How do you enjoy your nuts? Chances are you use them as toppings to your favorite food, such as oatmeal or yogurt. Little do people know that these little snacks are rich in nutrients, even without additional ingredients. They pack a punch when it comes to providing you with energy. Celebrate National Nut Day with these nut recipes that you and your loved ones will go nuts about.

Why Do We Celebrate Nuts?

National Nut Day is observed on October 22 annually. The Liberation Foods Company created this observance to motivate people to snack on nuts and treat them as healthier alternatives to usual snacks. The company also highlighted that its nut products are sustainable and ethical, providing their farmers with fair wages.

Health Benefits of Eating Nuts

Not many people realize that these small foods are big on nutrients. Walking on the grocery aisles, you might notice but never pay attention to them. Now’s the time for change. Nuts are healthy, tasty and rich in heart-friendly fats, minerals, fats and antioxidants. A study about these snacks found the highest nutrient concentration among several nuts:

• Highest fat content: Brazil nuts, pine nuts, Macadamias and walnuts
• Highest protein content: Cashews, peanuts, pistachios and almonds
• Highest carbohydrate content: Pecans
• Highest unsaturated fat content: Macadamias, pecans, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and pine nuts

Aside from these nutrients, many nuts like almonds contain flavonoids — compounds commonly found in plant-based foods. These are rich in antioxidants, which help protect your body against free radicals that may increase the risk of heart disease.

Additionally, cashews and almonds contain tocopherol — a type of vitamin E that helps lower the risk of cancer and inflammation. These small yet mighty food options also make great snacks for people on a diet. Peanuts and tree nuts were associated with a decreased risk of obesity and overweight. That said, instead of skipping snacking altogether, trust that these little delights can be your trusted allies on your weight loss journey.

3 Nut Recipes to Go Nuts Over

Celebrate National Nut Day with these fun recipes. Share it with your family and friends to make the day even more special.

1. Fall Spiced Nut Mix

This fall-inspired recipe is the ideal snack for this chilly weather. It’s teeming with the fall’s flavors, including cinnamon and Garam masala. Pack these in little plastic containers and give them to kids who go trick or treating or serve them as appetizers during your house parties.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of Garam masala
• 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
• 3 cups of mixed unsalted nuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place nuts onto a greased and lined baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, mix maple syrup, Garam masala, brown sugar, water, salt, cinnamon and cardamom. 
4. Pour the mixture over the nuts and mix evenly until all are coated.
5. Roast in the oven. Stir every 7 minutes until sugar caramelizes, which takes 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Take it out of the oven and continue stirring every 10 minutes. Wait until the nuts have cooled and the sugar hardens, which takes around 20 minutes.

2. Cranberry Cheese Crumb Pie

Autumn is all about comfort food. What better way to celebrate National Nut Day than with a fall staple — a homemade cranberry pie with pecans? Cranberries can help reduce lymphatic swelling and fat buildup in your body. Combine it with nuts and you get a treat that’s tasty and healthy at the same time.

Ingredients for main pie:

• 8 ounces of softened cream cheese
• 1 sheet of refrigerated pie crust
• ¼ cup of lemon juice

Cranberry layer components:

• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 can of whole-berry cranberry sauce
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar

Ingredients for toppings:

• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup of chopped pecans
• ¼ cup cold butter, cubed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Unroll the pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan.
2. In a bowl, beat milk, cream cheese and lemon juice until smooth. Spread the mixture evenly into the crust.
3. In a separate bowl, mix cranberry layer ingredients. Set aside.
4. Then, in another bowl, mix all the topping components. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the cranberry layer.
5. Put inside the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown. Place foil covers loosely on the edge during the last 10 minutes of the baking process.
6. Remove from the oven and foil then let it cool for an hour. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before eating.

3. Chocolate Hazelnut Parfait

This guilt-free and gluten-free treat will surely appeal to the whole family’s senses. You can top the parfait with hazelnuts, sea salt or other desired nuts. It tastes smooth, nutty, sweet and decadent — everything you’ll love in a dessert.

Ingredients:

• 15 ounces of heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 130 grams of mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 70 grams of hazelnuts
• 240 grams of chocolate hazelnut spread
• 0.5 teaspoon of Kosher salt

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, add 10 ounce of heavy cream and sugar. Mix with a butterfly whisk for three minutes.
2. Add mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract and mix for another minute.
3. Remove the whisk and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
4. In the washed mixing bowl, add hazelnuts and chop using the whist.
5. Toast nuts for three minutes at 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Add the remaining heavy cream to a pan or bowl, and let it heat for two minutes.
7. Add chocolate hazelnut spread and Kosher salt in a mixing bowl. Mix for a minute, then let it cool for five minutes.
8. Gather layers of whipped mascarpone, ganache and hazelnuts in four parfait glasses. Repeat layers until the glasses are full. Serve and enjoy.

Celebrate National Nut Day With These Recipes

These easy nut recipes will make this seemingly normal day more special. Don’t forget to share the health benefits of eating nuts with your loved ones as you share these tasty snacks with them.