! I’d say that they look a million times better than those soft chalky mints, but then again, I secretly like them. Must be the inner-old lady in me.
I’ve had sweet and spicy nuts before, but never with fennel. Must. Try.
-Siri
snooky doodle
Nice treat! yummy
Judith
Oh God! Please let me be dead before I’m mid-nineties. Living that long would just be awful. Fortunately my family’s average life expectancy falls in the early seventies, so I’m safe.
On another note, I would never poo poo a good sweet ‘n’ spicy nut recipe. I’ve seen a lot floating around the blogs, and I love ’em.
Dallas from Bitchin' Lifestyle
I am by no means disappointed by this recipe. I am surprised you would wonder if we would think it isn’t enough. Silly lady! It’s a perfect Friday recipe… you know, something to whip up and set out for friends while we’re having friday night drinks. And, yum, fennel seeds are a brilliant idea. I tried some roasted cashews a while ago with rosemary and cayenne that were pretty spectacular, but I have never tried fennel seeds with nuts. Will do so very soon. Thanks!
Kara
Oooh – like Phoo-D, I’ve been searching for fancy party/entertaining food so these are perfect! No shame in posting this recipe either – can’t wait to try it.
The Duo Dishes
Yum yum. We make nuts like this a lot for parties, and they never last. Your recipe is new to us though. Like the fennel a lot.
Adrienne
Between these and Deb’s Black Bread recipe, I think I need to go find some fennel seeds. yum.
Phoo-D
Oh yum! I love fennel and these look great. I’ve been on the hunt for new “fancy munchies” and will give this a try.
Mary
Joy, I love the website, and also the new cookbooks that I haven’t seen that you introduce me too! Thanks! These almonds look really yummy…
Rebecca
I do that too! The thinking about what I’m going to be like when I get old. Apparently I’m very like my grandmother, and I take that as a huge compliment. I want to be just like her, she was cool: knitted, sewed and was an awesome baker (plus she had a wonderful husband)
These nuts look so tasty, they’ll be just the thing to munch with beer in the garden this weekend when we have friends over.
Thanks Joy, a perfectly timed recipe. As ever.
Dianne
Those look lovely, Joy! Sadly, I’m allergic to almonds. Are there any other nuts you think might be a good substitute?