
Sweet and spicy mingle with salty and crunchy in this crowd-pleasing cocktail snack that doubles as a convenient hostess or holiday gift.
Want to add a gourmet touch to your next batch of chocolate chip cookies – or brownies or caramels for that matter? Dust the surface with the faintest bit of flaky sea salt.
When used judiciously, salt provides opposing interest without seeming “salty” and simultaneously enhances the perception of sweetness. The crunch of coarser granules supplies an appealing textural element, too.
On the flip side, adding a hint of sweetness to something classically salty can be equally delightful. Such is the case in the following snack mix, which includes a little something spicy for good measure.
Lightly adapted from David Lebovitz’s 2009 book “The Sweet Life in Paris,” run-of-the-mill pretzels and raw nuts rise to new heights with incredible ease when combined with basic pantry ingredients.
Simple as it is, David calls this one of his greatest hits, and I wholeheartedly agree. The mix of protein and carbs satisfies a case of the mid-afternoon munchies quite well, and I’ve often skipped fancy hors d’oeuvres in favor of this singular cocktail snack.
Coarse salt, whether kosher or sea salt, is preferred in this recipe for its crunchy texture and more delicate taste than basic table salt. The timing of this addition – it’s added after the nuts are coated with the other ingredients – means the salt doesn’t dissolve. The end result is an added layer of texture on the already crunchy nuts and pretzels.
Packaged in an inexpensive Mason jar and tied with a bow, the hard-to-resist mix effortlessly transforms into a thoughtful – and decidedly gourmet – hostess or holiday gift. For a more substantial gift, pair with a pretty bowl for serving or a bottle of something cocktail-y.
Based on experience, I should note that a potential hazard of this recipe is snacking on the nuts and pretzels as you ready the mix, thereby reducing the expected yield. When making for my family, I’ve also learned to use proportionately more pecans than other nuts, as these tend to be a favorite.

Spiced Glazed Nuts & Pretzel Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed raw, unsalted nuts (like cashews, whole almonds, peanuts, pecan halves and hazelnuts)
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (David uses dark, I use light)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea or kosher salt
- 2 cups small pretzel twists** (feel free to use your favorite gluten-free pretzel)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts on a large, rimmed baking sheet (line with parchment paper for easy cleanup) and roast for 10 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes for even toasting.
- In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, cayenne and maple syrup. Immediately add the warm nuts to the butter mixture, stirring until thoroughly coated. Then mix in the salt and pretzels, and stir until the nuts and pretzels are evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture back on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 12-15 minutes, stirring twice during cooking. (In my oven, I bake for 5 minutes, stir, bake 5 more minutes, stir, and then bake for a final 2 minutes.) Remove from the oven and cool completely, separating the nuts and pretzels as they cool.
- Once cool, this mixture can be stored in an airtight container for a week or more and makes a delightful hostess gift.
Notes
Adapted from The Sweet Life in Paris.
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