The Season for Pumpkin Seeds

‘Tis the season for seasoning pumpkin seeds.

Story by Alexis Fischer

Illustration by Neesha Vakil

Pumpkins offer multiple uses and tastes when the leaves begin to turn colors. Pumpkin spice lattes, bread, pie and other pumpkin-based treats are delicious.

Pumpkin seeds are a versatile snack to indulge in and they are simple to prepare. Save the seeds from your jack-o-lantern or homemade pie. ORANGE Magazine has collected four must-try recipes for pumpkin seeds that are savory, sweet and spicy.

Preparing and Baking the Seeds

The flavor for pumpkin seeds comes from the seasoning. However, it is important to understand how to prepare the seeds first.

Rinse seeds with water.Use paper towels to dry off seeds. Leave them to air out for more crunch.Preheat oven to 300 degrees.Coat seeds in either butter or olive oil.Mix seeds with seasoning of choice.Spread seeds over the pan. Make sure there are enough seeds to cover the pan so that no seeds lay on top of another.Put tray in the oven at 300 degrees. Bake for 25-45 minutes, depending on the crunch wanted. Stir or rotate the seeds every 15 minutes.

Cinnamon Maple Roasted Seasoning

The ground spices in this recipe are what gives the unique flavor to these subtly sweet seeds. Even better, your whole kitchen will smell like a warm hug.

3 cups fresh dried pumpkin seeds¼ cups butter melted4 tbsp pure maple syrup1½ tsp ground cinnamon½ tsp ground ginger⅛ tsp ground nutmeg⅛ tsp ground clovesPinch of salt

Sweet and Spicy Seasoning

For the more adventurous, cayenne pepper is the key ingredient to make pumpkin seeds burst with flavor. The brown sugar creates a more caramelized coating while complimenting the spice.

1 teaspoon olive oil1 tablespoon brown sugar1/2 teaspoon sea salt1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Pizza Seasoning

An unlikely combination of two delicious things: pizza and pumpkin. So what happens when you put the two together? More deliciousness, obviously. With these pizza flavored pumpkin seeds, you can eat guilt free.

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese1/2 teaspoon basil1/2 teaspoon oregano1/4 teaspoon sea salt1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and Pepper Seasoning

For the most traditional of seasonings, a small dash of salt, pepper and olive oil will do the trick. This salt and pepper recipe can likely be found in your family’s recipe book since it’s a classic.

1 teaspoon of olive oil1/2 teaspoon sea salt1/8–1/2 teaspoon black pepper