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Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

By: Allrecipes Staff

When you're carving your Halloween pumpkins, don't throw away the seeds!

Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Have more seeds than you know what to do with? Substitute pumpkin seeds for peanuts in your favorite peanut brittle recipe.

Pepitas Recipes

Pepitas are pumpkin seeds with the white hull removed. They're popular in Mexican cooking.

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)
Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.
Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.
Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Why Carve Pumpkins?

The story of the Jack o'Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the Earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern."

Find more recipes in our Pumpkin Seed Recipe Collection.

Comments

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Hkp

Oct. 8, 2009 12:52 pm

Acorn and Butternut squash seeds are tasty also and can be toasted the same way as pumpkin seeds. Helen P.

bsal91

Oct. 8, 2009 5:51 pm

yum! haven't had these in years. I'm excited to make them soon! Thanks for the recipe. :)

connie

Oct. 10, 2009 4:30 pm

How do you remove the hulls?

Catnjohn

Oct. 11, 2009 1:24 pm

I like to soak mine in salt water for a day, then let them dry for a day before I coat them with oil and salt and bake them. The other way I do it is to soak them in sugar water, dry them out and then coat with oil and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

SundayBaker

Oct. 13, 2009 4:20 pm

So I let mine dry for a day after washing. Coated half of them with a tuscan flavored olive oil and a bunch of spices (cumin, chili powder,pepper and seasoning salt). I coated the other half with veg oil, brown sugar and cinnamon and some pumpkin pie type spices to make the sweet version thanks to Catjohn's comments. Very Yummy!

jen325

Oct. 14, 2009 10:25 am

Has anyone tried this with store-bought pumpkin seeds? I wonder if they're too dry to roast.

Mrs. Stephanie P.

Oct. 15, 2009 12:44 pm

I've tried to roast pumpkin seeds for about 5 years now and they never get hard enough.. what am i doing wrong?

Mrs. Stephanie P.

Oct. 15, 2009 12:45 pm

I've never thought about roasting butternut squash seeds they sound very good:)

Lendy Patterson

Oct. 16, 2009 8:00 am

I am going to try this tonight!! Thanks for the information.

Ambeee

Oct. 17, 2009 12:03 pm

I soak mine over night in salt water then roast them with a small amount of olive oil and seasoning salt over them. Soo good! I have been doing it every year of my life (my cooking life)

Jacqueblu

Oct. 18, 2009 7:30 pm

This is for Stephanie, about roasting pumpkin seeds, if you let them dry on some newspaper for about 5 days before you bake them, that might help them to become crisper,then keep in an air tight bag or container. Hope this helps you!

k-so

Oct. 19, 2009 6:23 pm

I founf that if you wash them, then let them dry for about 1 and 1/2 days. Then mix 4 tablespoons of butter 2 teaspoons of season salt and 2 teaspoons worcestershire scauce in a bowl then add the seeds stir, set for about 5 min. lay them out on a cookie sheet and place in your oven at 300 for about 17 min they are just perfect. Its what im famous for in the family around this time.

momcooksalot

Oct. 21, 2009 2:49 am

When I was a kid my mom used to make these all the time after we carved our pumpkin it was a tradition when I was a kid, I must of forgot about it until I found these reciepes about the different types of roasting seeds, I am going to try them this weekend, I really like the one with using pie spice that sounds different but good.

B.O.B.

Oct. 22, 2009 2:07 pm

Pumkin seeds can be roasted without the oil. I like the seeds on the edge of the pan - crunchier, my wife likes the seeds in the middle, less crunchy.

Ladyhem

Oct. 23, 2009 12:04 pm

It is not necessary to use any butter, oil or cooking spray with pumpkin seeds. Clean your seeds and then place in a saucepan and cover with a couple inches of water. Add a good amount of seasoning of your choice (I like Montreal Steak seasoning) to the water and simmer the seeds until the shell turns translucent (looks waterlogged). Drain and place on cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven until crisp.

Tammy

Oct. 23, 2009 12:52 pm

Im so excited to carve our pumpkins and roast the seeds. My hubby and I will be carving them together for the first time in 5 yrs!!!!

TWEETYBIRD46

Oct. 23, 2009 1:41 pm

I've been roasting pumpkin seeds for some time now. We found that the seeds from sugar pumpkins are the best. Plan on trying butternut squash seeds next. w

dirt15

Oct. 25, 2009 4:44 pm

How are you suppose to eat pumpkin seeds? Like do you crack the shell like sunflower seeds, or what do you do. If you can PLZ!!!!! tell me.

TomatoKate

Oct. 26, 2009 9:17 am

"Dirt15"- You can eat the whole seed. You do not need to crack the shell like sunflower seeds. If you do crack the shell, I believe the inside part is referred to as a "pepita" and is used in mexican cuisine. I like to coat my (whole) seeds with olive oil, then add some Old Bay seasoning, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper before roasting.

Vicky

Oct. 27, 2009 1:35 pm

To Dirt15- I think it's just about preference. I crack mine open like sunflower seeds only eat the inside.

KIMBICA

Oct. 29, 2009 11:51 pm

If your seeds are not getting dry and crisp enough, make sure to bake them long - it can take over 30 minutes - and then leave the tray in the warm oven even longer. I sprinkle popcorn salt on mine while wet, then bake until edges are starting to get light brown. Hope this helps.

PATTISCHOOR

Oct. 30, 2009 6:33 pm

I used the Club House popcorn seasonings this year on my seeds and they are really good! I rinsed the seeds, added them to a salt brine for a few hours then laid them on paper towels to dry for about an hour. Then sprinkled them with the popcorn seasoning and put them in the oven for about 40 minutes @ 325 and they are wonderful!

ValleyGirl

Oct. 30, 2009 7:40 pm

I agree with the peeps regarding NO BUTTER, OIL or SPRAY. They are nice and cruchy without and less fattening.

travelmel

Oct. 31, 2009 11:22 am

the story you listed is a recent tale of the carving of pumpkins. The fact that the devil is in makes it a Christian re-telling. The Christians ursurpsed this holiday from the Druids and added there non sensical stories on top of the real deal in order to try and make it a Christian holiday. It's not. The carving of the pumpkin is to keep the evil spirits away from you on the night when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. Oct 31st.

Emily

Oct. 31, 2009 11:45 am

Worked perfectly! Thanks for the sage advice. :)

Valerie Islas

Nov. 24, 2009 3:52 pm

I am baking my first pumpkin for pumpkin bars, and am planning to prepare pumpkin seeds for my first time also. So thank you everyone for your comments and advise with recipes included.

Stoop Dogg

Nov. 28, 2009 8:44 pm

I found that if you use a spoon with a wide edge, it will remove the seeds without cutting out the stringy stuff. After that, I use a spoon with a sharp or thin edge to cut out and remove the stringy stuff.

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