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Honey roasted almonds are an easy snack made with raw nuts roasted in honey with a sprinkle of salt. They’re perfect for parties and gifting! I love this recipe because the results aren’t too sticky, and there’s plenty of sweet-salty crunch to make these almonds totally addictive.
Also, check out my spiced nuts and old-fashioned roasted chestnuts this holiday season! You might also love this easy chocolate granola. All of these make great homemade gifts.
Our family has been roasting nuts at Christmastime since I can remember. My mom always stocked up on raw nuts (cashews, peanuts, almonds, you name it) as early as November and spent the winter roasting them in the oven with olive oil and sea salt. These honey roasted almonds are one of my favorite variations. They balance the saltiness with a touch of honey, and they’re super simple to make. You can also adapt the recipe with spices and more flavors to your liking!
Why I Love These Honey Roasted Almonds
- They keep it simple. Raw almonds get simmered in a simple syrup made from water and honey, with a little citrusy olive oil in the mix. Afterward, spread the nuts on a baking sheet and roast. It’s quick and easy, and after you’ve roasted almonds once, you’ll want to do it all season!
- Perfect for the holidays. While you’re at it, make an extra batch (or two) for gifting. A jar or baggie filled with delicious, crunchy, toasted honey almonds makes a super last-minute gift for friends and colleagues.
- Not overly sticky. I don’t know about you, but I prefer drier roasted nuts. These honey roasted almonds aren’t quite candied, just lightly infused with honey, so I can eat them by the handful without sticky fingers afterward.
- Easy to customize. There are countless ways to season a tray of honey roasted almonds. I love playing up the flavors, either sweet or savory. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, or a spicy kick with cayenne or Cajun seasoning. Sometimes, I’ll swap honey for maple syrup, or leave it out for a solely salty version. So versatile!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You need only 4 ingredients to make a perfect crispy batch of honey roasted almonds. Of course, there are plenty of ways that you can change up the ingredients below depending on the flavors you’re going for.
I’ll include some suggestions later on. For now, check out some quick notes here. Scroll down to the recipe card after the post for a printable list with the full recipe details.
- Honey – You could substitute honey with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Olive Oil – Or another oil, like avocado, peanut, or canola oil.
- Almonds – You’ll want to use unseasoned raw almonds. Technically, this recipe works with just about any nuts, though. Feel free to adapt it to pecans, hazelnuts, or a mix of your favorites.
- Salt – Salt is optional in this recipe, but I highly recommend it! I adds a nice sweet-salty contrast to the honey and you can adapt the amount to taste. Kosher salt or sea salt is best.
How to Make Honey Roasted Almonds
My one word of advice for this recipe? Don’t skip the salt! It really makes a big difference in the flavor of these toasty, roasted honey almonds. Unless, of course, you’re avoiding salt or deadset against the sweet-salty thing. In which case, make them however you’d like, and I’m sure they’ll still be delicious. Follow the steps below and check out the printable instructions in the recipe card.
- Make the honey syrup. Start by warming up honey, water, and olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Let the mixture simmer and reduce.
- Add the almonds. Now, stir in the almonds so they’re well coated. Give the nuts a sprinkle with salt.
- Roast. Spread the coated almonds onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure they’re in a single, even layer. Finally, roast the almonds in the oven at 350ºF for 12 minutes.
- Cool. Let the honey roasted almonds cool to room temperature before storing or serving.
Tips and Variations
- Stir the almonds while they roast. Give the pan a shake or use a heat-proof spoon or spatula to stir the almonds while they bake in the oven. It helps them roast evenly and keeps them from burning.
- Try not to overbake. Overbaking can cause the almonds to scorch, and they’ll taste bitter. Do your best to take them out when they’re just lightly toasted and fragrant.
- Make them spicy. Season these honey roasted almonds with a little cayenne pepper, or Cajun spice, or add a dash of hot sauce to the simple syrup for a spicy-sweet-salty combo.
- More seasonings. Keep it simple, or get creative with more easy seasoning ideas. After spreading the almonds onto the baking sheet, I’ll sometimes sprinkle them with dried herbs, like thyme, rosemary, or Herbs de Provence. It adds a nice aromatic note alongside the olive oil and honey.
Ways to Serve Roasted Almonds
These honey roasted almonds are pretty much a fixture on our holiday appetizer table. They’re always right there under the fruit Christmas tree, next to the stuffed mushrooms and grape jelly meatballs. They’re great for snacking, washed down with a festive pomegranate mimosa. Other times of the year, I’ll roast a batch of honey almonds to serve on game days and at happy hours next to a dish of hot pizza dip.
Honey roasted almonds are also a perfect topping for pancakes and French toast at breakfast, or we’ll sprinkle them over a bowl of ice cream for dessert.
Great for Gifting!
These honey roasted almonds make a great homemade gift. I stash the cooled nuts in jars and tie the tops with festive bows to give to teachers, neighbors, and hostesses. “You get a jar of almonds. You get a jar of almonds. EVERYONE gets a jar of almonds!” Just call me Oprah. 😉 See below for more storage tips.
How to Store
If you’re not serving your honey roasted almonds right away, store them in a jar or airtight container as soon as they’re cooled. They’ll last for 1-2 weeks at room temperature, or in the fridge. Use leftovers to add to bowls of oatmeal, or chop them up and bake them into breakfast cookies!
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Honey Roasted Almonds
Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups raw almonds
- kosher salt, to taste (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Make the syrup. In a large nonstick skillet, combine honey, water, and olive oil. Set the skillet over medium-high heat and stir until the mixture thins out.
- Add the almonds. Stir in the almonds. Mix until thoroughly and evenly coated. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Roast. Transfer the almonds to the baking sheet in one single layer. Bake for around 12 minutes, shaking the almonds every few minutes to prevent burning.
- Cool. Cool to room temperature before serving.
Notes
- If gifting or using later, store them in an airtight container as soon as they cool. Nuts will be good for up to 2 weeks in a covered container or one week in a serving bowl at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
My mom would be obsessed with these!
What a fun healthy snack!
These would be great for holiday parties.
Almonds are a staple in our household! These would make such a great family snack before football games!
I buy dry roasted peanuts … so I can pretend they’re healthy for me. Not much you can do with honey roasted almonds except eat them and tough it out. I bought a bag of skin on almonds so I can blanch and skin them, dry and chop them up to make florentines with. 🙂
Kudos on making your own honey roasted almonds munchies.
Are the finished almonds sticky?
Hi Karen!! They are slightly sticky, but they do not stick together as long as you let them dry on the tray and then keep them in an airtight container. Hope that helps. 🙂
These would be perfect to make for holiday snacks — They look yummy!
I love almonds! These ones turned out beautifully!
Katerina, these almonds look phenomenal. I’ll definitely be eating these all year round.
Oh, and stress eating, yeah, I may have done it a bit as well yesterday. Wish I’d had these almonds!!
What a simple, yet perfect snack. I will be making these for sure.