Spicy Maple Nuts

I just love maple,and combining it with something spicy sounds good. Not sure where this one came from.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 4 cups

Ingredients

• 4  cups walnut halves, mixed nuts, almonds (can be salted nuts) or 4  cups pecan halves (can be salted nuts)
• 1⁄4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons chili powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted nuts)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300F (150C). Line a baking sheet with foil. Lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray or lightly coat with vegetable oil.
2. Place nuts in a large bowl.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir syrup with butter, 1 tsp chili powder, salt (omit if using salted nuts), and 1/4 tsp cayenne until it bubbles.
4. Immediately drizzle over nuts, stirring constantly until evenly coated.
5. Spread nuts in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake in center of.
6. oven (this is important - if they are too close to the bottom of the oven they will burn!), stirring occasionally, until glazed, 20 - 25 minutes.
7. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with remaining chili powder and cayenne and stir. Let cool on sheet, stirring occasionally.
8. Nuts will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 days or in.
9. the freezer up to two weeks. (from Chatelaine magazine December 2003).