This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts is so good and simple to prepare. Bar Nuts make a great savory, salty, crunchy snack!

Creating this Recipe for Bar Nuts
When you’re having a group of friends, or even just gathering as a family, over to watch sports you’ll want to keep any snacks simple.
No need to go overboard, just a few things to much on while enjoying the game works best. Quick and easy snacks like these Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts are perfect for game day entertaining.
What I Love About these Roasted Nuts
3 reasons I think this is the best bar nuts recipe:
- It is easy to make a huge batch to keep on hand for snacking
- I like snacking on roasted nuts for the nutritional value.
- They satisfy my cravings for something salty, savory, and crunchy.
Ingredients to Make Bar Nuts
- Unsalted Nuts: Cashews, Pecans, Whole Almonds, Pecans, and Macadamia Nuts
- Olive Oil
- Fresh Rosemary
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ground Cumin
- Brown Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Kosher Salt
- Unsalted Butter
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Bar Nuts
- First, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Then, combine all of the nuts and olive oil in a large bowl. After combining, stir to mix well.
- Next, spread evenly in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (or two sheet pans if necessary) and bake until warm and golden, about 10-15 minutes.
- Then, spread nuts onto a baking sheet in an even layer.
- Next, toast until nuts are lightly golden brown and fragrant (stirring occasionally), approximately 10-15 minutes.
- After that, combine the rosemary, cayenne, cumin, brown sugar, maple syrup, and melted butter in a small bowl.
- Then, add the warm nuts to the spiced butter mixture and stir gently to coat.
- Last, spread the nuts onto the baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with the coarse sea salt. Serve warm.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Customize Your Mixed Nuts
If you’d like, you can also use this recipe for these smoky bar nuts as a base for another oven roasted mixed nuts or a trail mix type of snack.
You can easily change of the flavors of this recipe by using different spices, sweeteners, and herbs (or omitting herbs). Here are a few ideas to customize the recipe.
Mixed Nut Flavor Ideas
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Chili Powder
- Chipotle Powder
- Garam Masala
- Honey
- Molasses
- Fresh Thyme
Mixed Nuts Mix in Ideas
You’ll want to add any extra ingredients after the toasting the nuts and tossing them with the sweet and spicy rosemary butter mixture.
Ingredients like pretzels and popcorn can easily turn to a soggy mess if they are stirred into the melted butter.
- Pretzels – salted, yogurt covered, or chocolate covered
- Dried Fruits – plain or chocolate covered
- Dried Shaved Coconut (or Toasted Coconut)
- Popcorn (tip: DIY Microwave Popcorn)
- Sesame Seeds
- Chex Cereal
- Dark Chocolate
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Granola
How to Store These Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts
Let the nuts cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and store at room temperature.
If you prefer to eat them warm, you can reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 1-2 minutes, until heated through before serving leftovers.
What Readers Say About this Bar Nut Recipe
“This is ridiculously delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!” -Sherry
“Katie, I made these for the Super Bowl and they were such a hit! Much better recipe than the honey versions I’ve tried before. Thanks for sharing this!” -Natalie
More Tasty Appetizers for Game Day
I’ll tell you how to make sweet and spicy rosemary bar nuts below in the recipe, but just in case you are looking for some more game day recipe ideas to go along with this bar nuts recipe, check out some of these tasty links:
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus goes great with a veggie tray.
If you’re serving burgers or sliders, these Tex-Mex Oven Fries are a must-make.
Can’t decide if you want Pizza or Easy Nachos? Have both with this Easy Black Bean Mexican Pizza.
Still need more game day appetizer ideas? Look no further than this list of 20 Tasty Super Bowl Snack Recipes.
You can’t go wrong with the amazing flavor profile of this Caramelized Onion Bacon Blue Cheese Dip.
Strawberry Mango Salsa and Easy Cinnamon Sugar Chips is perfect for something fresh and healthy (but still tasty!). Try it!
It isn’t game day without guacamole. Roasted Salsa Verde and Tomatillo Guacamole or Deconstructed Guacamole will both be a hit.
What are your favorite game day entertaining snacks?
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Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts
Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts make a great savory, salty, crunchy snack that is simple to make!
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups assorted unsalted nuts, such as cashews, pecans, whole almonds, and macadamia nuts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, combine all the nuts and olive oil and stir to mix. Then, spread evenly on a baking sheet (or two if necessary) and bake until warm and golden, about 10-15 minutes.
- Spread nuts onto a baking sheet in an even layer. Toast until nuts are lightly golden brown and fragrant (stirring occasionally), approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Combine the rosemary, cayenne, cumin, brown sugar, maple syrup, and melted butter in the large bowl. Add the warm nuts to the mixture and stir gently to coat. Spread the nuts onto the baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with the coarse sea salt.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 16 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 264Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 18gCholesterol 2mgSodium 369mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 8g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
I have partnered with Fisher Nuts and have been compensated for my time, but any opinions are my own.
Kristina
Tuesday 23rd of February 2016
I'm thinking of using these in the appetizer bar at my daughter's wedding. How far ahead do you think I could make them?
Katie Goodman
Wednesday 24th of February 2016
I usually only make a day ahead
Kristyn
Thursday 27th of August 2015
Can these be prepared a day or two in advance?
Katie Goodman
Friday 28th of August 2015
yes
Stephanie @ Plain Chicken
Wednesday 21st of January 2015
These sound soooo good! Perfect for game day snacking.
Sherry
Friday 21st of November 2014
This is ridiculously delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Natalie @ Paper & Birch
Monday 3rd of February 2014
Katie, I made these for the Super Bowl and they were such a hit! Much better recipe than the honey versions I've tried before. Thanks for sharing this!