Do you ever walk by those roasted nut vendors at Christmas and smell the amazing spices, but hate all the sugar in them? I've managed to develop a recipe for sugar-free cinnamon roasted almonds. These are beautiful to take to a shared meal or pop into a festive jar and give as a gift.
UPDATE: FREE printable gift tags have been added to the end of the post, take a look. These are a wonderful way to turn these sugar-free spiced almonds into an affordable gift this festive season.
Sugar-Free Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
If you're wanting to stay on track this Christmas and navigate all the high carb junk food that surrounds you, start by taking your own nibbles for a shared morning tea, lunch, or drinks night.
I find it really easy as I just don't fancy a mince pie or biscuits any more (now that is life-changing in itself), but just avoid all the bread, crackers, cakes, etc. and go for the meats, cheeses, and savoury items.
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I have been known to put pesto dip on a slice of ham and roll it up - voila - an instant LCHF snack and no one bats an eyelid.
For more Christmas ideas take a look at my low carb Christmas round-up.
A Fun Stocking Stuffer for Snackers
Do you have special snackers on your Christmas list?
Make a few batches of these sugar-free cinnamon roasted almonds. Then package in mason jars or plastic cone treat bags.
You can give it a beautiful finish with a decorative bow and the printable cards available below.
Review The Ultimate Guide to Carbs in Nuts and Seeds to pick other options that you can roast as well too. You could create a gift basket filled with an assortment of low-carb, sugar-free roasted nuts and snacks!
FREE printable gift tags
Click here to download the PDF file for your free printable gift tags, ready for printing.
Low-Carb Nuts - how much s too much?
Nuts have healthy fats and are a great source of protein, but you want to pay attention to portion control. The net carbs will start adding up unless you track how many servings you're eating.
But many people slip up by overindulging on nuts and then realise their weight loss has stopped and wonder why.
They never make the connection between nuts and the slow creep of carbs back into their diet.
There are 2 reasons why nuts may be causing a weight-loss stall.
QUANTITY - Nuts are easy, portable and so easy to overdo. They can be oily and salty which is designed to hit our "bliss point". This encourages the packet to disappear before our very eyes.
CARB VALUE - Many don't realise how high in carbs some nuts and seeds can be. I can hear the groans already as I tell you to avoid cashews, chestnuts and pistachios.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide To Carbs In Nuts And Seeds
Sugar Free Spiced Almonds
Calculate ingredients
Ingredients
- 150 g (1 cup) whole almonds
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) egg whites
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp (1/4 tsp) ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp (1/2 tsp) mixed spice
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) granulated sweetener of choice or more, to your taste
Equipment
- Whisk
- Cup
- Fork
Instructions
- Whisk the egg whites until frothy with a fork in a shallow bowl.
- Pour the whole almonds into the egg white mixture and stir with the fork until they are completely coated.
- Leave the almonds to sit for a while until most of the egg white has soaked into the almonds. The almonds should be coated and sticky, ready for the spices.
- Place the spices and sweetener in a cup and stir to combine evenly, then sprinkle over the sticky almonds.
- Turn gently with the fork so the almonds are coated with the spices.
- Line a baking tray with some kind of non stick liner or non stick baking paper.
- Place the spiced almonds on the lined baking tray making sure they are evenly spaced, and aren't sitting in clumps.
- Bake at 130C/260F for 10 minutes, turning half way through. You only need the egg whites to cook and completely dry out to help the storage. You don't want any dampness remaining or these will not stay fresh.
- Can be stored in a sealed glass jar for up to a month.
Notes
Nutrition
More Low Carb Christmas Recipes
- How to cook the perfect Christmas turkey - with an easy to follow cooking schedule
- Keto stuffing + VIDEO, using keto cornbread recipe
- Low carb Christmas mince pies - perfect for gifts
- Ham and egg cups
- Paleo prawn cocktail
- Salmon & Cream cheese bites
- Curried deviled eggs
- Stuffed meatballs
- Almond and orange flourless cake
- Lemon mini cupcakes
- Walnut & brandy truffles
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Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy new year.
Shelley
Libby, thanks for sharing another great recipe. Do you think I would be able to use different types of nuts for this recipe? I am thinking of walnuts and Brazil and macadamia nuts in particular.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, I am sure any nut would work well in this recipe. Pecans would be lovely too.
Althea
These sound lovely I’m definitely going to give them a try, if you wanted to make them spicy hot apart from maybe chilli powder which other spices could you use. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes Libby.
Tracey
Thanks Libby, my junk food addict 14 year old son keeps pinching them from the jar (still warm) yum!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Excellent result!!! From junk food to these - I'll take that as a win!
Barbara
Is Demerara sugar Florida crystal pure cane sugar ok for diabetics?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Nooooo no no. It's sugar, pure and simple and will send your blood sugars through the roof. Here's my Ultimate Guide To Low Carb Sweeteners which is really worth a read. And this page too.
Susie
Where did u get that cool jar lid?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Good old Kmart - seriously! It's funny where I find things.
Dede
I try not to use any added sweetness (even stevia) how sweet does the stevia make it and how do you think it would taste with no sweetener at all?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I think it would taste absolutely fine, sweetener is always added according to an individuals taste. We are all so different depending on how long we have been sugar free. Some like more, some like less sweet taste.
Sonya Wilson
so easy 🙂 and delicious. Thinking I'd like mine with a bit more kick, next time I'm going to add ginger
Julie
I have never used egg whites, but I've cooked them (with spices and sweetener) on the stove in a cast iron skillet. I really would like to try your recipe - do you think I could cook them in a pan on the stove?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I have never tried to cook these in a pan, you would have to use a really low heat so not to burn the egg whites. The egg whites are just there to help the spices and flavourings stick and go a little crispy. If it works in the pan, come back and let us know 🙂
Lysette
Mixed spice sounds like it would be Allspice here in USA.
Julie Hawkes
Hi Libby, this is the third recipe I tried for our early Christmas meal, simply amazing! Thanks, I'm looking forward to a relatively LCHF Christmas.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Thank you so much Julie for all your lovely comments. Have you seen my low carb christmas round up and how to cook a turkey with cooking schedule. LCHF Christmas isn't that hard once we think differently. Have a wonderful Christmas day. Libby.
Kelly
Wonderful! Can't wait to make these! Are the whole almonds raw or roasted?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Raw almonds, but you can use roasted as the recipe really only bakes on the spicy coating.
[email protected]
Thanks Libby. What a perfect snack for after my family Christmas dinner, where we're chatting and having coffee. INSTEAD of those unhealthy mints! 🙂
thehomeschoolingdoctor
Brilliant!
trekkiemaiden
hi recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of egg whites! Is that all - or did you mean 2 egg whites ( what to do with the rest of one egg LOL)
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes just 2 tsp, the almonds only ned to be coated, not drenched otherwise they won't go crispy and dry out. I used the rest of the egg in my scrambled eggs for breakfast.
Shirley
Thanks, Libby. Just in time for Christmas.
Liezel
O guess who is going to make her own and take it with to the Christmas Markets?! Here in Germany everything smells of cinnamon and sugar... and it is o so tempting! Thank you!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
That's a lovely idea 🙂
Chris Sanchez
What is mixed spice?????
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
You should be able to buy mixed spice in the spice aisle, or you could use a pumpkin pie spice, they are similar. Here is a typical blend of spices used to make mixed spice:
1 Tbs ground allspice. 1 Tbs ground cinnamon. 1 Tbs ground nutmeg. 2 tsp ground mace. 1 tsp ground cloves. 1 tsp ground coriander. 1 tsp ground Ginger.
jill
is the mixed spice like apple pie spice?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Very similar. Use whichever spices you prefer.