Spiced Nuts

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon imitation vanilla
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 lb shelled unsalted whole almond

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat your candy thermometer. Combine the sugar, water, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan. Turn the heat to medium and stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved.

2. 2

   Turn the heat up to medium high, then place the thermometer into the pan. The temperature will slowly rise. Cook until the soft ball stage, 240°F.

3. 3

   Once the syrup reaches that temperature, remove from the heat.

4. 4

   Place the butter, vanilla, and almonds in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Pour in the syrup and mix everything together until the almonds are covered with the syrup.

5. 5

   It will take about 2 hours for the syrup to crystallize. It should turn out as a soft glaze.