Easy and edible homemade holiday gift idea: Ball jars are the perfect way to package homemade treats. They are pretty and practical. The tight seal means the nuts will stay fresh. A festive ribbon and tag cut from craft paper adds a simple and pretty finish.
We have an easy, edible homemade holiday gift idea that everyone will love. These yummy spiced nuts are the perfect gift to give this holiday.
If you are looking for more holiday treats, crafts & homemade holiday gift ideas, view our other ideas here:
How to Make the Most Adorable Christmas Advent Calendar Ever!
Starbucks Copy Cat Cranberry Bliss Bars
How to Create Stunning Budget-Friendly Chair Decorations
Add your own finishing touches to the ball jars using small floral bundles, berries or pinecones. The package will wow as much as the treats themselves. Use twine to attach small gift cards. I used a “punch” to make these tags out of patterned craft paper.
Easy Edible Homemade Holiday Gift Idea: Background
It’s Julie’s and my favorite nut recipe of all time. We’ve been making this same recipe and giving it away to friends at Christmas time since we were in our early 20’s. It even made its way into my special recipe book that was given to me by my grandparents in 1982. This book was reserved for recipes that were “keepers” only. At that time, it was called “Spicy Nuts,” but over the years we came upon many spicy nut recipes and decided to change the name to “Ginger Spiced Nuts” because it’s the ginger that really defines these yummy nuts. Now to get into the recipe for this easy edible homemade holiday gift idea.
Easy Edible Homemade Gift Idea: Holiday Ginger Spiced Nuts
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
- Lightly beat one egg white with 1/4 tsp salt until foamy.
- Add 1 lb. unsalted nuts. We like almonds & pecans. See note below about measuring nuts.
- Toss until coated.
Stir in:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
Toss evenly to distribute.
Spread nuts on lightly greased baking sheet and roast, stirring every 15 min for one hour or until lightly browned and crisp. (45 minutes may be enough depending on your oven)
Let cool. Store in tightly sealed tin.
Note: 3 cups almonds = 1 lb. 4 c. pecans = 1 lb.
You can easily double the recipe and make a big batch for friends and neighbors. Be sure to make enough to have some leftovers at home!
Holiday Ginger Spiced Nuts Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups almonds raw, unsalted
- 2 cups pecans raw, unsalted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
- Lightly beat one egg white with 1/4 tsp salt until foamy.
- Add 1 lb. unsalted nuts. We like almonds & pecans but you can change up the nuts and choose your own. Toss until coated.
- Stir in brown sugar, regular sugar, ground ginger and cayenne pepper.
- Toss evenly to distribute.
- Spread nuts on lightly greased baking sheet and roast, stirring every 15 min for one hour or until lightly browned and crisp. (45 minutes may be enough depending on your oven)
- Let cool. Store in tightly sealed tin.
Notes
Nutrition
Giving a homemade gift holds special meaning, especially in our pre-packaged, gift-card-giving world. It is the time spent, the love given, and the heart-felt effort that make a homemade gift more special than ever.
Easy Edible Homemade Holiday Gift Idea
Every year our friends ask us if we’re going to make our “Spicy Nuts” again. We’ve been passing out the recipe and making these over and over again at the request of friends and family. We hope you will enjoy this easy edible homemade holiday gift idea as much as we enjoy making them, eating them, and giving them away in the spirit of the season.
Merry Christmas!
Want more Holiday Inspiration from us, The Design Twins? Visit our Holiday Home Tours:
Welcome to My Rich and Colorful Holiday Home Tour
How to Create Christmas Magic While Staying Merry & Bright
These yummy Ginger Spiced Nuts are the perfect homemade gift idea to show your friends how much you care.
For more holiday gift ideas, read Good Housekeeping’s “60 DIY Christmas Gifts to Add Heart to Your Holiday.”
These yummy Ginger Spiced Nuts are the perfect homemade gift idea to show your friends how much you care!!
Based on 1 Review(s)
Rachel Ruth says
Yummy! I’m looking to make a few homemade gifts and treats for my family this year. This is definitely now on my list! Thank you ladies for sharing!
jjdesigntwins says
Rachel, Thank you so much for joining us on our blog! Welcome! We are so happy you liked the post and really hope you’ll get a chance to make these. As far as ease and universal love, these are a winner. As Jodie said, we’ve been “testing” these for nearly 30 years (yikes!) Anyway, welcome again, thank you for the sweet reply, and we hope to see you lots more here on the blog! Blessings for a Happy Happy Holiday Season. XO ~ Julie & Jodie
Kelly Gillespie says
I will definitely be adding these to my homemade gift giving list! They sound delicious and so easy to make! Thank you for posting!
jjdesigntwins says
Kelly, We are so glad you are going to give these a try! We want to hear how it goes! Definitely loved by many (we’ve been “test marketing” these for more years than we’d like to admit!) And…welcome to our blog! We hope to see you hear often in the future. Until the next time, happy holidays and God Bless. With gratitude, Julie & Jodie
Marcy Riley says
Yummy! I will be making the spiced Nut recipe for sure! Thank you all so much for the great ideas ! I love reading your blog!!!????
What a great giveaway!!!??
jjdesigntwins says
Marcy, You are so sweet! You really have no idea how much you kind support means to us! Let’s just say it means A LOT! We are so glad you are enjoying the blog (and of course taking advantage of the giveaway!!) Our fingers are crossed for you. Also, let us know how your family and friends like the nuts! They’ve always been a huge hit for us…it’s not Christmas without them. It makes us happy to be spreading holiday cheer in a new way with our blog! Many blessings to your sweet friend! And Happiest of Holidays, Julie & Jodie
Claudia Blazer says
oooh your nut recipe sounds delicious! I’m sitting in the Rehab center with my dad (age 90) so finally found your blog! I’m the gal that met you at Redeemed Revival in Bremerton WA — I love the Lord and have a challenging life with my disabled husband (MS) and my dad. — but my JOY is still intack — God is truly amazing! Thank you for your endless ideas!! So much fun to decorate!! I’ve been collecting decor for 46 years! Thanks again!! Claudia
jjdesigntwins says
Hi Claudia,
I’m so glad you reminded me because names without faces become a bit of a blur for me. Yes! I remember meeting at the Antique Faire in October. Your upbeat spirit and dedication to your father is inspiring! Thank you, as always, for your continued enthusiasm and support. It means an awful lot to both Julie and me. We were blessed to meet you and connect with your sprit. Thank you for keeping in touch! And…I hope you get a chance to make these nuts, even if it’s just for yourself!! (although your friends will love you even more if you share some with them!) hahah! God Bless!!
Sending Christmas wishes to you and your family,
Jodie & Julie
jjdesigntwins says
These make great snacks….and great gifts as well!
Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy these!
Blessings,
Jodie & Julie
Sherry says
Can you tell me what size of canning jars you use? Just found your blog and love it. Thanks
jjdesigntwins says
Hi Sherry,
I believe I used 8 oz. I would recommend using 6 or 8 oz jars, but it depends on how much you make and want to give 🙂 Happy baking! and Happy Holidays! Julie & Jodie
colleen says
Hi there! I want to make these and send them via mail to friends. They may not receive them for 5 days and once they get them, I’d like them they could enjoy them for a while without going stale or less than optimal. Do you think this is reasonable? You wrote that they keep up to a week I think. If this is true, maybe this isn’t something I should do? Have you ever kept these long enough to know if they are still optimal in taste after a week? Thanks, colleen
jjdesigntwins says
Hi Colleen, They do last at least a week. I think if you put them in a zip-lock air tight container of some kind they should be fine. Hope you make them and your friends really enjoy. Blessings, Julie & Jodie
Cathy says
Do I use plain cinnamon or sugar cinnamon?
Do I mix the almonds and pecans together and bake?
jjdesigntwins says
Hi Cathy,
I used plain cinnamon in this recipe. And yes, you mix the almond and pecans together as well. I hope this helped and that you love the recipe!
Happy Holidays!
Jodie & Julie
Norma says
I am totally in favor of homemade gifts. There are not many days left before Christmas so gotta get going. Your recipe for a ginger lover looks ideal. Hopefully, it takes as little time as suggested. Thanks for the inspiration.
Be well!
jjdesigntwins says
Thank you so much, Norma. We absolutely love this recipe and we hope it becomes a favorite of yours too. Happy Holidays! Blessings, Julie & Jodie