You’ve hung the stockings on the mantel for Santa, put presents under the tree, and made your plans for the Christmas holiday. Now all that’s left to do is to figure out what to bake! Recipes made with nuts are perfect for the holidays (of course, if you have guests with nut allergies, let them know which items to avoid). Here are three nutty Christmas recipes that we think your loved ones will enjoy.

Glazed Nuts

Who doesn’t love the sweet and savory blend of glazed nuts, with that terrific crunch? Also called candied nuts, these treats are best enjoyed by the handful. This simple recipe combines ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground ginger with brown sugar and vanilla to create a sweetly spiced glaze. Choose your favorite kinds of nuts: walnuts, pecans, or even mixed nuts! Use raw nuts for this recipe, because you’ll toast them in the oven. And if you’re short on time, you can buy candied pecans or candied walnuts. We doubt your guests will complain!

Nutty Holiday Logs

This guilt-free recipe was created a by a registered dietitian, and it will still satisfy your sweet tooth! It combines chopped walnuts with sugar, spices, and grated orange zest, then rolls the mixture up into flaky phyllo dough. Once the logs are baked until golden and cooled, you’ll melt chocolate chips and drizzle the chocolate over the logs. Yum!

Christmas Fruitcake

Because fruitcake gets such a bad rap, it will be easy for you to wow your guests with this crowd-pleasing Christmas fruitcake recipe. It’s made from dried fruit instead of candied fruit and has a texture that’s light and cakey, less dense than you’d expect from a fruitcake. This recipe calls for dried cherries, dried mango, dried cranberries, and dried currants, though you can substitute your own favorite dried fruit in the same quantities. The chopped pecans add a nutty flavor and crunch. Top this fruitcake with a layer of almond paste, or just serve by itself! It’s delicious either way.

What are your favorite nutty Christmas recipes?

Image credits: Town and Country Gardens, Matthew Bietz 

For those of us who depend on that cup of joe to get going in the morning, and those who simply love the warmth and rich taste, coffee makes a welcome Christmas gift. It’s exciting to mix up your routine with new flavors of brewed coffee, and to sample sweets that combine coffee with other delicious flavors. Here are our favorite gifts for the coffee nut in your life:

Coffee Gift Ideas

The Ultimate Coffee Nut Bonanza

This is for the true coffee nut, the one whose veins course with the glorious black stuff!

• A high-quality travel mug
• A pound of Deluxe House coffee beans
• NY espresso mix
• Dark chocolate espresso beans
• Raspberry dark chocolate espresso beans
• Mocha beans

For those who feel over-caffeinated, you can order our Deluxe House coffee in decaf!

Royale Coffee Sampler

Give the gift of variety with this sampler of our three favorite coffees in half-pound bags:

• Our Deluxe House coffee blend, perfect for that first cup of coffee of the day.
• Our French Vanilla coffee pairs wonderfully with dessert. Our French Vanilla is the smoothest, best tasting available, without the unnatural taste that other French Vanilla coffees can have.
• Our Hazelnut Supreme coffee is great for weekends, or any other time you’re feeling nutty.

Flavored Coffee

Why drink the same coffee blend every morning when you can try a variety of different flavors? Let your loved ones wake up to our delicious flavored coffees. Here are a few:

• Bailey’s Irish Cream Coffee
• Whiskey Flavored Coffee
• Snickerdoodle-Type Coffee
• Chocolate Fudge Coffee

And so many more!

Coffee Candy

Coffee candies make for a rich, yummy treat:

• Mint Chocolate Espresso Beans
• Espresso Malted Milk Balls
• Coffee and Cream Almonds
• Hopjes Coffee Candy
• Assorted Colored Espresso Beans

There is nothing like waking up on a chilly December morning to discover that everything is covered in a blanket of fresh snow. But even if sledding and snow angels aren’t in your forecast, you can still enjoy decadent white chocolate treats that are perfect for a winter day at home.

White Chocolate Favorites

White Chocolate Chips

Our creamy white chocolate chips are great for baking, topping ice cream or other desserts or simply eating plain straight out of the bag. Use them instead of milk chocolate chips in your next cookie or cupcake recipe, or melt them for white chocolate fondue.

For a special everyday treat, make white hot chocolate: stir together milk (or a combination of milk, half-and-half and heavy cream), white chocolate chips and a splash of vanilla in a saucepan over low heat. Let the mixture come to a simmer (not a boil), then pour into a mug, top with marshmallows, whipped cream and a dash of ground cinnamon.

White Chocolate Toffee Cashews

Cashews are a versatile and healthy nut, full of protein, fiber, potassium, folate and Vitamin B. While they are delicious plain or in trail mix, they are a finger-licking good dessert or snack when they are covered with white chocolate and toffee!

White Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Our white chocolate-covered cherries are the ideal festive treat and a blend of sweet and subtly tart flavors.

White Chocolate Bark

Our white chocolate bark is a new spin on an old favorite. We take huge chunks of almonds and cover them in fine white chocolate.

What are your favorite white chocolate desserts?

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions and recommends her favorite products!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

It’s a busy time of year, and we don’t always take time to eat nutritiously. Add these five healthy foods to your eating routine on hand to help your body stay well through the holiday season!

Crystalized ginger

‘Tis the seasons for colds and flu! Did you know that ginger has long been used as a remedy to treat upset stomachs and colds? Boost your immune system this winter by adding crystalized ginger to stir-fry dishes or even mixing it with your favorite nuts!

Peppermint Tea

Keep your tummy happy this holiday season! After meals, brew a cup of peppermint tea to settle your stomach. Did you know that peppermint tea is herbal and caffeine-free?

Chia Seeds

Skate through the holidays without putting on the traditional holiday pounds! Chia seeds are loaded with fiber, which can help to fill you up. In addition, they are hydrophilic which can aid in keeping your body hydrated. Keep a batch of chia seed pudding on hand to grab as a quick, nutritious and hearty snack!

Seven Bean Soup Mix

In a hurry and need quick dinner options? Have soup and sandwiches for dinner! This seven bean soup mix is absolutely delicious and makes the perfect base for a soup to go with your sandwich.

Cacao Nibs

When you’re looking for a chocolate treat this holiday season, keep a stash of cacao nibs on hand. They are made from crushed Ecuadorian Arriba Nacional beans. They are truly a treat. Bonus: they’re nutritious, too, with 5 grams of fiber and 21% of the DV for iron per ounce!

Still looking for the perfect present for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list? Make shopping simple and satisfying this year by ordering holiday food gifts for the special people in your life. They will be delighted with treats they can enjoy right away, and you will get to avoid crowded shopping malls and long lines. That’s enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit!

Holiday Food Gifts That Keep on Giving

1. Custom Trays

Our custom trays make great gifts because you can tailor each one to a friend or family member’s specific taste. Select a medium or large tray, then browse Nuts.com’s selection of more than 150 nuts, dried fruits, chocolates, sweets and salty snacks to fill it up. Create an all-chocolate tray for your sister with a sweet tooth, or make a gluten-free tray for your co-worker with food allergies. (Warning: you might feel compelled to create an extra tray to keep for yourself after you see all of the great options!)

2. Gourmet Gift Basket

Weighing in at almost eight pounds, this gourmet gift basket is an extra-large bundle of holiday cheer. It contains a selections of sweets, snacks and chocolates that will please even the pickiest crowd, including butter toffee almonds, dark chocolate cashew clusters, sesame sticks, cajun peanuts, dark chocolate brazil nuts, rum cordials and chocolate sunflower seeds.

3. Winter Wonderland Gift Box

Sometimes good things come in pretty packages. This beautiful snowflake gift box contains almost four pounds of festive goodies, including mint chocolate espresso beans, dried apricots, peppermint malted milk balls, salted pistachios in the shell and red chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

4. Pistachio Gift Tin

The pistachio-lover in your life will go nuts over this two-pound pistachio gift tin. Our natural, hand-selected pistachios are lightly salted and roasted in the shell to perfection. They are packed in a resealable, reusable gift tin for premium freshness.

5. Premium Chocolate Truffles

Honestly, who can resist truffles? And these are no ordinary truffles. Our gourmet giant dessert truffles are big and rich and packed with chocolatey goodness. The box includes an assortment of flavors, including white chocolate, dark chocolate raspberry, milk chocolate champagne and tiramisu.

What holiday food gifts are on your list this year?

Chocolate that melts in your mouth. Sweet and spicy gingerbread. Refreshing peppermint. These are the flavors that make the holidays delicious! Whether you’re putting out a bowl of goodies for your family to enjoy, stuffing stockings, or buying gifts for loved ones, these 5 sweet holiday snacks are sure to satisfy.

1. Christmas Hershey Kisses

Who can resist those tempting milk chocolate kisses in silver, green, and red foil?

2. Gingerbread Men

These gingerbread cookies will make you feel like a kid again. Enjoy them with milk or a delicious hot drink!

3. Christmas Pretzels

These vanilla yogurt-covered pretzels shaped like Christmas trees will really put you in the holiday spirit! The red and green frosting on these creamy, crunchy treats makes them even more irresistible.

4. Peppermint Malted Milk Balls

These crispy malted milk balls are covered with chocolate and peppermint. Bite them in half to see their tasty layers of goodness!

5. Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Cookies and candies and cakes, oh my! The holiday season is full of tempting goodies that seem to pop up everywhere — your office, your home, even your mailbox. It’s a treat to indulge in your favorite snacks and sweets during the holidays, but overindulgence will make you feel sluggish and make those New Year’s resolutions even more challenging come January.

Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite holiday foods in moderation, but also be mindful about incorporating healthier options into your diet before January 1 arrives.

Healthy & Tasty Treats to Try

Dried Fruit

Satisfy your sweet tooth with naturally delicious dried fruit. Add dried blackberries, dried strawberries or dried red raspberries to your morning oatmeal instead of sugar. Munch on dried apples, dried apricots and dried bananas at your desk for a mid-afternoon snack instead of raiding the office cookie jar. Throw your favorite dried mixed fruit in the car for your commute or a long road trip instead of reaching for a candy bar.

Kale Chips

Kale isn’t just a side dish anymore; it also makes an excellent salty snack. Try a sampler of our salty and crispy kale chips: sea salt and vinegar, vegan “cheese” and spicy miso are always popular. Kale chips are gluten-free and loaded with vitamins and nutrients.

Unsalted Nuts

Unsalted nuts are big in flavor but low in sodium. Keep a variety on hand for snacks or to sprinkle in salads or veggie side dishes. A few to try: supreme roasted mixed nuts, dry-roasted edamame, roasted organic pistachios and roasted macadamia nuts.

What are your favorite treats that match up with healthy eating habits?

Have you ever wished that you could create a custom assortment of your favorite goodies? Well, let us grant your wish with a custom tray of nuts, sweets, and other snacks!

Custom trays are a popular holiday item because they make perfect gifts or holiday party treats. Choose from a selection of more than 150 nuts, dried fruits, and sweets!

To create your own, visit the Nuts.com site and follow these simple steps:

1. Select your category: Nuts, Dried Fruit, Chocolate, Sweets, or Snacks. You can mix and match, of course. You can also start with the Nutty Family’s favorite trays and customize them, or sort by Raw, Organic, Gluten-free, or Kosher products!

2. Click on a product, then click on the section of the tray you want it to fill. If you love a certain snack, you can use it to fill multiple slots! If you change your mind about a slot, just repeat step 2 and you’ll replace your original choice with the new one. You’ll see the cost of the tray vary with your selections.

3. Choose whether you’d like a medium or large tray, select your quantity, and click “Add to Cart”!

Here are a few of our favorite snacks that you might include in your own custom tray:

• Dried Strawberries
• Turkish Pistachios (Antep)
• Roasted Almonds (Salted)
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Toasted Corn Nuts
• Butter Toffee Mixed Nuts

We recommend that you time your order so you can enjoy these perishable treats within a few days of delivery, at the peak of their freshness. Enjoy!

You have recovered from the food coma after a wonderful Thanksgiving. You have survived (or avoided!) the chaos of Black Friday. Today, you can kick back, relax and celebrate Small Business Saturday wherever you live.

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday (November 24, 2012) is an occasion to support the businesses that keep your everyday life running smoothly and make your communities stronger. American Express started the first event in 2010 to help promote the products and services of independently-owned small businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. In 2011, more than 100 million people came out to shop on Small Business Saturday, and this year should be even bigger and better.

How can you participate?

The easiest way you can be part of the event is to support your favorite small businesses! Buy coffee from the cozy shop you love around the corner. Try the new restaurant downtown for dinner with friends. Head to the independent hardware store to stock up on supplies for a weekend project.

American Express also has a special deal for cardmembers to receive a $25 statement credit: register your American Express card by 11:59 MST on November 24, then use it to spend more than $25 at a qualifying small business on Small Business Saturday. Click the “Find Out Where to Shop” tab to search for participating small businesses. Using the location Cranford, NJ, you can find us under “Newark Nut Co,” the name Poppy Sol used when he founded the company in 1929!

We encourage you to shop small this Saturday. Our family-owned business has been thriving since 1929 because of amazing customers like you. Thanks for being part of our Nutty Family, and happy shopping!

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions and recommends her favorite products!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

Healthy Holiday Parties

‘Tis the season for parties and holidays! Try these tips for party planning to keep your guests happy and your waistline in check.

During party season:

While the schedule gets busier, schedule time in for exercise all throughout the holiday season. This will help ensure that you breeze into 2013 without unwanted holiday pounds.

Before the party:

• Stick with your usual eating routine the day of a party. Skipping meals can set you up for overeating once you get there. You may want to grab a snack before you go to the party, such as an apple and almond butter or a handful of your favorite trail mix.
• Ask the host of the party what you can bring to the party. Bring a snack or appetizer that’s one of your healthy favorites: trail mix, fruit kebabs, hummus and vegetables, or a custom tray of nuts and dried fruit.
• If you’re the host of the party, balance out the food options with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Consider a make-your-own-trail-mix bar (assorted fruit and nuts with mini bags or boxes for your guests), roasted vegetable platters, bruschetta and veggie chips.

 At the party:

• Chat with your friends and family and minimize your time by the food table!
• Think about what you drink! Calories from sodas, punches, and alcohol beverages can pile up in a hurry. Plus, they do not fill you up.
• Share leftovers. Ask guests in advance to bring containers, or purchase some yourself to send leftovers home with your guests. This will limit the number of extra calories left in your refrigerator after the big party.

The bottom line is: A splurge or two at holiday parties won’t undo days, weeks, or months of healthy eating habits. Get right back to your eating and exercise routine and enjoy the holiday season!