Here’s an expensive and indulgent last minute gift to make for Christmas.
It’s a twist on our Spiced Nuts recipe, and it’s proven very popular this festive season. It’s made with Australian macadamias, which are not cheap – a 2kg bag from Southern Cross Supplies costs $50…
If you’re fortunate enough to be growing your own like Linda, then this is a perfect way to use them. Or, if cost is an issue, this recipe works brilliantly with mixed nuts, or unblanched almonds (which were just $10 a kilo at Southern Cross Supplies).
I used Billington’s Molasses Sugar, a discovery from earlier in the year. It’s quite different to the Muscovado sugars offered by the same company, and imparts a deep, rich flavour to the maccies…
- 500g whole macadamia nuts, or any other assortment of mixed nuts
- 1 egg white
- 25g (about 2 US tablespoons) Billington’s Molasses Sugar (or dark brown sugar)
- 2 teaspoons Maldon salt flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powder
Note: This isn’t an overly precise recipe and you could use whatever you have on hand, although I have found the above combination of spices particularly appealing.
1. Preheat oven to 160C/325F with fan. Line a large baking tray with a sheet of parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white until foamy, then whisk in all the other ingredients except the nuts. Add the nuts, and stir well to coat completely in the spice mix. I use clean hands to do this, breaking up the lumps of sticky sugar as I go.
3. Tip the nuts onto the lined tray and spread them out into a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven and stir the nuts to unstick them from the paper and break up any clumps. Don’t burn yourself!
4. Return the tray to the oven for another 5 – 7 minutes, until golden brown. Allow the nuts to cool on the tray, during which time they’ll harden up and go crunchy. If you like, you could sprinkle over extra salt at this point. Once the nuts are completely cool, store in an airtight container for up to three weeks.
I’ve packaged the nuts in small sealed bags and added them to our Christmas mini-hampers. Easy, expensive and very special!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I’ve been looking for something exactly like this-an extra special something to add to a couple of gifts. What would you suggest to substitute the molasses sugar with…. I have access to dark brown sugar, or Indonesian palm sugar?
Hi Amanda! Dark brown sugar – I’ll amend the post, thanks! :)
Thanks Celia, going to town this afternoon so will see what nuts are on sale!
I used a combination of mixed nuts plus a small packet of macadamias , and they turned out beautifully, the pecan especially liked this treatment. Can recommend this recipe highly.
I use Billington’s – great sugar company :D. Awesome nuts :D
Not very frugal, Nick! But a nice indulgence nonetheless.. :)
Damn your Macadamia nuts are expensive! I looked up the exchange rate of our rands to your dollar. I paid R90 = $10 for a kilo, going to make these for a snack to take to my son’s place on Christmas eve. I wish you and yours everything of the best for Christmas and the forthcoming year.
Sue, I suspect that’s because they’re a locally grown and processed product! It’s hard work to get the little buggers out of their shells! :) Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year too! xx
Mmm, these look delicious. I love the combination of flavors in your recipe! They would be perfect as part of a festive spread :) xx
Emilie, I’ve now made 5kg assorted roasted nuts all up, and most of them have been eaten by visitors pre-Christmas! These just seem to disappear! :)
I still want to know what one has to do to get on your coveted Christmas list!
:D I don’t actually have a list. I just make up goodies and share them with whoever we see in the leadup to Chrissie. :)
These nuts look so yummy. What a great little snack to enjoy on Christmas Eve while wrapping presents. I hope I get the chance to try this recipe. Must go and look for that special sugar xx
Ooh yummy! I love nuts like this, and macadamia nuts are so rich and buttery too. What a perfect treat, and I’m certainly tracking down the sugar :) xox
Now that’s just what I was looking for, for last minute pressies – and for me to munch while wrapping! Nice one, Celia. I hope you and your menfolk all have a great Xmas. xxx
I wouldn’t want to give them away!
These look rich and dark and savory! I wouldn’t want to give them away either!
I just made thumbprints with macadamia nuts and sea salt and caramel dark chocolate- and a batch of the chocolate sable cookies. Trying to wrap and pack and drive down to Virginia doesn’t leave me much time!!!
I too would like to get on your list. Macadamia nuts are expensive here too. I don’t recall seeingraw macadamia, should pay attention when next I come across a Trader’s Joe or Whole Foods.
Oh Celia I can just imagine how good these must be. I went to grab a bag last week to make my cinnamon nuts but the price scared me away. I made cinnamon pecans instead. I could eat macadamias by the bucket load!
Like Norma, I don’t recall ever seeing raw macadamia nuts but, then again, it’s not like I’ve been looking for them. Even so, as you suggested, this would be great for any nuts. I’m definitely going to save this recipe for future use, Celia. It will come in handy the next time I’ve guests. Thanks for sharing.
Cant beat billingtons for beauty Celia. This is a great recipe for me to keep for later on, xxx
Hi Celia, I am gunna do this (after Christmas). I have shelled macadamia nuts (from my tree) in a vacuum sealed bag waiting for action.
The first time I went to Perth my mom asked me to get her macadamia nuts. I was not amused when I got home to discover not only do we grow them here, they are also much cheaper :)
Now I have to decide whether to make these or Claire’s mac nut dukkah. Decisions, decisions……
Very special indeed…the recipients will be smiling broadly.
This looks amazing… and has my head filled with fantasies of growing macadamias!
We made a spiced almond mix for friends over Christmas – similar in recipe – and we have to bag them up to make sure we don’t eat them all before gifting! Yum.
Another lovely idea, especially for last minute treats! Thank you Celia. And thank you for your friendship and support throughout the year, love. Best wishes for a joyful, safe and peaceful Christmas, and good health for you and yours in 2013 xoxox
Just idly googled macadamia nuts and know far more than I did before, Apparently a very hard nut to crack, maybe that’s why they don’t turn up in those bags of mixed nuts that we put out ritualistically and that usually I get round to opening in mid March :) Much easier to eat some of your gorgeous spicy nuts without all that fuss xx
I’ve given up on doing chocolates long ago! Especially after seeing your perfection – but I will try the nuts. Recently someone sent me some from Hawaii – in the shell! I tried several kinds of ‘crackers’ without success, and finally took them out to the garage where I used a bench vice to crack them. Never again.
Hope you guys are having a glorious Christmas!
Doc, you can see why the local ones are so expensive! We have a dedicated cracker here in Oz. Merry Christmas! :)