Introduction: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

About: I enjoy photography, horticulture and carpentry, and am almost always doing something relating to of those things.

They're healthy and scrumptious, they're easy and fast, they're Roasted Pumpkin Seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds are a great snack to make around Halloween time, especially since you've probably got a bunch of them anyways. While it takes 45-50 minutes to bake them, you can continue carving your pumpkin while you're at it.

This is a great thing to do with the extra seeds after making your favorite thanksgiving pumpkin dish!

Step 1: Preparing the Seeds

Before you start, pre heat the oven to 300 degrees - this will allow them to crisp up nicely, without looking burnt.

I've found that it's easiest to separate the seeds from the stringy guts while they're in the pumpkin. So instead of taking out hand fulls of guts, and then picking out the seeds, pick out only the seeds from the pumpkin. They separate much easier like this, and it makes getting the guts out easier, later on.

Once you have the seeds, stick em in a colander and run it under warm water, using your hands to mix them around and help them get clean. Doing this will force whatever guts that are left on the seeds to the bottom of the colander. When you pour out the seeds, the guts should remain at the bottom for you to throw out. If anything is left on the seeds, soak them in hot water for a bit, that will help get it off.

Now that the seeds are nice and clean, dry them off with paper towels. Be prepared for the seeds to stick to the paper towels. If you can manage to get them semi-dry...congrats! It's time to salt them. (skip this part, if you'd rather them be optimally healthy) Drizzle some oil over the seeds (in a bowl) and mix it up so all the seeds are nicely coated. Next, pour salt in the bowl and mix it up. If you prefer salty seeds, use more, and vice versa.

Step 2: Baking

Spread the pumpkin seeds over a (dry) cookie sheet evenly, with only only one layer...you don't want any to be on top of each other. Your oven should have preheated by now, if not, wait until it does. Stick your cookie sheet into the oven, and allow them to cook until they are slightly golden (about 45-50 minutes), shaking the sheet every 5-10 minutes so that they don't burn. When you think they're about ready, take a few out with a spoon, allow them to cool, and taste them. If they are done, take them out, if not, allow the seeds to cook a bit longer. Your taste should also tell you whether or not they have enough salt.


Once you take them out, add salt, if needed, and allow them to cool. If you keep them in an air tight container in the fridge, they should last a decent amount of time. (You won't know this, of course, because they'll all be eaten by then).

Step 3: Enjoy!


-By the way, you can also make some really good Halloween trail mix if you add orange and black m&ms. And I mean really good.