Sweet Snack Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Glazed Almonds

Any time I go to a street fair, I can't help but look forward to the delightful smell of roasting almonds, especially the candied, cinnamon-and-sugar glazed almonds. It's such a shame they are a fair or carnival treat, I used to think to myself. Except they don't have to be! You can actually make your own at home and enjoy this wonderful (if high-in-calorie) snack at home!

To make this recipe, the most important aspect was of course getting the right glaze on the almonds. To get that light, wonderful crust we whisked egg whites into stiff peeks and To sweeten, we added sugar, cinnamon, and salt. A little vanilla extract added a fantastic flavor, and really helped the aroma that filled the house from making this snack. To make, we baked the nuts in the oven on a nice, low temperature that ensured the nuts created a perfect crust without burning or remaining too sticky. Keep reading below for this wonderful recipe...

Cinnamon Sugar Glazed Almonds

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1lb almonds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 250F.
2. Beat the egg whites with a dash of salt until frothy. Gradually add the sugar and vanilla extract and continue to beat until the whites begin to form stiff peaks. Gently fold in the almonds and cinnamon.
3. Place the melted butter in a large mixing bowl and stir the almonds into the butter, coating them.
4. Transfer the almonds to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the almonds for 1 hour, stirring them every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
5. Enjoy!

Perfect Fall Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin With Walnuts & Honey

For anyone who just can’t get enough of pumpkins, this dish is for you! A lot of the recipes we see and try with pumpkins usually have another “main” ingredient, or something else that shares the spotlight with the pumpkin—not the case with this recipe! Consider the spices, nuts and honey as backup dancers of this kitchen number. Pumpkin is the frontrunner of this recipe because it has amazing flavor on its own and needs our undivided attention!

Roasted Pumpkin With Walnuts

Serves 4-6

 Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pound pumpkin, sliced, skin on
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2-1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. Rinse pumpkin under warm water to rinse off any dirt. Pat dry and cut in half. Scoop out seeds from the center (save if you want to roast them later) and cut thin slices (as though you were cutting a cantaloupe) and set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves and mix well.
4. Dip each side of pumpkin slice in the cinnamon mixture and place on a baking tray. Drizzle with honey.
5. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until pumpkins are caramelized and tender.
6. In a pan over medium heat, toast walnuts until fragrant and crispy.
7. Remove pumpkin from oven and serve with walnuts.

Decadent Breakfast Recipe: Caramel-Cinnamon Apple Waffles

When it’s prime apple season this is the perfect recipe to utilize all those Granny Smiths. With soft and tender apples, this breakfast is a comforting and warm way to start the day. We love waffles and pancakes equally, so if you don’t have a waffle iron or just prefer to make pancakes, go ahead and do that instead—you can’t go wrong on this one!

Cinnamon Apple Waffles

(Serves 4-6) 

Ingredients 

Apples:

• 3 apples, peeled and cubed; 2 tart, 1 sweet
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

Waffles:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½  cups almond milk (or regular)
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup almonds, garnish
• Whipped cream, garnish

Directions

1. In a large, hot skillet, melt butter and add apples, stirring occasionally. After a few minutes, add cinnamon and brown sugar, reduce heat and cover to let soften completely (4-5 minutes). Once softened, remove cover to let caramelize, then take apples off heat.
2. Preheat waffle iron.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy and sift in dry ingredients; then add milk and oil. Mix well, just be careful to not overmix.
4. Add in half or all of cinnamon-apple mixture (depending on whether you want some for garnish). Fold in well. If batter appears too thick, add more milk.
5. Spray waffle iron with non-stick spray and pour in 1/2 cup of batter. Cook according to waffle iron instructions, or until golden brown.

Seasonal Recipe: Cinnamon-Spiced Apple Bread

When mornings are chilly and your coffee just isn’t cutting it alone, this apple bread should be your go-to breakfast snack. These are great fresh out of the oven and just as good several days later, packed in lunches or eaten on the go. It comes together quickly and the apples are baked into it, like extra pockets of cinnamon-y goodness—this’ll warm you right up!

Spiced Cinnamon-Apple Bread

(Makes 1 (9x5) loaf)

Ingredients

Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups apples, small-medium dice (granny smiths, approx. 2 medium apples)
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350º F and butter a 9x5in loaf pan
2. Mix or sift flour, cinnamon, allspice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
3. In a small bowl, mix the eggs, oil, sugars and vanilla until everything is combined. Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients and incorporate well. Don’t overmix. Fold in the apples so they’re completely covered and mixed in, and place batter in loaf pan.
4. In a medium bowl, combine “Topping” ingredients and blend together. Sprinkle evenly over batter.
5. Bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, around 45-55 minutes.
6. Remove to cooling rack and let cool. Run knife along the edge of baking dish to loosen the loaf. Transfer to serving plate and enjoy.

Warm Autumnal Cocktail: Spiked Cinnamon Apple Cider

Apple cider is a sweet treat that we look forward to having all year, and once the leaves start turning and the nights get chilly we know it’s almost time! This cocktail is fantastic for parties and it’s easy to adjust the measurements; or, if you don’t feel like drinking, you can make a non-alcoholic version, no problem. Even if it weren’t heated up this cocktail would warm you right up, so go to your nearest farm or apple orchard, get yourself some apple cider and get started!

Cinnamon Apple Cider

(Makes 8-10 servings)

Ingredients

4 quarts apple cider

2 1/2 cups Cinnamon schnapps

2 cups white rum

10 cinnamon sticks

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat apple  cider until hot. 5-10 minutes.
2. Add cinnamon schnapps, white rum, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon sticks
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes but do not boil.
4. Pour into mugs, garnish with cinnamon sticks and enjoy!