Looking for a Halloween treat with some gross-factor?

Would crispy, crunchy beetles do the trick?These aren’t actually beetles of course, I have a pretty strict “No Bug Eating” policy at The Culinary Capers, but once tossed in spices and baked, this nut mix takes on an intriguingly beetle-like appearance.

This is the perfect treat for anyone who delights in being creeped-out at Halloween, including myself.

But Kathleen, you say, you can’t even watch a commercial for a scary movie without jumping at every mysterious creak and thud you hear, and checking the bathroom mirror every 5 seconds for the appearance of an axe murderer.

Guilty as charged, but that doesn’t mean I don’t thoroughly enjoy creeping myself out every year at Halloween!

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 cup salted peanuts
• 1 cup whole blanched almonds
• 1 cup walnut halves
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 Tbsp. nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp. all spice
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat egg whites and water until frothy. Add nuts, stirring gently to coat.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, spices and salt, gently whisking to evenly distribute. Pour the spices on top of the nut mixture and stir gently to coat.

3. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a greased large, rimmed baking sheet and bake at 300° for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

4. Take the mixture out of the oven, and stir occasionally as it cools. This will help avoid the nuts from clumping together, or sticking to your pan. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.