Bourbon Spiced Pecans

These nuts are great for snacking, gift giving, as well as a delicious addition to tossed salads.  They are sweet and spicy, and addictive!

This recipe is adapted from a recipe from Emeril Lagasse.  The original calls for mixed nuts, so feel free to use any nuts you like.  I have doubled and tripled this recipe for holiday gift giving.

Note:  I highly recommend using non-stick foil to cover your baking sheet pan.  The sugar makes the nuts pretty sticky.  Also, keep a close eye on the tem after the first 10 minutes, burned nuts are nasty.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups unsalted pecans, or nuts of your choice
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon bourbon
  

Directions:

1.      Heat oven to 350 degrees and cover a half sheet pan with non-stick foil (or use regular foil sprayed with a non-stick spray).

2.      Melt butter with sugar in a microwave safe container.

3.      Mix in salt, spices and bourbon

4.      Spread nuts on baking sheet and mix with butter/spice mixture.

5.      Bake for a total of 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until the nuts are toasted and a darker brown.

6.      Let cool, then break apart and store in an airtight container.