How To Roast Cashews In 7 Steps

Cashews, as with many other nuts, are delicious and nutritious. They are, in fact, the favorite nut variety of many people. Though they can be eaten raw, many people prefer their cashews roasted. It's easy to buy roasted cashews but some people just like to do things themselves. If you're one of them, the tips included here for how to roast raw cashews should come in handy.

Flavorings for Cashews

Before we get to the roasting process, let's look at several flavoring ideas and the ingredients involved.

Sweet and Spicy:

Whole cashews – 1 pound
Salt – 1/2 teaspoons
Sugar – 2 tablespoons
Warmed honey – 1/4 cup
Ground chili powder – 1 teaspoon

Rosemary Roasted:

Whole cashews – 1 pound
Melted butter – 1 tablespoon
Salt – 1 tablespoon
Brown sugar – 2 teaspoons
Cayenne pepper – half a teaspoon
Minced, fresh rosemary – 2 tablespoons

Honey Roasted:

Whole cashews – 1 pound
Sugar – 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon – 1/4 teaspoon
Vanilla – 1 teaspoon
Salt – 1 teaspoon
Melted, unsalted butter – 1 1/2 tablespoons
Real maple syrup – 1 1/2 tablespoons
Honey – 2 tablespoons

Basic:

Whole cashews – 1 pound
Grapeseed, coconut, or olive oil – 2 to 3 teaspoons
Salt to taste

How to Oven Roast Cashews

Now that you've chosen a flavor for your home-roasted cashews, it's time for roasting.

Preheat your oven to 350°. You'll be using an ungreased baking tray (add parchment paper if you wish).
You can dry roast or oil roast your cashews. Spray or coat the cashews with saltwater or brine solution if you won't be adding oil (you’re dry roasting) but do want to add salt. The moisture helps the salt stick. Before roasting, let them dry.
Across the baking tray, spread the cashews evenly. Try to keep them in an even, single layer. Use multiple trays if you’re working with large batches.
Though it's not necessary, consider adding a little oil (coconut, olive, grapeseed, walnut, or almond oil for example). Drizzle a couple of teaspoons over the cashews. Toss and stir them gently on the tray to evenly coat them. Don't over oil. You can always add more during baking. Note: Omit the oil if you're using them as baking ingredients.
For about five minutes, on the middle rack, roast cashews in the oven. Use a spatula or spoon to stir them after five minutes. This helps prevent burning.
Stirring frequently, keep roasting the cashews in the oven until they're done (think 3-to-5-minute intervals). You can add salt and oil occasionally if you wish. For your cashews to be fully roasted, they should require roughly 8 to 15 minutes.
If you wish, when your cashews are done, drizzle additional salt and oil after removing them from the oven. If you wish, add more salt to taste. The flavor of basic roasted cashews can be complemented by adding various seasonings including nutmeg, cloves, cayenne, paprika, sugar, or cinnamon.

How Do You Know They Are Done?

Your cashews, when ready, should look several shades darker and release a pleasing scent. If you used oil, you might even hear some crackling.

Be careful! Stir and check your cashews frequently to minimize the risk of burning. It can happen quickly before you know it.

Before serving your roasted cashews, make sure they cool for at least 15 minutes. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.