Talk about the ultimate upcycle. Yeah, we are upcycling our pumpkin guts into something toasty + tasty. Sugar + Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are the perfect fall snack. And besides just a little bit of buttery goodness, they are good for you. With a little bit of sugar and a little bit of spice, these crunchy and wholesome roasted pumpkin seeds are so addictive. Oh, and you'll never guess what the "spice" is.
Sugar + Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
These are so perfectly toasted and almost nutty, you won't believe it. And no worries, they aren't too sweet or too spicy. Just a hint of the following ingredients flavors these seasonal roasted pumpkin seeds.
- sugar
- salt
- cinnamon
- ground allspice
- cayenne pepper (ok, so maybe you guessed!)
I know, I know, I have this addiction to the spicy food. But trust me on this one. The blend of spices is just barely there and brings out the natural earthy and nutty flavor of the roasted pumpkin seeds.
And...butter.
Because butter does make everything taste better.
Once you stir in the sugar and spices into your melted butter, you pour the mixture over the top of your seeds. Toss to coat well.
Then spread them in an even layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure all sides are evenly toasty. BONUS: Sugar + Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds make your house smell like a bakery. So good.
Looking for more recipes to fall in love with?
Fresh Apple Oatmeal Muffins
Savory Pumpkin Pasta
Spiced Pumpkin Muffins
Healthy + Light Butternut Squash Soup
And roasted pumpkin seeds are good for you. Did you know that pumpkin seeds are loaded with key nutrients like magnesium and copper? Plus they contain anti-oxidants and fiber.
So keep on snacking on Sugar + Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Let the kids eat the candy.
How fun is this recipe? The kids will also love digging through the pumpkin mess to pull out all of the seeds.
Feel free to mix up the spices. Here are some more flavor suggestions:
- Pumpkin Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds - Replace the cayenne with some nutmeg and increase the sugar. Pumpkin overkill? No such thing.
- Cajun Pumpkin Seeds - Add a dash or two of hot sauce into the butter, leave the sugar out, and replace the spices with your favorite all purpose Cajun Seasoning. (May I recommend So La Seasonings? My fave!)
- Cinnamon Brown Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds - No brainer, right? Brown sugar and cinnamon all day long, ya'll. Just stir more frequently during roasting so the brown sugar doesn't burn.
Don't toss those pumpkin seeds. They are precious snacking material.
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Sugar + Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 TB butter
- 2 teaspoon white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Heat oven to 300 degrees.
- Melt butter in microwave until smooth. Stir in the sugar, salt and spices.
- In a bowl, pour the butter and spice mixture over the pumpkin seeds. Toss to coat well.
- Spread the buttered pumpkin seeds in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 5 - 10 minutes to ensure even roasting.
- Sprinkle with additional sugar and salt while warm if desired.
Could you substitue olive oil for butter?
Absolutely! Let me know how that turns out, but in my opinion, butter makes everything taste better.