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Maple Sesame Almonds (V+GF): An easy recipe for skillet-roasted maple sesame almonds made with just 6 ingredients. Vegan and Gluten Free.
Anyone else dreaming of the good old days?
I’m talking about the days when your biggest concerns were: three fill-in-the-blank homework assignments being due, having to wash the dishes after mom made a huge, satisfying meal, whether or not your new top looked cool or kinda dorky… and whether or not you could go to the local carnival for four hours instead of two. Sigh. #KidProblems. Ya know?
Anywho… adulting is: all the bills, sweaty-palms meetings, family drama and all of that stuff. #AdultProblems. And I don’t want to know! 😉
But when you come here, to this little corner of the food-loving, food-blogging world, I hope you forget all of that. Um, after you blow past the fact that I just mentioned it. Ahem.
Anyway, I know that life kinda sucks sometimes. That’s just the truth. But when you come here, forgettaboutit. 😉 Here, things are simple. We can reminisce about our childhoods, happy sigh over our last amazing vacations, and swap stories and recipes that make life better.
What do you think?
In the spirit of all this goodness, I’ll tell you about one of my favorite vacays, ever. It was about 10 years ago—okay, that was awhile ago, but hear me out—I was in college (quit doing the math on my age!) I had moved from California to Massachusetts. I don’t mind telling you that I was super sheltered. Seriously, I had hardly even crossed the street by myself. Feel free to pop your eyes back into their sockets over the shock.
Needless to say (funny phrase, I know), I was scared like nobody’s business. I was actually scared to go into my dorm’s basement to do laundry ‘cuz… hello, Home Alone? Yeah. I didn’t know more than three people in a five thousand mile radius. And two of those people were my roommates.
Fortunately, one of those three peeps was my sister Jenny. Hey, if you’re gonna know three people, one of them might as well be a sister, right?
Anywho, Jenny lived a few cities away, in Boston. And I lived in the boonies. So naturally, whenever we met up, I greatly deterred her from visiting me. I mean, who’s gonna go to the boonies when they can go to Boston?
We spent a lot of good times exploring Boston. Checking out Thai restaurants, walking along the Charles, heartily elbowing people on the T and counting how many CVS’s and Starbucks there were in a two-block radius (like 100).
One of my favorite memories ever from those days was visiting Boston Common. Have you ever been? There’s Frog Pond, which is a sort of kiddie pool in the summer, ice skating rink in the winter. There’s a botanic garden across the way… plays and movies in the summer and ice sculpture competitions in the winter. It’s really, really, wonderful.
Thinking back, one of the most memorable things were the mouthwatering scents that were always wafting through the air in the Common. Strolling by kids climbing on monkey bars, locals chowing down on benches (well, eating on a bench… not eating the actual bench), and tourists spinning in circles, you could always smell fried dough, ice cream (oh, you know what I mean) and by far the BEST scent: roasted nuts.
I’m telling you, if heaven has a scent for roasting nuts, this is it. Nutty, warm, sweet, salty, cozy… it was just everything. Immediately upon catching this scent, you would feel happier about life. It didn’t matter what was going on.
To this day, whenever I’m in Boston, I search for that scent. That and banh mi, of course.
Well, since I’m here in Maine… quite far from Boston, I can’t just take the T to Boston Common (darn it). However, I do have my own roasting tools and some manner of cooking skillz in the kitch. Thus, let me humbly present to you, my Maple Sesame Almonds.
You see, I even fashioned a paper cone. Just like they used to in the Common. Lined with parchment paper and everything. 🙂
These maple sesame almonds are my vegan and gluten free ode to those wonderfully happiness-inducing roasted nuts from the Common.
My recipe for Maple Sesame Almonds is:
- super quick, super easy to make
- made with just 6 ingredients
- lightly sweet, perfectly crunchy
- vegan and gluten free
- the perfect pick-me-up snack
This recipe is as easy as it gets. Once you start heating up the ingredients, you’ll see what I mean about those Boston Common roasted nuts. Would you like to try a few?
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Maple Sesame Almonds (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups unsalted, raw almonds
- 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or greased foil. Set aside.
- Place a large, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar and salt. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Add in almonds and increase heat to medium. Stir until almonds are thoroughly coated.
- Stir occasionally (about once every few minutes), allowing almonds to soak in the sugar mixture. Watch the almonds closely. When the almonds become fragrant and smell roasted, you are close to being done. This will take 8-10 minutes. You'll know it's done when the sugar mixture is almost completely soaked up and the almonds are sticky like taffy.
- Now, decrease the heat to low. Add in sesame seeds and stir until well incorporated. This will take 1-2 minutes.
- Pour almonds onto the prepared baking sheet, creating an even, spread out layer. Set baking sheet on a cooling rack. Allow to cool for 1 hour. Enjoy!
Notes
© beamingbaker.com. All content and images are protected by copyright. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please re-write the entire recipe using your own words and include a link to this post for the recipe.
If you’re craving more nutty snacks, try my No Bake Almond Butter Coconut Bites (Vegan, Gluten Free).
Less than 15 minutes to homemade granola bar bliss. Try my No Bake Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free).
What’s one of your favorite happy memories?
I can’t wait to hear your responses.
This looks amazing! Am I able to substitute the coconut sugar with granulated sugar please? TIA
Hi Helen, if you have brown sugar, that would work better. 🙂 Let me know how it works out! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
These sound and LOOK amazing, I can almost smell them ;o; Totally pinned & bookmarked.
On another note, I was completely sheltered myself, lol! I felt so lame, cause every one of my friend’s moms would drop them off at the mall, but my grandma would have stay there, with us, and follow a ways behind us. I loathed it back then, but really appreciate the love she had for me now.
Aw, thanks so much Landie. 🙂 Okay, so we are gonna go ahead and bond big time over our sheltered experiences. 😉 Your grandma? <3 Aw... I actually find that really sweet. I guess these things are much sweeter in retrospect (while being really embarrassing at the time). Thank you for sharing your memories with me, Landie. xo
#AdultProblems: when you check Demeter’s blog, find an amazing recipe which you need right now as tonight’s movie snack, realise you don’t have almonds at home anymore, and it’s all right before supermarkets are closing. Life is hard!
Btw it’s so interesting, the scent of roasted nuts is one of my favourites too. It’s really everything! I don’t have any exact memory with it, or more like I have too many, but I feel instantly happy when I can smell it 🙂
No almonds?!? Oh, man, those ARE #AdultProblems. Lol. But then what happened to movie night??? 😉
Oh gosh, roasted nuts… the smell is just so comforting and delicious, right? Instant happiness: Agreed. Thanks Evi!
Adulting sucks sometimes (cos of bills and work) but it’s great that I can do what I want, when I want…although it’s with my money instead of my parents so that’s not so good. lol! I am loving your recipe for healthy candied almonds and can’t wait to make them. You know I live less than 30 minutes from Boston so I go all the time (for food of course!). It’s too funny that you talked about how many CVS and Starbucks there are because I just mentioned it to my Hubby the other day when we were walking around. It’s weird how there are so many so close to one another. Next time I go to Boston Common, I’m going to bring my own yummy sweet almonds to walk around with and munch on 🙂
So true! Oh, the freedom! Haha. Freedom and responsibilities, what a mix. 😉 You live that close? Lucky!! Oh, let me live vicariously through you and your food adventures, um, I mean trip there. Haha. There are so many CVSs and Starbucks there! But it is awfully convenient… you know, for getting something to drink and wash these almonds down with… 😉 Thanks Karrie! 🙂
First of all, THAT PICTURE! Can you say, suitable for framing?? And I so agree, making things that remind us of fun vacations are delicious in so many ways! The next time I go to Boston I definitely have to check out your old stomping grounds…we are going to Vermont next month and I Can’t Wait. In the meantime, pinning and trying these delectable almonds! xo
Um, since you’re the framed cook, you would be the perfect judge for this kinda thing. 😉 Vacay food is the best, isn’t it? Enjoy Vermont, my dear! Have some maple syrup for me! (Shh… don’t tell the people here in Maine that I said that. 😉 Thanks for pinning Kate! xo
I snack on almonds all the time! But they’re just the dry roasted kind, nothing on them, naked. I like munching on them, but I must say… I do get a little bored with them. This recipe is a quick and easy way to add some wonderful umph to my daily noshing.
Glad you’re venturing out to explore – I’ve only driven through Boston, but it looks like a beautiful city and I’ve heard nothing but awesome things about it!
Umph is the perfect way to put it, Kathleen. 🙂 So is daily noshing. 😉 Almonds are such a great way to snack–glad to hear I get put some pizzazz into your daily nosh! Boston really is such a great city. Thanks Kathleen!
Kids problems are the best to be considered. I just don wanna think about adult problems and it sucks. Its unbelievable that you are scared. I had a feel that you are bold person with a pleasant attractive smile.
I have never been to US. Hope to visit soon once my phd admissions get through. Eagerly waiting for that moment. But scared of my gre exam:-)
Agreed! Oh, I’ve definitely got my fears about this and that… especially the whole being an adult thing. When did that happen? Haha. By my calculation, you are also a bold person with an awesome smile! 🙂 I hope you get to visit the U.S. soon as well. Sending good thoughts and big hugs to you for your upcoming gre exam. You can do it, Smitha! 🙂
Ok, now I feel even more boring… I’ve eaten and still eat lots of almonds (3-4 every day my mother says it is good for your health) but just plain, not roasted, no salt, no sugar. Now I’d LOVE to have a paper cone full of your maple sesame almonds! And your story is so nice (as usual 😉 ). Anyway, my favorite memories include holidays and beaches 🙂 .
Oh Nicoletta, you could never be boring! This recipe’s just a fun way to shake things up, you know? 😉 Let me whip up a nice, big paper cone and send some over. 🙂 Holidays and beaches sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing, Nic. xo
Oh man, am I dreaming of the good ole days or what!! Back when I didn’t have to worry about money or bills or careers. Luckily, when I’m cooking, I’m rarely thinking about any of those worries. 🙂
O-kay! Those sure were the good ol’ days. 😉 Cooking is the best therapy, that’s for sure. Thanks Sarah!
This is the perfect snack! I love the paper cone you made, and your photos look amazing like always. The Boston Commons sounds like such a cool place. Somewhere I need to go to get away from #adultproblems. Can’t wait to try this simple healthy snack! Yummy!
So true! Thanks for noticing the cone… I kinda was too impressed with myself on that one. Haha. Time to start planning a trip to Beantown! 🙂 Adult problems begone. 🙂 Let me know what you think when you do! Thanks Amanda. xo