Honey Sesame Cashews

Honey sesame cashews are a sweet and salty treat that's perfect for snacking. Whole cashews are coated in a thin layer of honey and toasted sesame seeds with a hint of heat from the addition of cayenne pepper.

Make a batch of honey sesame cashews with just five minutes of prep. All you need are four ingredients to get started!

These cashew clusters are made with whole roasted cashews, honey, sesame seeds, and a little bit of cayenne pepper. If the cayenne pepper seems intimidating to you, it adds just a slight heat without making the cashews super spicy. It can also be omitted entirely if that's not your style.

Toss honey sesame cashews on a salad, serve as a snack on their own, or add to your next charcuterie board.

Ingredients and substitutions

For this recipe, you'll need whole or halved cashews, toasted sesame seeds, honey, salt, and cayenne pepper. 

• Cashews - For best results, use whole or halved roasted cashews. They can be substituted with peanuts, almonds, or a can of mixed nuts if desired.
• Honey - Maple syrup has worked for readers as a substitute, but I haven't tested this myself.
• Sesame seeds - Lightly toasted sesame seeds add a nutty flavor and crunch.
• Seasoning - Salt helps balance the sweetness of the honey, and cayenne pepper adds a hint of heat. If you'd prefer, the cayenne can be omitted.

Tips and tricks

• Parchment paper - Potentially the most important step of this recipe is lining your baking sheet with parchment paper (or using a silicone baking mat). These honey glazed cashews are very sticky before and just after baking, and will adhere to an unlined baking sheet.
• Toasting your sesame seeds - Toasting sesame seeds helps bring out their nutty flavor and makes them a little crunchier. If your sesame seeds are not yet toasted, I recommend giving them a light toast before preparing this recipe. Sesame seeds can be toasted in a dry skillet over medium heat for up to 3 minutes, stirring often. Or, they can be toasted in your preheated oven for up to 5 minutes on a lined baking sheet.
• Allow cashews to cool completely - Your cashews may be slightly sticky straight out of the oven, but the honey glaze will harden once they've cooled completely.
• Break into clusters - After your cashews have cooled completely, you'll need to break them into small, bite size clusters for easy snacking.

Ways to use cashews

• Salad topping - Add to your next salad as a crunchy crouton alternative!
• Snacking - Cashews can be served on their own as a crunchy handheld snack.
• Charcuterie board - Add cashews to your next charcuterie board - they pair perfectly with salty cured meats and cheeses.
• Give as a gift - After your cashews have cooled completely, carefully package them into small cello bags, or a decorative tin, for gift giving.

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