Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper OR line with foil and spray the foil lightly with cooking spray.
• Place all the nuts (cashews, whole almonds, dry roasted peanuts, and walnut halves/pieces) in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Make sure there is no chocolate mixed in.
• In a medium saucepan combine the white sugar, butter, and water. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Heat the saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and continue stirring and heating for 1 minute. The mixture will bubble and expand.
• Remove the saucepan from heat. Immediately stir in the salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne until evenly incorporated.
• Pour the hot spiced sugar mixture over the bowl of nuts. Use a spatula to stir and coat the nuts evenly while the mixture is still hot.
• Spread the coated nuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, separating clusters as much as possible.
• Bake for 8 minutes. Remove the baking sheet, use a spatula to flip and separate nuts and break apart any sticking clusters, then return the sheet to the oven.
• Bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven when finished.
• Immediately transfer the nuts to a sheet of parchment paper (or leave on the baked parchment) to cool completely. Once cool, break apart any remaining large clusters.
• Store the cooled spiced mixed nuts in an airtight container.