These rosemary-roasted cashews blend sweet and savory, with a subtle kick of spice. Roasted in the oven, they become lightly caramelized and delightfully crunchy. Just a touch of cayenne pepper adds interest and a hint of spice.
The best part? You can make maple-roasted cashews in advance and freeze for later. Makers say they’re easy and make delicious holiday gifts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recipe Review “I have been using this recipe for a couple of years now. They’re always excellent. Everyone request them.” ~ Terri

Roasted Rosemary Cashews Highlights
Having homemade snacks on hand means there’s always something to nibble on should the mood strike. These rosemary cashews fit the bill! They’re a delightful grab n’ go snack, make a crunchy addition to snack or cheese boards, and are a generous holiday foodie gift! They’re low effort for a tasty return.
Inspired by Ina Garten’s rosemary cashews, I adapted her recipe, substituting butter with coconut oil. I also wanted more caramelization on the cashews for flavor and crunch, so I added maple syrup, like in these Maple Candied Pecans and my Maple Candied Walnuts, and never looked back.
This Recipe Is
- crunchy
- lightly spiced
- sweet
If you love easy-to-make appetizers and snacks, you’ll enjoy these maple rosemary cashews.

Coconut Oil: you can use refined or unrefined coconut oil in this recipe. After it’s melted, make sure it is warm to the touch before adding it to the cashews.
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How to Make Maple Roasted Rosemary Cashews
step by step




Fresh Rosemary: is more flavorful than dried, so use fresh. Leftovers can be used in this tasty Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup. Be sure to chop fine.




Traci’s Tips
- Stay Close to the Oven: Keep a close eye on the roasted cashews after the 10-minute mark and after stirring. They can go from golden to over-caramelized fast.
- Work Quick: After pulling the cashews from the oven, work quickly to transfer them to a piece of parchment paper, sprinkle with salt and more rosemary, stir, and then separate the nuts; otherwise, they’ll stick together or break apart after they cool – you want to try and keep the cashews whole.
- For Foodie Gifts: This recipe makes tasty holiday gifts. Cool the spicy roasted cashews, then fill small Mason jars and lid. The jars can be tied with ribbon and be used again by the recipient.

Sweet and Spicy Maple Roasted Rosemary Cashews
Ingredients
- 2 cup (300 grams) Raw Cashews
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil, melted and slightly warm
- 3 tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar
- 3/4 teaspoons Sea Salt, divided (see note)
- 1/4 teaspoons Cayenne Pepper, ground
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit (190 Celcius).
- In a mixing bowl add the raw cashews, warmed coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon rosemary. Toss well to make sure the nuts are evenly coated with mixture.
- Roast nuts on an ungreased, unlined sheet pan for about 10 minutes, stirring and turning pan 1/2 way through roasting. Roast for another 5-8 minutes if needed, or until golden. I like to push these nuts to make them darker or more caramelized. Keep an eye on those last 5-8 minutes, though because they can go from golden to too dark fast! The nuts pictured in the blog post are more caramelized than golden.
- Immediately after removing nuts from oven, sprinkle with remaining salt and fresh rosemary, give them a stir and pour on to a piece of parchment paper. Gently separate the nuts that are sticking together. They'll continue to harden as they cool.
- Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Store in a covered container for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage. Thaw at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
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I made these yesterday and I completely love the flavor! I’m always unsure of the amount of sugar so I cut it a little bit, but I think it was needed. I’ll make them with the full amount next time. I was happily surprised by beautiful flavors the rosemary gave to the nuts. Question: if I were to make this with almonds, what would you change? I’m guessing they may need longer in the oven but unsure on how to proceed.
Hi Paola! Thank you for your note and giving the cashews a go. The sugar aids in flavor and caramelization. Keep us posted if you give it a go with the full amount. Without testing, I’m not sure about subbing almonds.