2026 World Cup Cooking With Beer: Spicy Jalapeño Beer Nuts

American Craft Beer|June 13th, 2026|

Soccer season is ON and you’re gonna need the right snacks, like these sweet & spicy beer nuts made with a serious craft lager. And this mix of Jalapeño beer nuts will pair brilliantly with the games, and definitely another lager or two.

Although this recipe would work with a wide variety of lagers, we went with Scrag Mountain Pils, a 4.8% ABV Czech-Style Pilsner from Lawson’s Finest Liquids that’s a tribute to Waitsfield, Vermont’s pure water source which comes from an ancient aquifer deep beneath Scrag Mountain.

So, let’s do this!

Spicy Jalapeño Beer Nuts

Ingredients:

3 cups mixed nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds, or your favorite combo)

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup beer (Scrag Mountain Pils worked great)

1 fresh jalapeño, finely diced (seeds removed for less heat, leave them in for more kick)

1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

1 tsp salt

½ tsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp butter

Instructions:

Step 1

Preheat & Prep: Heat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Make the Beer Syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add both sugars, the beer, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir until everything melts together and starts to bubble. Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.

Step 3

Coat the Nuts: Add the nuts to the saucepan and stir until they’re completely coated in that glossy beer syrup.

Step 4

Spread the nuts onto your prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 20–25 minutes, stirring halfway through so nothing burns.

Step 5

Once they come out of the oven, immediately sprinkle with a little extra salt. Let them cool completely—they’ll crisp up as they cool.

Step 6

Break them apart and serve. Open another beer and get back to the games.

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