Learn How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

When your vegetable garden produces a plethora of pumpkins, don’t just make jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin pies. Learn how to roast pumpkin seeds to make a healthy snack.

Follow these basic pumpkin seed recipes and simple variations. You don’t even need to wash the pumpkin seeds before you start. A little orange goo will add to the flavor and nutritional value of your pumpkin seed snacks.

Before you roast all of the seeds, set a few aside. These will be free seeds to start next year’s pumpkin patch.

Simple Salted Pumpkin Seeds

1 Cups Pumpkin Seeds
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
Salt to taste

Stir seeds into melted butter until they are well coated. Add salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes at 300 degrees. Stir pumpkin seeds occasionally during cooking. Cool and enjoy.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Substitute a Cajun spice blend, cayenne pepper or garlic powder for the table salt.

Sweet Pumpkin Seeds

1 to 2 Cups Pumpkin Seeds
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
3 Tablespoons Sugar
Teaspoon Salt
Teaspoon Cinnamon
Teaspoon Ginger
Teaspoon Cumin
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sugar

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or no-stick aluminum foil. Prepare pumpkin seeds following the Simple Salted recipe above. While seeds are roasting, combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and the spices in a bowl. Set aside.

After seeds are roasted to a light brown, remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Warm the vegetable oil in a fry pan over medium heat. Add the roasted seeds and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Lightly sautŽ the seeds about one minute until the sugar caramelizes. Stir the seeds into the sugar and spice mixture. Spread them back out on the cookie sheet and allow them to cool.

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