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Spiced Holiday Nuts {Easy & Delicious Homemade Gift-in-a-Jar}

One of my family’s favorite traditions is making Delicious Homemade Mason Jar Gifts. And the wonderful thing is, they’re as much fun to make together, as they are to give to others! Simply layer the ingredients of a treasured recipe in a jar, then add a festive ribbon and tag, and there you have it – a thoughtful gift made with love!

Homemade gifts are not only a personal way to show your friends and family you care, but they also make thoughtful, economical gifts for all of the other special people in your family’s life too, such as teachers, neighbors, and co-workers. (Be sure to check out my favorite mason jar gift recipes for lots of ideas!)

This year, we’ll be spreading holiday cheer with this delightful Spiced Holiday Nuts Gift-in-a-Jar recipe. These tasty nuts capture the aroma and flavor of the holiday season with just a hint of cayenne, giving them an extra kick of flavor. Honestly, it’s almost impossible to stop eating them!

That’s why, it’s a good thing these spiced nuts are a healthier treat. That’s right, they may look sugared, but they’re not. Their sweetness comes from pure maple syrup which creates a lightly sweet glaze that coats the nuts beautifully, ensuring delicious sweet-n-spicy flavor in every bite.

Of course, the best part is how easy this tasty gift is to make! Just add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker or instant pot and “voila” you’ve got the perfect homemade holiday treat.

How to Make Slow Cooker Spiced Holiday Nuts

Let me show you how simple it is to make this delicious & festive gift …

Add 6 cups unsalted nuts to a 6-quart slow cooker (or instant pot programmed on slow cooker setting). This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to use any combination of nuts you’d like. Or you can use just one nut, such as pecans or walnuts with equally delicious results.

Make the sweet-n-spicy coating by whisking together the melted butter, maple syrup and spices as directed in the recipe below. Pour the sweet-n-spicy mixture over the nuts and stir well, until thoroughly combined. Then, cover and cook according to the recipe instructions.

Remember to stir the nuts every 30 minutes to ensure even cooking. In addition, each time you remove the lid to stir the nuts, be sure to wipe the condensation off the inside of the lid to reduce the moisture level. This will help the nuts dry more easily.

After cooking time is completed, stir the nuts well. Then, carefully spread them out onto a large, parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet to cool completely. Once the nuts are completely cool, it’s time for gift-making fun!

To make gifts-in-a-jar, gather together your favorite jars, such as clip top canning jars, mason jars or even recycled jelly jars. Then, quickly fill the jars with the spiced nuts before you’re tempted to eat them all yourself. Then, gather together festive ribbon and tags, and let your creativity soar as you create beautiful, homemade gift jars that your friends and family will love!

Spiced Holiday Nuts (GF, DF)

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients

6 cups unsalted nuts (I use 2 cups each of whole pecans, almonds and cashews)
3 tablespoons butter (or coconut oil), melted
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Very lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 6-Quart Slow Cooker with butter or coconut oil (or use the slow cooker setting on an Instant Pot). Set the temperature to high. Place the nuts into the prepared slow cooker (or instant pot).
In a small bowl, add the remaining ingredients – melted butter, maple syrup and seasonings – whisk together until well blended.
Pour the sweet-n-spicy mixture over the nuts. Use a rubber spatula to thoroughly combine, making sure the nuts are well coated and are evenly distributed across the bottom of the slow cooker (or instant pot).
Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes. Then stir the nuts well and reduce the temperature to low. Cover and continue to cook on low for about 1 1/2 more hours, making sure to stir the nuts every 30 minutes. Also, each time you remove the lid to stir the nuts, be sure to wipe the condensation off the inside of the lid. This helps to reduce the moisture level, so the nuts dry more easily.
Nuts are finished when they are nearly dry. (Since slow cookers vary in temperature, if nuts are not dry enough after two hours cooking time, continue to cook with the lid slightly ajar, checking and stirring every 15-20 minutes.)
After cooking time is completed, stir the nuts well. Then, carefully spread the nuts out onto a parchment-lined large rimmed baking sheet to cool and finish drying.
Allow the spiced nuts to cool completely. Then, place them into airtight containers, such as mason jars. If giving as a gift, add festive ribbon and gift tags to the jars as described above to create a beautiful homemade gift.

Notes

Nuts will remain fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week, or store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

https://thenourishinghome.com/2016/12/spiced-holiday-nuts/

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Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones

By Kelly · 5 Comments

Love is in the air! And so is the irresistible aroma of chocolate – the quintessential Valentine’s Day treat!

The great news is you can indulge a bit in this favorite Valentine’s Day pastime by baking-up your own chocolately-delicious treats like these scrumptious Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones!

These delightful scones are the perfect treat to enjoy with a steamy cup of tea or coffee. The combination of rich chocolate morsels and tangy dried cherries with just a hint of sweet almond flavor makes them a special favorite at Valentine’s, or anytime you’re in the mood for a not-too-sweet, flavorful treat!

Enjoy even more delicious GF baking treats …
This delightful recipe is just one of more than 100 irresistible grain-free, dairy-free recipes in my new cookbook – Everyday Grain-Free Baking!

From breads, biscuits and muffins to savory snacks and decadent treats, you’ll find step-by-step instructions, beautiful color photographs and helpful tips & tidbits to make all of your GF baking adventures a delicious success!

Click here to get a SNEAK PEEK of the book!

Cherry Chocolate Chip Scones

Yield: 8 scones

Ingredients

2 3/4 cup blanched almond flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter (or palm shortening)
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
1/3 cup dried cherries
2 Tbsp dairy-free mini chocolate chips
Optional: Coconut sugar or maple sugar for sprinkling on top

Instructions

In a food processor, combine the almond flour, baking soda and salt. Pulse in the butter (or palm shortening), until it's well incorporated. If you don't have a food processor, use a pastry cutter| (or two knifes) to cut the butter (or shortening) into the flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, honey and almond extract, until well combined.
Using a spoon, stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture, until thoroughly combined. Then, fold in the dried cherries and chocolate chips. Place dough in fridge to cool about 10-15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F while dough is chilling. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Sprinkle your work surface with a handful blanched almond flour. Melt a teaspoon of butter or coconut oil for brushing the tops of the scones.
Once dough is chilled, gather it together in a ball and place it on the floured surface. Shape the dough into a square about six-inches in diameter and one inch thick, then cut it in half twice to form four small squares. Next, cut each of the four small squares in half diagonally to form eight small triangles.
Brush the tops of the scones with a little melted butter or coconut oil. Sprinkle tops with a little coconut sugar or maple sugar, if desired.
Using a spatula, gently place each scone onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake about 15-18 minutes, until scones are lightly golden brown along the edges. Serve warm with your favorite herbal or green tea.

https://thenourishinghome.com/2016/02/cherry-chocolate-chip-scones/

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Double Chocolate Banana Bars

By Kelly · 11 Comments

A Special Treat to Celebrate National Fair Trade Month!

The ingredients we choose not only impact our lives, they also impact the lives of countless others across the globe. That’s because many of the ingredients we purchase, like chocolate for example, come from countries where people are not paid fairly for the hard work they do to bring us these cherished foods.

I know your heart is kind and full of love and compassion, and so is mine. So what can we do to help these beautiful people escape poverty and mistreatment?

It’s actually pretty simple … We can choose to Be Fair and Support Fair Trade!

October is National Fair Trade Month, and so to celebrate, I’ve created an absolutely scrumptious gluten-free, grain-free treat that’s made with some of my favorite fair trade ingredients.

By choosing to purchase fair-trade ingredients, we can make a difference in the lives of others for just a few pennies more per serving. Buying Fair Trade ensures that you’re not only getting quality products, but the people who grow and harvest them get fair pay for their hard work.

In fact, your everyday purchases can help farmers and workers in 70 countries across the globe to work in safe conditions, earn extra money to invest in their communities and improve the lives of their families.

These irresistible Double Chocolate Banana Bars are made with pure fair-trade ingredients and are certain to become a family favorite! Wondering where you can find fair-trade products? Most whole food type stores, markets and even Amazon sell a wide selection of fair trade products. Just look for the fair trade symbol.

You can also check out Fair Trade USA’s Be Fair website for a complete listing of fair-trade products – everything from chocolate, coffee, and other foods to apparel, home goods and body care products. I also encourage you to watch the brief Be Fair Video at the bottom their site. It’s absolutely wonderful!

Of course, a celebration wouldn’t be a celebration without a special treat. So I’ve gathered together some of my favorite fair trade ingredients to create a special treat just for you!

These irresistible Double Chocolate Banana Bars are certain to become a family favorite! My kids love these moist, ooey-gooey bars full of chocolatey goodness (and so do the adults around here).

But what we love most is knowing that our choice to select fair trade ingredients is helping to secure a better life for other families across the globe. I hope you’ll join me in this mission!

These irresistible Double Chocolate Banana Bars are made with pure fair-trade ingredients and are certain to become a family favorite!

Double Chocolate Banana Bars

Yield: Makes 12 bars

Ingredients

2 cups blanched almond flour
1/4 cup unsweetened fair trade cocoa powder
1 Tbsp fair trade coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 large ripe bananas)
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp fair trade coconut oil, melted
3 large eggs
2 Tbsp pure coconut milk (or almond milk)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup rough-chopped fair trade baking chocolate, divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9x9-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the mashed banana, honey and coconut oil. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, blend together until smooth and creamy.
Add the eggs, milk, vanilla and apple cider vinegar to the banana mixture and blend until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until batter is thick and smooth, making sure to scrape down the bowl as needed.
Fold in half of the chocolate pieces into the batter. Then pour batter into the prepared baking dish using a rubber spatula to scrape all the batter from the bowl.
Use an offset spatula to even out batter. Sprinkle remaining chocolate pieces evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake approximately 30 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow bars to rest on stovetop until completely cool. Then, cut into bars and enjoy!

https://thenourishinghome.com/2015/10/double-chocolate-banana-bars/

*Disclosure: I believe in making a difference by choosing to purchase fair trade products. That’s why my family always purchases fair trade. As a friend of Fair Trade USA, I received complimentary products to create this particular recipe as a thank you for helping spread the word about how fair trade makes a difference in the lives of people across the globe. Also note, if you opt to purchase using the amazon affiliate links in this post, a small portion of the sale goes to support The Nourishing Home at no additional cost to you. There is no obligation to purchase, but if you do, you are helping to support the free resources, meal plans and recipes here at The Nourishing Home. Thank you!

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