When I told people that we were moving from the north side to the east side of Sydney, to the same suburb in which my parents live, friends gave me a look of alarm. Some even asked if I had seen “Everyone Loves Raymond” as they conjured up images of my parents dropping in and meddling. The reality is that we live at the other end of the suburb and a good 10 minutes walk away and my parents do don’t drop ins (thankfully, I can’t cope with random drop ins).
In fact if anything, I impose on my parents. I recently had to get an expedited visa and my father kindly volunteered to help out. I prepared the paperwork and he dropped by and picked up the papers and my passport. He took the papers and placed them in a plastic bag. Then he took my passport and unbuttoned his shirt and then shoved it down his shirt for safe keeping.
“What are you doing?” I asked surprised.
“For safe keeping” he said patting the passport and showing me the belt so that it wouldn’t fall down his shirt and out a pant leg.
In light of that, I decided to make him some cinnamon sugar coated nuts. I had made these years ago and only stopped because they were so addictive that I knew that eating handfuls of nuts would not be a wise course of action when you’re already surrounded with chocolates and cakes.
They are really one of the tastiest gifts you can give someone and the bonus is that your kitchen smells absolutely ambrosial while they are baking! The mixing is easy although they do take about 30-40 minutes in the oven and the last 20 minutes requires security detail as you fight off people that suddenly wander into the kitchen sniffing around and asking to eat whatever is being baked.
So tell me Dear Reader, would you ever or do you live in the same suburb as your parents or family?
Cinnamon Sugar Coated Nuts
- 3 -3.5 cups nuts (almonds, pecans and brazil nuts work well as they are a similar size, hazelnuts less so as they are smaller and can get overcooked)
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 150c/300F. Line 1 large or 2 medium baking trays with parchment paper. In a clean bowl that can fit the nuts and sugar, whisk the egg white until foamy and thick but not yet to soft or firm peaks. Whisk in the vanilla extract once foamy.
2. In another bowl, mix the white sugar, cinnamon and salt.
3. Add the nuts to the egg mixture and stir to combine (just use the whisk) and then add the cinnamon sugar and combine to coat the nuts. Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes until crispy. As it cools, it will make a soft cracking sound which is the sugar and egg white crisping up so that it is super crunchy 
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72 Comments | Add your own
I love the smell of candied nuts in the street, these look like they’d make great gifts.
Terrific! I would not be able to stop after a few of those nuts. As a matter of fact, I bet I’d gobble the whole jar…
Cheers,
Rosa
We make a similar recipe using savoury spices – the egg white is great as a low fat alternative to oil! Your dad sounds like quite a character!
This reminds me – I need to make some candied nuts for some special. These look delicious – although this person isn’t a big cinnamon fan…
We lived pretty close to my bf’s parents for a number of years. It wasn’t close enough for walking, but plenty close for pop-ins. However, they rarely popped by unexpected so it was never a problem. I think I chafe more under expectations than I do from unexpected visits though. If I’m expected to visit on too frequent of a basis, resentment begins to build…
A food gift for your dad is a great way to keep the family in harmony.I should make these for my neighbors, but hoping they don’t just drop in.
Oh what a funny question. In my suburb… my parents, my in-laws and my grandma!
These sound amazing. I’m going to save them away for Christmas presents.
These will make excellent Christmas gifts! My partners parents live in the same suburb as me and my friends had the same reaction! It’s fine though, I think they want their privacy as much as we do!
Beautiful! I’d love a handful of those right now…:)
This looks delicious and would make a wonderful gift! I live away from my parents but it would be nice to have them near by.
How about living in the same house! As my INLAWS!!! LOL
These nuts look delicious.
Welcome back to the east!
We live in the same house as my parents. In our own little flat downstairs so it’s separate. I actually love it, they are not intrusive at all and easy to get along with when we do actually see them. And because I’ve been living away for quite a few years (and will very soon be moving away again) I’m actually loving being really close, hubby gets along with them really well too
You had me at cinnamon ! Yum what a lovely gift. Lucky Dad
No, no, no. It would cause all sorts of complications and lengthy drop ins. Love the look of the nuts. Great for Jubilee celebrations. GG
Both of my SIL’s live in our town with their families.. the town is not always big enough for the 3 of us…
Boundaries people, boundaries..
I did similar nuts as these as a christmas present one year and they were a hit.
I used to live in the South near my in-laws before I moved to the North Shore a couple of years ago.
For me it was pretty good for baby sitting and luckily they didn’t do drop ins either.
BUT I think our relationship is definitely much better now that there is considerable distance between us. My MIL was always having us over for dinner and I felt that she felt obliged to do so and these dinners would often disintegrate into arguments between my husband and his family.
i would live with them.
I live in the next town about 10 minutes away from my Mum and Dad and I love it! There’s a lovely Nursery/Cafe/Gift shop about halfway where we often get together for a weekend cuppa! The nuts look awesome and I know how good they taste as this recipe is a favorite of mine, I made it with Macadamias last Christmas, they were amazing!
I love these cinnamon nuts. I make something similar, but with a bit of added chile.
I actually like having family close–of course I have been far away from home since the mid-70s, so perhaps that isn’t a fair call.
You’re dad is really cute Lorraine
LOL I love it how Asian parents always do adorable things like put your passport inside their shirt lol my mum does the same thing, always telling me she needs to make sure she doesn’t ‘lose’ it LOL
These sure look tasty! Think I’m gonna give these a go sometime
Will they work with use Almond? Because I’m too lazy to go get any other nuts hehe ~
I can’t wait to make these nuts!! They sound so yummy and so addictive.
This would be a lovely gift…I made spiced nuts for Christmas presents last year and they were a hit, so some sweet ones would be tasty!
Yum no I live 3 1/2 hours away from my parents.
I wouldn’t mind living a bit closer to my Mum – she’s about 30 minutes away driving, which isn’t too far but makes it harder to just have her pop around for a coffee. And one day when I have kids it would be good to have a baby sitter close by!
Your dad is so cute! I wish my parents lived closer, they are in a totally different state.
Both my parents are gone but yeah I would live near them if they weren’t. My dad spoiled me rotten. When I did live near them, dad would come by at 6am to warm my car up before I went to work. (it’s well below freezing in Maine in the winter)
They weren’t drop-ins but I was! LOL
I love these nuts. I must try them and hopefully give them away before we eat them.
My parent’s and in-law’s houses are literally about 15 houses apart. So when I got married I went to live with my husband’s family down the road for a year. Fortunately my parents are not the meddling type, although my mum did raise concern that my sister who lived 15mins away would come past in the week more than me, and I was only 30seconds away. Sorry mum.
I’m not sure that I’d enjoy eating these but I think I’d make them for the smell alone! My folks, my brother and his wife and my husband and I all lived in the same suburb for a short while – more than easy walking distance away from each other though so no pop ins occurred
I know the aroma of this only too well and love it
! The nuts make a lovely gift indeed and you have given me a timely reminder that I have to find a couple of special but not too expensive gifts in the next few weeks. Well, some for me too 
! If one lives in the same urban area as one’s parents, can’t see the difference a few kilometres would make? For decades one set of ours lived 2 kms W and the other 3 kms E and I think they cherished their privacy as much as we did! None of us did unannounced ‘drop-ins’ 
!
My mouth is watering just THINKING about the smell of these cooking!
I once heard a theory that you wanted your parents to live just close enough to pop by and help out, not so close that they pop by every day, but not so far that they have to stay the night. But as time goes by and my parents and I become more like friends, I can see that living closer isn’t such a bad thing after all.
These look absolutely, positively dangerous! LOL But who can resist. Calories-smalories.
Oooh, this looks like a good one to adapt to my Father In Law’s Diabetic Vegan diet – do you think this would work with Equal instead of sugar?
These kind of nuts are always popular – they look delish. And isn’t your dad a sweetie.
I’ve tried these at the farmers markets and was smitten, can’t wait to have a go at making them myself. You are so right, such a great, personal gift. Love!
Oooh these remind me of the nuts you get at Almond Bar. Love
Haha, I’ll really need more help egg-wise: what kind of binding agent would work like egg white?
Delicious recipe
I live at the end of my parent’s street, my hubby and I recently got married and being an only child I thought it would be intense… but we barely see my parents! It’s just nice to know they’re there 
, for those times I run out of milk or forget to cook dinner (I’m new to the whole housewife scene!)…
Sometimes I wish I lived in the same suburb as I have a 110km drive one way to see my mother. How nice it would be to have her close by.
This looks like it’ll be a hit at our house. Yes, I do live in the same suburb/village as my parents (and siblings). We like spending time together.
Yes I moved back to my home town about 10 years ago, when my first son was born. We now live about 10 minutes from my parents – if you’d told me that in my 20′s I would have been horrified. Now I am in my late 40′s, I love it – it is so nice to be able to see them often, even for a quick cuppa and a hello. Of course, they do help out with babysitting etc (3 kids now) but we often have them over for a meal on a weekend. I think I am very lucky!
Ooh and now I am inspired to make your caramel popcorn for a Friday night treat – it is bucketing down rain here in Victoria, kids’ footy has been cancelled (yay!) so I think popcorn and movies are on the agenda! thanks Lorraine
I don’t think a jar of these would be safe with me – it would be finished in a blink of an eye
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Lovely, but if I want to make these to gift a vegetarian friend, what can I use in place of the egg white?
I live about fifteen minutes from my parents and love it – close enough to see them regularly but far enough away that we don’t shop in the same places or bump into each other. These nuts look heavenly – can you send me a jar please?
Those nuts would make such lovely presents: so sweet and crunchy!
I still live with my parents, but it hasn’t really been a problem. However, I do foresee some serious food issues when I leave!
Oh how simple and stunningly delicious indeed! I will be making these this weekend for sure!
My in laws live in the next suburb, and that is waaaay to close, thankyou! Luckily they don’t do drop-ins either. I do wish my parents lived much closer though- maybe half an hour away instead of half a country away
yay a simple recipe i can try
i love easy recipes (:
I would love these! I would start off to make this as a gift, but then I would likely sample and sample until all were gone! The ‘gift’ part would be a ruse!
Now that both my parents are gone to a better place, I would say yes, I would live close by. Sadly, when I was your age, I didn’t think like that. Not that we didn’t get along, I just wanted independence (I really was a princess, and likely still am). Book marking this glorious recipe for a time I’m feeling indulgent!
Please excuse me if I fail to comment in the next few days; we’re off to NYC for the weekend and I may not have time (too much eating and well, you know!)
Oh yum they looks so good. i can’t resist anything cinnamon, I’d be eating them hot stright off the baking tray
I’m so late with my commenting today – dramas are unfolding. Never mind! That is so sweet of your dad to help you out like that and I love how safety-conscious he is with your priority documents. And that’s a great recipe and wonderful gift Lorraine xx
These are the devil in disguise!
I’m sure they are marvelously addictive. Baking these will take my mind off how ridiculously cold it has been lately!
YUM. Love this. I read it as doughnuts though, and that would be insane too
Lovely. I would 100% live in red hill with my parents. we know how to give each other space though so it’s no big deal. I’d love it! 
Heidi xo
These look delicious. But I won’t be making them anytime soon for my in-laws. Unfortunately we live in the same area as them. They seemed to think it was fine to drop in unannounced 6 to 8 times per week when we first moved in. We tried to be nice but politely remind them each time that it would be great if they could call first / reduce their visits a bit..to no avail. The constant intrusion plus criticism (ie. your driveway is too long, you’ll run over our grandchild…why can’t you ever cook normal food – because my recipe list is bigger than 5 standard meals)as well as tantrums and threats, means they no longer ‘drop in’….because they are banned from our home. A bit sad…but you can’t put a value on sanity!
They make these candied nuts in shopping malls and theaters here and they do smell irresistible. xoxo Mum
Yum! I make something similar to this around the holidays, although they’re delicious any time of the year. Love it.
We live exactly 1.5 blocks from my in-laws, who are masters of the pop-in. Everybody Loves Raymond in the flesh. It drives me nuts, but as they babysit for free a lot of the time, I try to look at the positives. It’s nice when you need someone to pick up milk or let the dog out. My husband pointed out to me once that if I really want a big family, like I always proclaim that I do, this is part of the territory. It’s super annoying when he’s right like that.
sugar and spice nuts sounds lovely – I always think I should make then and I then I fear I would eat them all so I shy away.
your dad sounds very helpful and perhaps it is just as well he doesn’t have a manbag to carry documents around in
Oh thank you. With the 85+ weather we have been having, this makes me think of the holidays. Might be the decoration or the red and white string but its a nice reprieve from the heat. Plus I look forward to the tasty snack.
I used to live in the same area as my parents but no longer. In fact, I live 2 thousand miles away now! It’s made me a better daughter…hah!
Parents, they always do crazy things, maybe becase they lived during hard years. I leve far away my parents, but in Peru it’s common to live with them until you get married.
I’m agree with you, those nuts look very addictive.
You made the whole jar for me? Thanks!
What a lovely gift! My sister, gran, 3 aunts and all the associated kids and grandchildren all live within a 10km area in Sydney! We however live very far away from family
Mmmm I love cinnamon sugar nuts but I refuse to make them at home because they are just so addictive.
When I was little my Mum, her sisters family and my Grandparents all lived a street apart. When I was little I loved seeing my Grandparents so much, but I definitely couldn’t cope living that close to my family now. I hate drop ins.
Oh, I want this so very very very very very very much!! And then I want to turn half into cinnamon nut butter
Aw.. father’s are really the best! Good thing you made him this jar of delicious cinnamon quoted nuts.
I make some like this at Christmas but with ginger instead of salt. I agree they’re totally moreish, you really can’t keep many in the house for fear of eating the lot
Oh lovely. I make these all the time and it is hard to stop eating the, I am sure your Dad loved them
what a lovely recipe and my mum will surely love it! time to bake some nuts. i’m living away from home, still enjoying the moment. hah!
Mmmmm those look delicious! I’m going to have to give this a go.
I think I wouldn’t mind living close to my parents or sisters, I love spending time with all of them. Though I would have to say I’m pretty sure at points I would have to get away from them all for a while… I would be saying “Road Trip” to my hubby.
i do live in the same town as my mom and stepdad, and it’s more of a good thing than a bad thing. i can call on them for garden goodies or to borrow a car, but then again, they’re ALWAYS RIGHT THERE.
LOVE these nuts!
This is a very dangerous thing… I must make these ASAP – and hope I have willpower to gift them away
What a great healthy snack and lovely gift too. I wish I live closer to my family especially having kids. I get free babysitter when I need doctor appointment or date night… living in different countries doesn’t help at all. But if this is about in-laws… not sure about 10 mins walk distance. =D 10 minute drive distance sounds reasonable. LOL.
These look delicious! I love anything cinnamon sugar!
In a heart beat.. my dad is no longer living and my mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer again.. Thank you for your recipe.. I saw one done with egg whites and always wanted to try it out.. making them for a friend’s husband who loves them.. (for his retirement)..
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