Food Styling: Brett Kurzweil

Almost-Famous Honey-Roasted Peanuts

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 30 min (plus cooling)
  • Active: 20 min
  • Yield: 2 cups
Nuts4Nuts started as a single pushcart in New York City in 1993. But now, on any given day, more than 80 carts are parked all over Manhattan, dishing out little wax-paper bags of warm candied peanuts. Locals and tourists love the signature treat, and they really go nuts this time of year: Sales double during cold-weather months. The business owners won’t part with their famous recipe, but the chefs in Food Network Kitchens crafted this version, and it’s just as sweet.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 ̊ F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. Combine the sugar, honey, 3 tablespoons water, the vanilla and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the sugar dissolves. Add the peanuts and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins simmering, about 1 minute. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the sugar mixture dries out and clings to the nuts, 2 to 4 more minutes. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer.
  3. Bake the nuts until the sugar coating begins melting, about 10 minutes. Stir, then continue baking until the nuts are golden brown and glazed in spots, 2 to 4 more minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and stir the nuts to distribute the caramel. Let cool on the baking sheet. Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 1 week.