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You are here: Home / Recipes / Appetizers / Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party

November 15, 2017 by Mahy, Updated November 17, 2020 12 Comments

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Want to throw a cheese party? I have got you covered with my recipes for Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Cashews, the best homemade Pita Chips, sweet Pomegranate Mocktails and the most DELICIOUS cheddar cheeses! And while I am at it, why not throw in some festive homemade holiday centrepiece using candles, fruits and herbs!

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips arranged on a table with seasonal fruit for A Cheese Party

I’ve got a treat for you today! I’m talking Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Cashews along with Pita Chips, sweet Pomegranate Mocktails and the most DELICIOUS cheddar cheeses! It’s the perfect way to throw a party for your friends. Plus, I’ve also got you covered with a simple Holiday and Thanksgiving centrepiece using your good old fruits and herbs!

a feast if Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips arranged with seasonal fruit for A Cheese Party.

Why these Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans & Pita Chips are the perfect party food: 

Super excited to share this post with you, because it’s a PARTY post!! Yes! We all need that. But we need it to be easy and relaxing. This is probably one of the easiest parties to throw.

Today’s party recipes for candied pecans and homemade pita chips are seriously delicious, and can be prepared a few days in advance! But there’s more to a party than just snacks, right?

I wanted to lend a festive Holiday look to our cheese party without spending all day in DIY projects or breaking the bank with all the expensive decor.

a nut-crusted cheddar cheese log being cut with a knife

 So along with some delicious recipes, I’ll also walk you through this festive-looking decor made from mostly fruits and herbs. Table decor does not get any more budget than this! 

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party. A seriously easy and simple way to throw a party this season--veggie and fruit center pieces, the best spiced candied pecans and herb pita chips with smooth cheddar cheese! Full recipe and step by step to this easy party at www.twopurplefigs.com

I’ve picked the Sharp Cheddar Kaukauna® Cheese Balls and the Double Cheddar Kaukauna® Cheese Logs. The Kaukauna® Cheese also comes in cups.

a festive display of winter fruit, Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips arranged for a Cheese Party

How to throw the best cheese party: 

Now let’s get this cheese party started with some spicy candied pecans, fruity pomegranate mocktails as well as some awesome homemade table decorations made with fruit and herbs.

How to make Rosemary-Spiced Candied Pecans and Cashews: 

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and cashews in a bowl with some spices and an orange on the side

These are not your regular sweet candied pecans – these are kicked up with some heat and freshened up with a touch of rosemary. Plus they are not as thickly coated with sugar as your good old candied pecans.

So it’s basically these five ingredients—chilli flakes, brown sugar, salt, olive oil and rosemary. Additionally, you can throw in some orange zest, but that’s optional.

Toss all the ingredients and roast the pecans for just 10 minutes. The hardest part is keeping yourself from munching on these delish candied peans before the party even starts!

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Cashews in a small metal bowl

How to make Pita Chips: 

Pita bread being brushed with a mix of herbs and oil to make pita chips

These pita chips were made a day in advance. A mixture of herbs (parsley, oregano or your favorites), olive oil, paprika and salt is slathered over a loaf of Greek Pita bread.

oil and spice covered pita bread being cut into wedges to make pita chips

Cut the bread into wedges (size of your choice—I’ve made 8 wedges out of each pita) and bake for 8 minutes till crispy. Once cooled, these pita chips can be stored for a week in a ziplock bag. So GOOD! 🙂

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips arranged on a table with seasonal fruit and plates for a Cheese Party.

You can totally make the candied pecan and pita chips on the day of your party, but I really preferred making them in advance so all I have to do on the day of my party is the drinks and setting the table!

How to make Pomegranate Mocktails: 

My pomegranate mocktails here are inspired by a drink I had in Maine last month and it was the talk of the restaurant. Simply mix pomegranate juice, lime juice and some ginger ale.

overhead shot of a glass of pomegranate mocktail with sumac dusted rim

The secret here (again inspired by the same drink I had) is a touch of sumac—a fresh tangy lemony Mediterranean spice. The spice is added to the drink and glass rims. Amaaazing!

side-view of pomegranate mocktail with a lemon slice and pomegranate arils

How to make a festive table centrepiece with fruit, candles and herbs: 

Let’s chat about the simple yet vibrant table decoration. I’ve gathered some Holiday greenery from my garden (or you can pick them at Walmart while you’re picking up the Kaukauna® Cheeses!) and used those as my table runner.

Also, I added some gorgeous pink pomegranates, some deep purple plums, some green chilli peppers and some rosemary stuffed oranges. For making these cute orange rosemary trees, I simply cut a tiny slit into the centre of the orange (or clementine) and then inserted a sprig of rosemary.

a tiny slit being cut into an orange to insert a rosemary twig

a sprig of rosemary being inserted into an orange to make a festive table centerpiece

Now, how cute are these pomegranates as a candle holder? Use an apple corer for this trick. First of all slice off the top of the pomegranate and scoop out the centre (halfway only) using an apple corer. Now, the candle fits in perfectly.

how to make a candleholder using a pomegranate

a candle being inserted into a pomegranate to make a candleholder

Another way to get some colors onto your table is by adding plenty of fruits (grapes for example) and sliced veggies (carrots, cucumbers, radishes—and your favorites) around the Kaukauna® Cheese. 

Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party. A seriously easy and simple way to throw a party this season--veggie and fruit center pieces, the best spiced candied pecans and herb pita chips with smooth cheddar cheese! Full recipe and step by step to this easy party at www.twopurplefigs.com

Arrange that on a board or plate, along with the herb pita chips and you’re off to a great party! 🙂

a nut-crusted cheese ball in a bowl

a nut-crusted cheddar cheese ball in a bowl surrounded with fruit, homemade pita chips and veggies

 

homemade pita chips arranged with sliced veggies and a cheese log

These homemade pita chips are delicious on their own, but especially great paired with cheese or a homemade hummus dip. Talking about hummus, why not top it with some chopped candied pecans?

a nut-covered cheddar cheese ball nestled in a bowl of fruit

Delicious food, great company and the enjoying the simple things in life—this is what this party is all about!

a hand holding an olive with a huge display of cheeses and fruit in the background

a plate with cheese, homemade pita chips, sliced veggies and candied pecans and cashews

Enjoy the tiny things in life with an easy, vibrant and delicious party like this one!

a cheese party in full swing with homemade table decoration, pita chips, candied nuts and pomegranate mocktails

Tips for success: 

  • I love preparing the candied pecans a couple of days in advance and store them in an airtight container.
  • Homemade Pita chips can be stored in a ziplock bag and will keep for a week.
  • Didn’t find sumac? Simply use a 1:1 mixture of salt and sugar tossed with some chili powder and lime zest.
Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party. A seriously easy and simple way to throw a party this season--veggie and fruit center pieces, the best spiced candied pecans and herb pita chips with smooth cheddar cheese! Full recipe and step by step to this easy party at www.twopurplefigs.com
4.5 from 6 votes
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Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party

Want to throw a cheese party? I have got you covered with my recipes for Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Cashews, the best homemade Pita Chips, sweet Pomegranate Mocktails and the most DELICIOUS cheddar cheeses! And while I am at it, why not throw in some festive homemade holiday centrepiece using candles, fruits and herbs!

Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese party recipes, homemade candied pecans, homemade pita chips
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 799 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

For the Kaukauna® Cheese Plate / Board:

  • 1 Kaukauna® Cheese Ball —Shard Cheddar or your favorite flavor or more
  • 1 Kaukauna® Cheese Logs— Double Cheddar of your favorite flavor or more
  • Herb Pita Chips recipe Below
  • Black and Green Grapes
  • Quartered Radishes
  • Baby Carrots
  • Sliced Cucumbers
  • Chilli Peppers
  • Halved plums
  • Some Salad Greens

Rosemary Spice candied Pecans and Cashews:

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 2 cups raw pecans
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons minced rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon chilli flakes more or less depending on how spicy you prefer them
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Herb Pita Chips:

  • 5 Pita breads
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons mixed minced herbs Oregano, parsley or your favorite
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • pinch paprika

Pomegranate Mocktails:

  • 3 cups Pomegranate Juice
  • 1 can Ginger Ale
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons sumac spice divided
  • Extra: lime slices and pomegranate arils

Instructions

For the candied pecans:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Prepare the candied pecans by mixing all ingredients in bowl. Spread them on a baking sheet as evenly as possible and roast them for 8-10 minutes until they start to look golden. Be careful not to burn the nuts! Let the nuts cool for half an hour at least before storing them in an airtight container.

For the pita chips:

  1. Mix the oil, herbs and seasoning in a small bowl. Using a party brush, brush the tops of the pita bread with the oil mixture and then cut each pita into wedges (I made 8 wedges out of each pita bread). 

  2. Place the pita wedges on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake them for 10-15 minutes (depending on the thickness of the pita bread) until golden. They will crisp up further as they cool. Once cooled down completely, the pita chips can be stored in an airtight container for a week.
  3. Arrange the Kaukauna® Cheese board or plate by spreading the veggies and fruits around it.

For the mocktails:

  1. Make the cocktails by mixing the juices together and adding in a teaspoon of sumac spice. Place the remaining sumac on a small plate and dip the rims of your cups in water, followed by the sumac spice. Pour the cocktail into the ready glasses and serve with a slice of lime and extra pomegranate arils if you like!
  2. ENJOY!!

Recipe Notes

  • I love preparing the candied pecans a couple of days in advance and store them in an airtight container.
  • Homemade Pita chips can be stored in a ziplock bag and will keep for a week.
  • Didn't find sumac? Simply use a 1:1 mixture of salt and sugar tossed with some chili powder and lime zest.
Nutrition Facts
Rosemary Spiced Candied Pecans and Pita Chips for A Cheese Party
Amount Per Serving (1 cocktail, some chips, cheese and nuts)
Calories 799 Calories from Fat 531
% Daily Value*
Fat 59g91%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Cholesterol 74mg25%
Sodium 879mg38%
Potassium 572mg16%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 27g30%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 1150IU23%
Vitamin C 2.6mg3%
Calcium 298mg30%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Filed Under: Appetizers, Brunch, Dinner, Finger Food, Healthy, Holidays, Lunch, Menus, Parties, Potluck, Recipes, Tailgate, Vegetarian Tagged With: candied pecans, cheese board, cheese party, easy fruit and cheese party, easy party, fruit and cheese, herb pita chips, Holiday, Kaukauna cheeses, pecans, pita bread, pita chips, rosemary pecans, spicy pecans, Thanksgiving

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Comments

  1. Marcellina says

    November 22, 2017 at 12:55 am

    What a gorgeous cheese platter! I’m going to make your delicious pecans and cashews for our holiday snacks. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 28, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Thanks Marcellina!! Hope you enjoy them 🙂

      Reply
  2. Amy | The Cook Report says

    November 15, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    5 stars
    This looks stunning! I cannot thing of anything better than a cheese party 🙂

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 15, 2017 at 5:02 pm

      So true Amy!!

      Reply
  3. Jacque says

    November 15, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    This would be amazing on our table prior to our Thanksgiving feast.

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 15, 2017 at 5:02 pm

      Thanks Jacque!! Hope you make it 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    November 15, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    5 stars
    I love sharing this type of food. My little boy calls it buffet and it’s his favourite. All you need now is a glass of wine!

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 15, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      hahahaha so cute Jacqueline!!

      Reply
  5. Kristina @ Love & Zest says

    November 15, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    This is so pretty! Sure to be and eye catcher over the Holidays!

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 15, 2017 at 5:00 pm

      Thanks so much Kristina!!

      Reply
  6. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    November 15, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds like the perfect party to me – those cheese balls and cheese logs look incredible!

    Reply
    • Mahy says

      November 15, 2017 at 2:55 pm

      Bintu, thanks so much!!! They are really!

      Reply

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Copyright © ‘2021’ · Private Policy · All images and content are copyright protected. Please contact me if you would like to use any images . If you want to republish any of my recipes, please link back to my website and the recipe post.

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