Ainsley’s Sweet Spicy Nuts and Mulled Cider
From Ainsley’s Food We Love, ITV
A great little snack to munch on when watching your favourite boxset or the footie! A little bit sweet and a little bit spicy…delicious!
Method
For the Sweet Spicy Nuts
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the spices and salt set aside.
Place a heavy-based pan over a medium heat and add the nuts. Stirring frequently, cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to brown and become aromatic. Add the butter and stir to melt and then add the spice mixture and continue to stir. Add in the sugar, honey and water and mix to thoroughly coat all the nuts and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. Pour the nuts onto the prepared tray, immediately separating them with a fork and allow the nuts to cool completely.
For the Mulled Cider
Place the cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, sugar, zest and cider into a saucepan over low-medium heat. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally for 10-12 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Stir in the orange juice, calvados and a good grating of nutmeg. Warm through for a couple of minutes before ladling into glass mugs to serve.
Ingredients
- For the Sweet Spicy Nuts
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp mixed spice
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 100g cashews
- 100g almonds
- 100g peanuts
- 100g pecans
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp water
- For the Mulled Cider (serves 4)
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 3 star anise
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- pared zest and juice of 1 orange
- 2 x 330 ml bottles dry cider
- good splash of calvados or brandy
- fresh nutmeg, for grating