Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts

Versions of the famous Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts appear in many cookbooks, and since I love them, I thought it only fitting to include my own adaptation here. Sweet, salty, spicy, and rosemary-infused, these nuts are the perfect nibbling food, not least because they’re so easy to make.

All the recipe requires is toasting nuts, melting butter, chopping a bit of rosemary and mixing together a few ingredients you probably have on hand. I like it best with cashews and pecans, but you can use any nuts that you like.

These nuts make a great snack and they’re perfect to serve with cocktails when you’re entertaining. But don’t say I didn’t warn you: they are crazy addictive!

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Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 ½ cups unsalted mixed nuts (any combination of cashews, whole unpeeled almonds, peeled peanuts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts…whatever suits your taste)
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Combine nuts on baking sheet and toast in oven until warm, fragrant and lightly golden, about 5 minutes.

3. In a large bowl, combine rosemary, cayenne pepper, brown sugar and butter. Add the warm, toasted nuts to the spiced butter and toss well. Add kosher salt and toss to coat thoroughly. Serve warm.

*You can also use raw unsalted nuts for this recipe, just be sure to toast them a bit longer, about 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.