Sugared & Spiced Winter Cheer
Welcome, dear readers, and Happy Winter. I’m delighted you’ve stopped by my kitchen table in this festive Cookie Hop. Today I’m sharing one of my family’s favorites, a warm, sweet-and-spiced nut recipe passed down from Grandma Rose. These are perfect for gifting, snacking, or enjoying beside a good book.
Settle in, enjoy the recipe, and stay for a little Regency holiday magic and a special giveaway just for you.
Grandma Rose’s Sugared & Spiced Nuts
(Shared by Bari-Lynne from Grandma Rose’s book)
Ingredients
1 pound whole blanched almonds
1 pound pecan halves
(or cashews, walnuts, or your favorite nuts)
1/4 teaspoon salt (up to 1 teaspoon for more salt)
4 egg whites
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1/2 pound sweet butter, melted
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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In a very large shallow baking pan, combine nuts and salt. (You may need two pans.)
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Roast for 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Cool.
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Reduce oven to 325°F.
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Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
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Add cinnamon to sugar and gradually beat into egg whites until the mixture forms a soft meringue.
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Pour the melted butter over the cooled nuts; fold into the meringue.
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Spread the mixture on the baking pan.
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Bake for 30 minutes, turning at least twice until the white coating disappears.
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Let cool completely. Store in jars, tins, or bags.
Perfect for gifting… or keeping all to yourself.
Regency Winter Tidbit
The “Wassail Window”
During the Regency, the twelve days of Christmas were filled with visits, games, and invitations passed quietly from house to house. One charming custom was the “wassail window.” A hostess placed a candle in her front window to signal her household was ready to receive callers for warm spiced cider, music, and conversation.
In A Vow for the Viscount, I imagine Quinton Hollingsworth pausing outside just such a glowing window — a flicker of warmth that promises welcome when he least expects it. For many, that single candle meant hope in winter. And romance loves a hopeful doorway.
Warm Up the Season with Romance:
The Ruth A. Casie Winter Reading Bundle Giveaway
To thank you for visiting, I’m offering one lucky reader my
Warm Up the Season with Romance: The Ruth A. Casie Winter Reading Bundle
This includes:
• A complete ebook copy of any Barrington Brigade book that is currently available
• An exclusive sneak peek of the First Chapter from the upcoming A Reckoning for the Earl
• A printable coloring page featuring all four Brigade heroes:
Ewan, Marquess of Glenraven
Adam, Duke of Rockford
Thomas, Baron of Greystone
Quinton, Viscount of Hollingsworth
To Enter:
• Leave a comment below telling me your favorite winter treat
• Follow or like at:
Substack – exclusive chapters and behind-the-scenes moments
https://substack.com/@ruthacasie
BookBub – follow for new-release alerts
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie
Facebook – events, recipes, and community fun
https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/
Instagram – because it is the place to be
https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/
Pinterest – character boards, recipes, and inspiration
https://www.pinterest.com/ruthacasie/
• Optional (and bonus entries): Sign up for my cozy newsletter – monthly updates and sneak peeks https://ruthacasie.com/newsletter-2/
A winner will be drawn at the end of the hop.
Continue the Cookie Hop
Visit the next author on the Cookie Hop here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/17TGhpSEyy/
Thank you for stopping by. May your season be warm, bright, and filled with stories that make your heart flutter.
2025 Historical Romance Cookie Exchange Hop
Author Link List
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Heather McCollum |
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Katherine Lyons |
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Ruth A. Casie |
https://ruthacasie.com/historical-romance-cookie-exchange-hop/ |
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Elizabeth Rose |
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Sara Adrien |
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Brenna Ash |
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Janna MacGregor |
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Caroline Warfield |
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Glynnis Campbell |
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Christina Diane |
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Bronwen Evans |
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Deb Marlowe |
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Anna St. Claire |
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Jane Charles |
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Tara Kingston |
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Terri Brisbin |
https://terribrisbin.com/news/2025/12/03/its-time-for-the-holiday-cookie-exchange-hop/ |
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Celeste Barclay |
https://www.celestebarclay.com/2025-historical-holiday-cookie-hop |
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Misty Urban |
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Katherine Bone |
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Alanna Lucas |
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Ramona Elmes |
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Maeve Greyson |
https://maevegreyson.com/updates/holiday-cookie-hop-puppy-chow-is-the-best-holiday-treat-and-very |
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Hildie McQueen |
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Callie Hutton |
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Edie Cay |
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Gina Conkle |
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Aubrey Wynne |
https://aubreywynne.com/historical-romance-holiday-cookie-exchange-hop/ |
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Rachel Ann Smith |
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Charlie lane |
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Tabetha Waite |
My favorite treat is Rum Balls
Hot Chocolate with a splash of Amaretto
My favorite winter snack is Hot Chocolate.
Chocolate covered cherries
I love hot chocolate and peppermint bark!
Happy Holidays!
Peppermint bark
I love homemade cookies of any kinf!
I love home cookies fresh out of the oven with a glass of hot chocolate
Thumbprint Cookies
My favorite treat is Raspberry linzer cookies. So good.
My favorite treat is No Bake cookies
My favorite winter treat is spiked egg nog
Christmas Mini M&M cookies
Hi Ruth! Happy Holidays to you and your family! My favorite holiday treat besides peppermint bark is gingerbread lattes!
My favorite holiday treat is Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies.
Happy Holidays
I love peppermint bark. Following on Bookbub!
I loved dark chocolate coated sponge candy.
My favorite treat is a family recipe for eggnog thumbprint cookies
Fudge or cookies
My favorite is homemade fudge.
Hi Ruth, My grandma’s name was Rose, she’s been gone a long time.
My favorite treat is chocolate fudge.
I really like Mantecol bars!!!
gingerbread
follow on BookBub
follow on Instagram
signed-up for newsletter
My favorite treat is Caramel Brickle Thumbprints
Homemade hot chocolate, snowball cookies and the ones made with the cookie press
My favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark and baklava. Following on Facebook and bookbub. Also subscribed to newsletter.