These Air Fryer Sweet and Salty Roasted Cashews are the snack I make on repeat and the one that disappears fastest in our house. Raw cashews get tossed in a coating of honey, real maple syrup, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and a touch of nutritional yeast for a flavor that is so much more complex and delicious than anything you can buy in a store.
The sweet and salty combination is completely irresistible and the air fryer makes the whole thing happen in just six minutes.
What I love most about making my own roasted cashews is knowing exactly what goes into them. No preservatives, no hidden gluten, and no mystery ingredients. Just real food coated in real flavors.
I make a big batch at the beginning of the week and we snack on them all week long.
They also make a beautiful addition to a charcuterie board or a thoughtful homemade gift packed into a pretty jar.
If you are looking for more air fryer snack recipes try my Gluten Free Air Fryer Chex Mix, my Air Fryer Spicy Roasted Peanuts, my Air Fryer Savory Herb Roasted Nuts or my Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Roasted Cashews.
You can find all of my snack recipes here: Gluten Free Snack Recipes
Why Raw Unsalted Cashews Matter
This is the most important ingredient note in this recipe and worth stating clearly. Always start with raw unsalted unroasted cashews. Here is why.
- Raw cashews absorb the coating most effectively. The honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar need a porous raw nut surface to adhere to. Pre-roasted cashews have a sealed exterior that the coating slides off of rather than soaking into.
- Unsalted cashews allow you to control the salt level. This recipe uses half a teaspoon of sea salt which gives you the perfect sweet and salty balance. Starting with salted cashews would make the finished nuts too salty.
- Roasted cashews will burn in the air fryer. They are already cooked once and a second round of heat at 350 degrees for six minutes will take them well past golden and into bitter and burnt territory.
- You can find raw unsalted cashews at most grocery stores, at Costco in bulk, and online through retailers like Thrive Market.
Why the Baking Sheet Step Matters
Pouring the cashews onto a parchment lined baking sheet immediately after air frying is not optional. Here is why this step is so important.
- Cashews continue cooking after they come out of the air fryer. If you leave them in the hot basket they will keep cooking from residual heat and can easily go from perfectly golden to overdone in just a minute or two. Spreading them on a cool baking sheet stops the cooking process immediately.
- Spreading them out prevents clumping. The honey and maple syrup coating is still sticky and liquid when the cashews first come out of the air fryer. If you leave them piled together they will fuse into one big sticky clump as they cool and set. Spreading them out on the baking sheet lets each individual nut cool and set separately so you get perfectly individual coated cashews rather than one big clump.
- The cashews will crisp up significantly as they cool. They may look slightly soft and underdone when you first pour them out. Do not panic. The coating hardens and crisps as it cools and the finished texture will be perfectly crunchy after about fifteen minutes at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
These sweet and salty cashews are incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy them.
- Straight from the jar as a snack. This is the most dangerous option because it is almost impossible to eat just a handful. Keep them in a sealed container and grab a small portion when you want something sweet and crunchy.
- On a charcuterie board. A small bowl of these cashews alongside your favorite gluten free crackers, cheeses, and fruits makes a beautiful and elevated board that guests always comment on.
- On salads. Sprinkle a small handful over a green salad or grain bowl for a sweet and crunchy topping that takes it to the next level.
- As a homemade gift. Pack them into a pretty mason jar with a ribbon for a thoughtful and delicious homemade gift for the holidays, hostess gifts, or any occasion.
- In trail mix. Combine them with dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips, and your favorite seeds for a homemade trail mix that is so much better than anything store bought.
Storage Instructions
After the cashews have cooled completely on the baking sheet transfer them to an airtight container. They will stay fresh at room temperature for up to one week. For a longer shelf life store them in the refrigerator for up to six months. The coating may soften slightly in the refrigerator so let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Top Tip
Watch your cashews closely in the final minute of air frying. Cashews have a high natural fat content which makes them brown and caramelize quickly. The difference between perfectly golden and burnt can be less than sixty seconds in the air fryer.
Start checking at the five minute mark and pull them out the moment they look golden. They will continue to cook slightly on the baking sheet and will darken a little more as they cool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roasting cashews brings out their natural sweet flavor and adds a satisfying crunch. It also gives you the opportunity to coat them with a flavoring like this sweet and salty maple and honey coating. Once you try homemade roasted cashews you will never want to go back to plain store bought ones.
After the cashews have cooled completely store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. For a longer shelf life store them in the refrigerator for up to six months. We go through ours much faster than that!
Yes. Always start with raw unsalted unroasted cashews for this recipe. Pre-roasted cashews will burn in the air fryer since they are already cooked once. Salted cashews will make the finished nuts too salty since this recipe already includes sea salt for the sweet and salty balance. Raw unsalted cashews are available at most grocery stores, Costco, and online retailers.
Yes. Spread the coated cashews in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Watch them closely in the final minutes since cashews can go from golden to burnt very quickly. Pour them onto a fresh parchment lined baking sheet immediately after baking to stop the cooking process and let them cool completely before storing.
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Air Fryer Sweet and Salty Roasted Cashew Nuts
- Total Time: 16 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Raw cashews tossed in a sweet and salty coating made with honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and nutritional yeast then air fried at 350 degrees for just six minutes. These gluten free air fryer sweet and salty roasted cashews are the most addictive homemade snack you will ever make.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Raw Cashew Nuts
- 2 Tbsp. Honey
- 2 Tbsp. Real Maple Syrup
- ¼ cup Coconut Sugar
- ½ tsp. Sea Salt
- ½ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Nutritional Yeast Flakes
- 1 Tbsp. Brown Rice Flour
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl stir together the cashews, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutritional yeast and brown rice flour. Stir until the nuts are completely coated in the mixture.
Pour the nut mixture into your air fryer basket. Spread the nuts around to give room for air to circulate around them.
Roast in your air fryer at 350 degrees for 6 minutes.
While the nuts are roasting line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
After the nuts are done roasting pour them onto the baking sheet and spread them around to let them cool.
After the cashews are completely cooled store them in an air tight container.
If you made this recipe please leave a star rating and comment below. It helps other readers find this recipe and means so much to me.
Notes
Spreading the nuts onto the baking sheet is important so you don't get a large clump of stuck together cashews.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
If you make these Air Fryer Sweet and Salty Roasted Cashews I would love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out or tag me on Instagram so I can see your batch.
These are one of those snacks that is impossible to stop eating so save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board so you always have it ready when you need a quick and easy gluten free snack!
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl stir together the cashews, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutritional yeast and brown rice flour. Stir until the nuts are completely coated in the mixture.
Pour the nut mixture into your air fryer basket. Spread the nuts around to give room for air to circulate around them.
Roast in your air fryer at 350 degrees for 6 minutes.
While the nuts are roasting line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
After the nuts are done roasting pour them onto the baking sheet and spread them around to let them cool.
After the cashews are completely cooled store them in an air tight container.
