How To Roast Pumpkin Seeds

I wanted to know how to roast pumpkin seeds for years, every time my family and I would carve pumpkins around Halloween.

Turns out it is really quite easy.

When I was a little girl my babysitter made these toasted pumpkin seeds, and I loved them. I wanted to pass along this wonderful tradition to my own kids.

I encourage you, when you carve pumpkins with your kids, to take the extra time and save the seeds for this recipe because it can make some great family memories to do it each year.

Ingredients:

• Seeds from one pumpkin
• Spray vegetable oil
• Salt (or other seasonings if you're adventurous, like cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or Worcestershire sauce)

Directions:

Separate the seeds from your pumpkin from the gelatinous webbing that is always inside the pumpkin.

Next, rinse your seeds and pat them dry with a papertowel or clean dish towel.

Place the seeds on a baking sheet and spray some vegetable oil on them. (You can also sprinkle butter or olive oil on them if you prefer, but the spray does coat everything more evenly.)

Next, sprinkle salt or any other adventurous flavors you wish, to taste, onto the pumpkin seeds and roast them in the oven, on 350°F for approximately 30 minutes.

You will know the seeds are done when they turn golden brown.

You can eat your pumpkin seeds as a snack, or add it to salads, granola and trail mixes, or any other use you can think of.

See how easy that was? Once you know how to roast pumpkin seeds, and you and your family taste them, you will look forward to pumpkin carving not just to make a jack-o-lantern, but also for the tasty treat!

Be sure to also check out these pumpkin carving tips here, especially useful for families with small kids who want to help carve, so you stay safe and have an enjoyable experience!

Photos courtesy of readers Stacy and Joyce

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