Our Guide to Making Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

As autumn paints the world in rich hues of orange and red, many of us look forward to the tradition of pumpkin carving. But once the masterpiece is complete, what becomes of the scooped-out seeds and pulp? We think it would be a missed opportunity to simply throw them away. This season, we encourage you to transform those unassuming seeds into a delightful, crunchy, and fragrant snack: Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. This recipe is the ultimate solution for post-carving cleanup and will fill your kitchen with the warm, inviting aroma of autumn.

Let’s move beyond plain or overly salted seeds. We are here to show you how to craft a snack that strikes a beautiful balance between sweetness and warming spice. It’s a straightforward method that delivers exceptional results, turning what is often seen as waste into the highlight of your seasonal treats. Let’s begin the roasting process!

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• Wonderfully Simple to Prepare: With just a handful of common ingredients and a few easy steps, you can create this delicious snack in next to no time. It’s also a brilliant way to get children involved in the kitchen.
• Minimises Food Waste: This recipe makes fantastic use of the whole pumpkin. There’s a great sense of satisfaction in turning something you might have discarded into a tasty and nutritious treat for everyone to enjoy.
• The Quintessential Autumn Flavour: The blend of comforting cinnamon, sweet sugar, and nutty pumpkin seeds truly captures the spirit of autumn. It’s a nostalgic and heart-warming flavour combination that is universally loved.
• A More Wholesome Snack Choice: Pumpkin seeds are brimming with nutrients. By making them yourself, you have complete control over the sugar and butter content, resulting in a much healthier option compared to many store-bought snacks.
• Adaptable and Ideal for Sharing: These seeds are perfect for nibbling on their own, sprinkling over yoghurt or porridge for added crunch, or packaging in small bags to give as a charming homemade gift.

Ingredients

• fresh Pumpkin Seeds
• unsalted butter
• light brown soft sugar
• granulated sugar
• ground cinnamon
• ground nutmeg
• ground ginger
• pure vanilla extract
• fine sea salt

Mastering the Art of Roasting: A Step-by-Step Guide

Achieving the ideal batch of crunchy, sweet pumpkin seeds comes down to getting the technique just right. We’ve simplified the entire process into three distinct stages to help you achieve a flawless outcome every time. This is more than just a Fall Recipe; it’s a new seasonal ritual waiting to happen.

Step 1: Preparing the Pumpkin Seeds

The foundation of perfectly roasted seeds lies in their initial preparation. This stage is vital for getting that desirable crunch and avoiding a chewy, lacklustre result.

1. Clean the Seeds: Once you’ve scooped the seeds out of your pumpkin, transfer them to a colander. Rinse them thoroughly under cool tap water, using your fingers to gently pull away the stringy pulp. A few small strands left behind are perfectly acceptable.
2. Boil for an Enhanced Crunch (Optional but Highly Recommended): For an exceptionally crispy texture, bring a medium pan of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add your cleaned seeds and let them boil for about 10 minutes. This technique seasons the seeds from within and gives them a head start on cooking.
3. Dry Thoroughly: This is the most critical step! Drain the boiled seeds completely. Spread them out in a single layer on a clean dish towel or a baking sheet lined with kitchen roll. Pat them dry with another towel and allow them to air-dry for at least an hour—or even overnight, if time permits. The drier the seeds are, the crunchier they will be. Wet seeds will only steam in the oven, leading to a soft texture.

Step 2: Creating the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

Now we move on to the exciting part: making the delectable sweet and spicy coating. This is where the transformation from plain seeds to an irresistible treat truly begins.

1. Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 160°C (140°C Fan / Gas Mark 3). For effortless cleanup later, line a large, rimmed baking sheet with baking parchment.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger (if using), and fine sea salt. Whisk everything together, ensuring you break up any clumps in the brown sugar for an even coating. This Cinnamon Sugar mix is the secret to their signature taste.
3. Combine the Ingredients: Place your thoroughly dried pumpkin seeds into a larger mixing bowl. Drizzle over the melted butter and vanilla extract, then toss everything together until each seed is lightly coated.
4. Coat the Seeds: Add the sugar and spice blend to the buttered seeds. Stir well until the seeds are generously and evenly covered in the sweet mixture.

Step 3: Roasting to Perfection

The last stage is the roasting itself. It’s important to keep a watchful eye on the seeds at this point, as the sugary coating can quickly go from beautifully caramelised to burnt.

1. Spread on the Baking Tray: Tip the coated seeds onto your prepared baking sheet. Arrange them in a single, even layer. It is vital not to overcrowd the tray, as this will trap steam. If needed, use a second tray.
2. Roast and Stir: Pop the tray into your preheated oven. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, giving the seeds a good stir every 10 minutes. This helps them cook evenly and prevents them from sticking together too much.
3. Check for Doneness: The seeds are ready when they are a lovely deep golden-brown, smell wonderfully fragrant, and feel dry to the touch. You may even hear them making quiet popping noises. Take care not to let them burn.
4. Cool Completely: Take the tray out of the oven and let the seeds cool down entirely on the tray. As they cool, they will firm up and become delightfully crunchy. They might form some clusters, which you can easily break apart once they are cool.

Top Tips for the Best Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

To ensure your Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are absolutely perfect, we’ve compiled a few additional tips and tricks that we’ve perfected over many autumn seasons.

• Don’t Skip the Drying Step: We simply cannot overstate this! Ensuring the seeds are completely dry is the number one secret to achieving a crisp, crunchy finish. Any lingering moisture will create steam, leading to soft, chewy seeds.
• Use Low and Slow Heat: Roasting at a more moderate temperature (160°C) stops the sugar and the delicate seeds from burning before they have had a chance to dry out and become perfectly crisp. A little patience goes a long way.
• Stir Frequently: Tossing the seeds every 10 minutes is crucial for ensuring they brown evenly and to stop them from catching on one side. It also helps to minimise excessive clumping.
• Parchment Paper is Your Best Friend: Lining your baking tray with parchment paper not only stops the sugary seeds from welding themselves to the metal but also makes the washing up incredibly simple.

Variations and Storage

While this classic Snack Recipe is wonderful just as it is, we encourage you to get creative! After you’ve mastered the basic method, you can start experimenting with other flavours.

Flavour Twists

• A Hint of Spice: For a delightful sweet-and-spicy kick, add a small pinch of cayenne pepper or chilli powder to your sugar blend.
• Autumnal Spices: Deepen the autumn flavour profile by including a pinch of allspice or ground cloves in your spice mix.
• Maple Pecan: For a different take, replace the melted butter with melted coconut oil and half the brown sugar with pure maple syrup. Add some chopped pecans during the final 10 minutes of roasting.

How to Store Your Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

To keep them perfectly crunchy, let the seeds cool down completely before you store them. Once fully cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and keep them at room temperature. They will remain fresh and crisp for up to two weeks, although we sincerely doubt they will last that long! This makes them an excellent snack to make ahead of time, and far more exciting than another chicken dinner, like our popular Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

More than just a delicious treat, pumpkin seeds are miniature nutritional powerhouses. They are a fantastic source of valuable nutrients such as magnesium, which is vital for heart health and regulating blood pressure, and zinc, which helps to support a healthy immune system. According to the NHS, seeds are a wonderful source of fibre, essential for good digestive health. So, while you’re savouring this sweet snack, you’re also providing your body with a healthy boost. These seeds can even be scattered over savoury dishes, like our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls, for a delightful, unexpected crunch.

FAQ

A New Autumn Tradition

We truly hope this guide has inspired you to make your own batch of wonderful Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. This is more than a simple recipe; it’s a sensory experience that embodies the spirit of autumn—warm, comforting, and made for sharing. The process of turning pumpkin innards into a gourmet snack is immensely satisfying and will fill your home with the most spectacular aroma.

So, the next time you find yourself carving a pumpkin, please don’t discard those seeds! Give our recipe a go and be sure to let us know how they turn out. You can tag us in your photos on social media or leave a comment below. We always enjoy seeing your kitchen creations!

Recipe Card

Prep: 15 mins (+ drying time)
Cook: 20-30 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Fresh seeds from 1 medium pumpkin
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Light brown soft sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground ginger
• Pure vanilla extract
• Fine sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C Fan) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Clean seeds to remove all pulp. For extra crispiness, boil the seeds in salted water for 10 minutes, then drain.
3. Dry the seeds completely on a clean dish towel. This is the most crucial step for a crunchy result.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
5. In a larger bowl, toss the dry seeds with melted butter and vanilla extract until coated. Add the sugar-spice mix and stir to cover the seeds evenly.
6. Spread the coated seeds in a single, even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Roast for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
8. The seeds are ready when they are golden-brown and fragrant. Let them cool completely on the tray to become fully crisp before enjoying.

Nutrition: A fantastic source of magnesium, zinc, and fibre. Nutritional information will vary.