The Best Maple Nuts Recipe (Oven or Air Fryer Roasted) 

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These Maple Nuts are absolutely amazing! I’m talking about that rich, authentic maple syrup flavor that tastes like the real deal – none of that artificial stuff here. What I love most about this maple-roasted nuts recipe is how simple it is. Just mixed nuts, real maple syrup, a bit of melted butter or coconut oil, and the tiniest dash of salt. That’s it! No weird ingredients, no overly sugary coating, just the delicious flavor of roasted nuts and maple syrup.

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I really hope you enjoy this Maple Nuts recipe. If you do, please let me know in the comments below. I really LOVE reading your comments ❤️

Here’s the game-changer: let those nuts soak in the maple syrup mixture for 10-15 minutes before you cook them. Trust me on this one – it makes such a difference in getting that maple flavor to really penetrate each nut.

The maple syrup creates this incredible caramelized coating that’s not overly sugary, just perfectly maple-y with nuts that stay firm and toasty. No sticky fingers, no overly sweet aftertaste. And the flavor? Absolutely incredible – you can actually taste the maple syrup in every bite.

These nuts are so versatile it’s almost ridiculous! I’ve served them to guests and watched them disappear in minutes, sprinkled them on overnight oats for the perfect breakfast upgrade, and made homemade roasted maple pecans to take ice cream, muffins, and carrot cake to the next level.

Whether you go for oven roasted nuts or air fryer roasted nuts, you’ll have a batch of these beauties ready in no time. Fair warning though – One handful, and you’ll be plotting to hide them from yourself – they’re that good. 😊

And this maple roasted mixed nuts recipe works beautifully with any kind of nuts – whether you’re making maple roasted pecans, maple roasted walnuts, maple roasted macadamia nuts, or any combination you love!

Ingredients to Make Home-Made Maple Nuts

For exact ingredient measurements, please scroll down to the Recipe Card.

• Raw, unsalted nuts and/or seeds (pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, pistachios, brazil nuts all work great) – The key words here are RAW and UNSALTED! Already roasted nuts will just burn when you roast them, and salted nuts will throw off the flavor balance. Mix and match whatever you like – maple roasted pecans and maple roasted walnuts are my favorites because they soak up that maple flavor like nobody’s business. And maple roasted almonds are also seriously yum. But really, you can use any combination of nuts that you have handy in your pantry. You CAN also use seeds (pumpkin seeds are especially nice), but then make them separately, as they are much smaller and need less time to roast.
• Pure maple syrup – This is where you don’t want to cheap out! Real pure maple syrup gives you that deep, rich flavor that makes these nuts special. The fake stuff just tastes like sugar water and won’t give you nearly the same results. Grade A robust or dark pure maple syrup will give you the strongest flavor.
• Melted butter or coconut oil – Butter adds amazing flavor, but coconut oil works great if you want to keep these dairy-free. Either way, you need some fat to help everything stick together and get that nice glossy coating.
• Vanilla extract (Optional) – Real vanilla extract, not the artificial imitation stuff! It rounds out that maple flavor and adds a warm, cozy note. But if you don’t have any handy, no worries, your maple nuts will still be delicious.
• Sea salt – Just a pinch, but it’s crucial! Salt brings out the maple flavor and balances the sweetness. 
• Cinnamon (Optional)- This is a secret weapon that makes everything taste more “maple-y” and adds that warm spice note. It’s like autumn in a jar! But if you don’t have any hiding in your pantry, don’t let that stop you from making the maple nuts. The maple syrup is the star of the show after all and if you follow the directions of this recipe, you will still get super delicious maple flavored nuts, even without the cinnamon.
• Cayenne Pepper (Very optional) – This gives the nuts a bit of a kick, but I hardly ever use it. For one, I just love the maple flavor of these nuts and I don’t want anything to override that flavor, even if it is just a pinch. But the real reason is that I like to make a double batch of these home-made maple nuts and keep them in my cupboard. I use them on my maple overnight oats and as a superpower sprinkle on my cottage cheese cupcakes with cottage cheese frosting. But if you are just going to munch on the nuts on their own, a pinch of cayenne pepper in this roasted nuts recipe can be quite nice.

Recipe variation: Maple Spiced Nuts

Want to make Maple Spiced Nuts instead?

If you want to ramp up the spice factor and create maple spiced nuts, just add extra spices such as ground ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves to the maple nuts recipe.

Mix all the spices together with your cinnamon before adding to the maple syrup mixture. You’ll get these amazing maple spiced nuts that taste like fall in every bite! Spiced maple roasted pecans make an amazing Thanksgiving and Christmas party snack. But, the spices do lessen the maple flavor overall because, well, they are spices. 🙃 So if you want a more intense maple syrup flavor, just stick to the original maple nuts recipe.

Equipment

• Small or medium heatproof bowl
• Cookie sheet if roasting in the oven
• Air fryer or oven
• Parchment paper

How to Make Home-Made Maple Nuts

Follow the steps below to make this delicious maple roasted nuts recipe.

1. Mix the marinade coating: In a heatproof bowl, whisk together maple syrup, melted butter, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne if using.
2. You may have to pop the bowl in the microwave if your butter hardens. You want all the ingredients to mix together evenly.
3. Coat the nuts: Add nuts to the bowl and toss until evenly coated with the maple mixture. Let the nuts marinate in the maple syrup mixture for 10-15 minutes and not more than 30 minutes. Letting the nuts sit in the maple syrup marinade for 10-15 minutes allows the nuts to soak up that lovely maple flavor, without making the nuts soggy, so don’t make let them sit there for more than 30 minutes max. 10-15 minutes is ideal.
4. When your 10-15 minutes are up, give it another stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts from the maple syrup marinade and keep the remaining marinade (the liquid that does not stick to the nuts) in the bowl.

If roasting the maple nuts in an air fryer

Follow steps 1-4 above and then continue here to make this roasted nuts recipe in an air fryer.

5. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Spread nuts in a single layer in the basket. Roast for 4 minutes, shaking every 2-3 minutes.
6. Re-coat the nuts: Remove nuts from air fryer and put in the bowl with the left over maple syrup mixture. Give them a good stir, coating all the nuts as much as possible, and place back into the air fryer. No need to soak this time. Roast for another 2-4 minutes, giving it a shake every 2 minutes or so.
7. Check for doneness: Nuts should be golden and fragrant with a caramelized coating.
8. Cool: Transfer to parchment paper, spread out, and separate any stuck nuts while warm.

If roasting maple nuts in the oven

Follow steps 1-4 above and then continue here if roasting the maple glazed nuts in an oven. I just used pecans this time to make roasted maple pecans, but you can use any nuts combo. 😀

5. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Spread nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet with parchment paper and place in the middle rack of the oven. Roast for 5 minutes.
6. Re-coat the nuts: Remove the nuts from the oven and place them back in the liquid mixture of leftover maple syrup/melted butter, coating them evenly. Then put the newly coated nuts back onto the parchment paper and roast for another 5-7 minutes until the nuts start to turn golden and are fragrant. Tip: Check on nuts after 3 minutes in case your oven runs hot, and the nuts are roasted quickly. Nuts should be golden and fragrant with a caramelized coating. Golden, not brown ok?
7. Cool: Let cool completely on the baking sheet – they’ll continue to harden up as they cool to room temperature.
8. Scrape up the leftover caramelized maple syrup bits and add it to your bowl of maple nuts for extra maple flavor. 😉

Pro Tips

1. Use real maple syrup. Grade A Dark/Robust has the most intense maple flavor – it’s darker and more concentrated than lighter grades. Canadian maple syrup tends to have a particularly rich flavor.
2. Avoid pancake syrup or artificial maple flavoring – they won’t give you that authentic taste. Use 100% pure maple syrup.
3. Let the coated nuts sit for 10-15 minutes in the maple syrup and melted butter mixture before roasting. This allows the maple syrup to penetrate the nuts more deeply, giving you maple flavor throughout rather than just on the surface.
4. Spread the nuts evenly on the baking dish or in air fryer. Otherwise, the nuts can steam instead of roast and the texture will not be nice and firm. And the nuts may not roast evenly – so some nuts could burn. You get the picture – spread those nuts out evenly. 😅

10 Delicious ways to use these maple nuts

1. Straight from the bowl – Honestly, they’re perfect just as a snack. Great for parties or when you need something sweet but not wild sugary.
2. Overnight oats topping – Sprinkle these on top for an extra boost of protein and crunch. Try some maple nuts on these raspberry chocolate oats, cinnamon bun overnight oats, Nutella overnight oats, and applesauce overnight oats. And maple roasted pecans are a great topping for creamy maple overnight oats 😀
3. Ice cream topper – Vanilla ice cream + these nuts = instant fancy dessert. Works with any flavor really, but vanilla lets that maple syrup flavor shine.
4. Carrot cake and muffin upgrade – Press them into the top of these maple sweetened cottage cheese blueberry muffins, cottage cheese banana muffins or sprinkle over this creamy cottage cheese frosting. Any way, you’re adding a serious wow factor.
5. Yogurt bowl magic – Turn plain Greek yogurt into something special. Add some berries and you’ve got yourself a restaurant-worthy parfait.
6. Sprinkle on some avocado toast like cottage cheese avocado toast for that cafe-style touch.
7. Salad surprise – Toss a handful of maple roasted pecans or maple roasted walnuts into fall salads with apples or pears. The sweet maple plays so well with greens and cheese. Try it with this salmon quinoa salad 😀
8. Sprinkle over roasted veggies or soups – such as this creamy asparagus and sweet potato soup – for extra flavor and an elegant café-style finishing touch.
9. Super easy last-minute gift! – Pack them in cute jars or bags. They make a lovely Christmas gift or Birthday present!
10. Charcuterie platter star – These nuts are perfect on a charcuterie board! They pair amazingly with brie, goat cheese, or any cheese really. Maple nuts also go really well with all kinds of fruits (strawberries and grapes are my favorites). Plus, that maple sweetness balances out salty meats beautifully if you are putting out some salami or Italian smoked meats.

Maple Nuts Recipe Card

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The Best Maple Nuts Recipe (Air Fryer or Oven Roasted Nuts)

Marissa

These easy Maple Nuts are made with just a few simple ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes! No weird ingredients, no overly sugary coating, just the delicious flavor of roasted nuts and pure maple syrup. Perfect for snacking, gifting, or using as toppings for overnight oats, ice cream, and cakes and even roasted veggies or salads. Roast them in the oven or air fryer!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 255 kcal

Equipment

• 1 measuring cup
• 1 heat proof bowl
• 1 oven or air fryer
• 1 Parchment paper

Ingredients

  

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Maple Nuts Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 cup mixed nuts pecans, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts or cashews
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 100% maple syrup, grade A, dark or robust if possible
• 1/2 tablespoon butter or coconut oil melted
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt use less (1/8 tsp) if using regular salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon optional
• pinch of cayenne pepper optional, for a slight kick

Maple Spiced Nuts Recipe Ingredients:

• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon extra – on top of the 1/4 teaspoon above
• pinch of ground cloves

Instructions

 

Instructions for basic maple nuts:

• Mix the maple syrup coating: In a heatproof bowl, whisk together maple syrup, melted butter or coconut oil, and salt. Add cinnamon and cayenne if using.
• You may have to pop the bowl in the microwave if your butter/coconut oil hardens. You want all the ingredients to mix together evenly.
• Coat the nuts: Add nuts to the bowl and toss until evenly coated with the maple mixture.
• Let the nuts marinate in the maple syrup mixture for 10-15 minutes and not more than 30 minutes. Letting the nuts sit in the maple syrup marinade for 10-15 minutes allows the nuts to soak up that lovely maple flavor, without making the nuts soggy, so don’t make let them sit there for more than 30 minutes max. 10-15 minutes is ideal.
• When your 10-15 minutes are up, give it another stir to coat the nuts evenly.
• Remove the nuts from the maple syrup mixture and keep the leftover maple syrup mixture (the liquid that does not stick to the nuts) in the bowl.

If making air fryer roasted nuts:

• Follow steps 1-4 above and then continue here to make roasted nuts in an air fryer.
• Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Spread the nuts that you soaked in the maple syrup and melted butter/coconut oil in a single layer in the basket.
• Roast the nuts for 4 minutes, shaking every 2-3 minutes.
• Re-coat the nuts: Remove nuts from air fryer and put in the bowl with the leftover maple syrup mixture. Give them a good stir, coating all the nuts as much as possible, and place back into the air fryer. No need to soak this time.
• Roast for another 2-4 minutes, giving it a shake every 2 minutes or so.
• Check for doneness: Nuts should be golden and fragrant with a caramelized coating. Not brown, golden 😀
• Cool: Transfer the maple roasted mixed nuts to parchment paper, spread out, and separate any stuck nuts while warm.

If making oven roasted nuts:

• Follow steps 1-4 above and then continue here if roasting the maple glazed nuts in an oven.
• Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Spread nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet with parchment paper and place in middle rack in oven.
• Roast the nuts in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Re-coat the nuts : Take the nuts out of the oven and put them back into the leftover maple syrup/melted butter mixture and coat evenly. No need to soak in the maple syrup mixture, just give them a good toss.
• Then put the newly coated nuts back onto the parchment paper and roast for another 5-7 minutes until nuts start to turn golden and are fragrant.
• Tip: Check on nuts after 3 minutes in case your oven runs hot, and the nuts are roasted quickly. Nuts should be golden and fragrant with a caramelized coating. Golden, not brown, ok?
• 10: Cool: Let the maple roasted mixed nuts cool completely on the baking sheet – they'll continue to harden up as they cool to room temperature.
• Scrape up the leftover caramelized maple syrup bits and add it to your bowl of maple nuts for extra maple flavor. 😉

Recipe Variation Instructions to make Maple Spiced Nuts:

• Just add the spices to the maple syrup and melted butter/melted coconut oil mixture and then coat the nuts as in the original recipe. Easy peasy!

Notes

 

1. • Use real maple syrup. Grade A Dark Robust has the most intense maple flavor – it’s darker and more concentrated than lighter grades. Canadian maple syrup tends to have a particularly rich flavor.
   • Avoid pancake syrup or artificial maple flavoring – they won’t give you that authentic taste. Use 100% pure maple syrup.
   • Let the coated nuts sit for 10-15 minutes in the maple syrup and melted butter mixture before roasting. This allows the maple syrup to penetrate the nuts more deeply, giving you maple flavor throughout rather than just on the surface.
   • Spread the nuts evenly on the baking dish or in air fryer. Otherwise, the nuts can steam instead of roast and the texture will not be nice and firm. And the nuts may not roast evenly – so some nuts could burn. You get the picture – spread those nuts out evenly. 😅
   • Check your nuts frequently the first time you make them. One minute your nuts are not at all done, and the next minute they can look burnt.
   • This maple roasted nuts recipe wil work for seeds as well, but cut down the roasting time to 4-5 minutes in the air fryer and 6-7 minutes in the oven,

Storage:

• • Let the maple roasted mixed nuts cool completely first (about 30 minutes).
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • You can use glass jars, plastic containers with tight lids, or resealable bags.
  • At room temperature, these maple nuts will keep 1-2 weeks for best flavor and crunchiness.
  • In the refrigerator they will keep around 2-3 weeks (though they may lose some crispness).
  • In the freezer about 1-2 months.
  • If they start to lose their crispness, you can refresh them in a 350°F oven for 2-3 minutes.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 162mgPotassium: 241mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Christmas, Maple Syrup, Quick and easy

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