by Hannah Russell

Created on: September 29, 2010

Halloween is one of those holidays with different childhood memories for each person.  I recall when I was young that each year for Halloween, we would carve pumpkins.  Though this was exciting, it was secondary to baking the pumpkin seeds.  I was so dedicated to this aspect of the pumpkin-carving ritual that out of six children, I was the one responsible for removing and washing the seeds.  While all the other children would carve the pumpkins, I would mine for seeds in the guck that they had removed.  I didn’t mind.  I really liked pumpkin seeds.  It’s a beloved part of Halloween and a treat that shouldn’t be passed up.

You start by carving your pumpkin.  It’s easy and most families already do it.  So, it’s not a big stretch to just roast them instead of throw them away. In order to bake pumpkin seeds, one should remove the seeds from the pumpkin, and then strain them.  All of the quantities that used in this explanation are for approximately 2 cups of pumpkin seeds.  When they are strained, there shouldn’t be any strands of pumpkin on the seeds.  Boil the pumpkin seeds in salt water until the seeds are tender.  This step is not crucial to the roasting, but make them more juicy and they don’t get stuck in your throat as can be the downside to baked pumpkin seeds.

Now you can flavor them! After the seeds have been drained again, cover them in a mixture of 1 ½ tablespoons of melted butter, about 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce (which is usually found in the grocery store near the barbecue sauces) and ¾ teaspoon of salt.  Some recipes also use about 1/8 teaspoon of garlic, which can add a little extra kick of flavor to the recipe. After the seeds are thoroughly covered in the flavoring, spread them out in a baking dish or sheet.  They don’t have to not overlap at all, but they should be generally in one layer.  Now, bake the seeds for about 1 hour at 275 degrees Fahrenheit.  Be sure to stir them occasionally to bake all sides of the seeds evenly.

Now, enjoy the pumpkin seeds.   They are a healthy Halloween treat to put in your kids lunches, and a great, cozy snack for a cool, autumn day. They’re much healthier than many alternatives, and are a nice salty counter-balance to the sugary season.

Learn more about this author, Hannah Russell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.