I buy my raw unsalted unroasted cashews in bulk from Costco which makes this one of the most affordable snacks I make. You can also find them at Thrive Market or in the bulk section of most natural grocery stores.

Once you start making your own roasted cashews at home you will never want to go back to store bought because you control exactly what goes on them.

No preservatives, no hidden gluten in the seasoning blend, and no ingredients you cannot pronounce. Just real food that tastes incredible and takes almost no effort to make.

If you are looking for more air fryer recipes try my Air Fryer Spicy Roasted Peanuts, Air Fryer Sweet and Salty Roasted Cashew Nuts, Air Fryer Savory Herb Roasted Nuts or my Gluten Free Air Fryer Chex Mix.

Here are more snack recipes: Gluten Free Snack Recipes

Why This Coating Makes These Cashews Different

• Most air fryer cashew recipes use only oil and salt. This recipe uses rice flour and nutritional yeast in addition to the oil and spices and the difference is significant.
• The rice flour acts as a binder that helps the spices and seasoning stick to the cashews with the oil. The nutritional yeast is what gives them the tangy flavor you taste in store bought nut mixtures.
• Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast with a naturally savory, nutty, and slightly cheesy flavor. It is completely gluten free and dairy free and adds depth to the salt and pepper seasoning that makes these cashews taste more complex and satisfying than a basic salt only version. You can leave it out if you do not have it on hand but the flavor will be noticeably simpler without it.
• Rice flour is a fine gluten free flour that coats each cashew with a very thin layer of starch. This starch layer helps the oil and seasonings adhere evenly and produces a slightly crispier exterior on the finished cashew. It is subtle but worth including.

Why You Should Use Raw Unsalted Cashews

• Always start with raw unsalted unroasted cashews for this recipe. Pre salted cashews will make the finished snack too salty since the coating in this recipe already includes sea salt. Pre roasted cashews are a problem too because they have already been cooked once and will burn in the air fryer before the coating has time to develop properly.
• Whole cashews work better than cashew pieces for this recipe. Pieces are smaller and thinner and will cook faster and more unevenly than whole nuts. If you only have pieces keep a very close eye on them and reduce the cook time by one to two minutes.
• I buy my raw organic cashews in bulk from Costco which makes this one of the most affordable snacks I make. Thrive Market is another great source and most natural grocery stores carry them in the bulk section.

Why Roasting Cashews Improves Their Flavor

Raw cashews have a mild and creamy flavor that is pleasant on its own but roasting them completely transforms what they taste like. The heat of the air fryer brings out a deeper nuttiness and a natural buttery sweetness in the cashew that you simply cannot get from eating them raw. The outside becomes golden and crispy while the inside stays rich and creamy.

The air fryer is the fastest and most consistent way to roast cashews at home. Six minutes at 350 degrees with a shake of the basket every two minutes produces perfectly golden cashews without standing over the stove or heating up the oven for a small batch.

Cashews Are a High Protein Snack

Cashews are one of the most nutritious snacks you can make at home. A one ounce serving provides about five grams of protein along with healthy fats, magnesium, copper, and zinc. The combination of protein and fat is genuinely satiating which makes a small handful much more filling than most processed snack foods.

For anyone working toward daily protein targets keeping a jar of these on the counter is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to add protein between meals without reaching for a packaged snack bar.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Cashews

• Use a high heat oil. Avocado oil is the best choice for this recipe because it has a very high smoke point and a completely neutral flavor that lets the salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast shine. Olive oil also works but has a lower smoke point so watch the cashews closely if you use it.
• Coat the cashews in the bowl before pouring them into the basket. Add the oil first and toss until every cashew is covered then add the rice flour, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper and toss again. Do not pour the dry ingredients directly onto the cashews in the air fryer basket since they will not distribute evenly.
• Spoon any remaining coating from the bowl over the cashews after you pour them into the basket. Do not leave that coating behind. Every bit of the rice flour and nutritional yeast mixture needs to make it onto the cashews for the best flavor.
• Shake the basket every two minutes during the six minute cook time so the cashews cook evenly on all sides and no single cashew sits in one position long enough to burn.
• Remove them from the basket immediately when the timer goes off. Pour them onto a parchment lined baking sheet to stop the cooking. They may look slightly pale when they first come out and that is completely normal. They will turn a beautiful light golden brown as they cool and the coating will crisp up significantly once they reach room temperature.

Variations

This recipe is easy to customize based on your flavor preferences.

• For a garlic version add half a teaspoon of garlic powder to the coating mixture for a savory and aromatic twist on the classic salt and pepper flavor.
• For a spicy version add a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the coating alongside the black pepper for a subtle heat that pairs beautifully with the savory nutritional yeast.
• For a smoky version add half a teaspoon of smoked paprika for a deep and smoky flavor that makes these taste like something from a craft snack shop.
• For a sweet and savory version add a small drizzle of honey or maple syrup to the oil before coating the cashews. The sweetness balances the salt and pepper beautifully.

Oven Instructions

No air fryer? These salt and pepper cashews work beautifully in the oven as well.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Coat the cashews exactly as directed in the recipe. Spread them in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes stirring once halfway through. Watch them closely in the final few minutes since cashews can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly. Remove immediately and spread on a cool baking sheet to stop the cooking. Let cool completely before serving or storing.

Storage Instructions

After the cashews have completely cooled store them in an airtight container. They can last for up to four weeks but we go through them much quicker than that. You can also store them in the refrigerator for a longer shelf life. Make sure the cashews are fully cooled before sealing the container since storing warm nuts traps steam and softens the coating.

If you make these Air Fryer Salt and Pepper 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.

Once you start making your own roasted cashews at home you will never want to go back to store bought. Save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board so you always have it ready when you need a quick and easy gluten free snack!

Ingredients

• Raw Cashews
• Avocado Oil
• Brown Rice Flour
• Sea Salt
• Nutritional Yeast
• Ground Black Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder

Instructions

Place cashews in a bowl. Pour oil over the nuts.

Mix together the flour and spices. Pour the dry ingredients over the nuts and stir thoroughly.

Pour nut mixture into air fryer basket and spoon any oil/spice mixture left in the bowl over them.

Cook at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Open and shake the basket every 2 minutes so the nuts get cooked evenly.

Immediately remove the nuts from the air fryer and pour into a bowl to cool. The nuts will continue to cook in the bowl a little, so it's ok if they look a little pale. They will all be a light golden brown shortly.