Sweet & Spicy Nuts

1 cup untoasted walnut halves

1 cup untoasted pecan halves

1 cup unsalted, dry roasted almonds

1 cup unsalted, dry roasted cashews

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ cup white sugar

¼ cup water

1 tablespoon butter

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Combine walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews in a large bowl. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne; toss to coat.

Heat sugar, water, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted, and sugar is dissolved about 1 minute. Slowly pour the butter mixture over the nuts and stir to coat. Transfer nuts to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Bake nuts in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then remove the nuts from the oven. Stir the nuts to coat them again with warm syrup; spread them back out in a single layer. Return to the oven and bake until nuts are sticky and roasted, about 6 more minutes. Allow it to cool before serving.