Best Pumpkin Seeds EVER! (Traditional & Sweet and Spicy)
It’s Halloween, and everyone is making pumpkin seeds, but no one is making them like my mom did! The difference is not only did she use butter, not oil (that’s the Polish in her), but she also didn’t rinse them.
When you leave the pumpkin goo on, it bakes them to a beautiful brown and gives them a little extra taste of goodness.
Let’s look at how to make the best pumpkin seeds ever, both traditional and sweet & spicy.
Traditional Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 Pan Pumpkin Seeds (Remove the stringy pumpkin insides leaving the goo on the seeds—do not rinse)
- 1/2 Stick Butter
- 1-2 Tsp Salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Seeds: Clean out your pumpkin and remove all the stringy stuff from your seeds. Do not rinse them; just leave the pumpkin goo on the seeds.
- Melt Butter: Melt 1/2 stick of butter in the microwave.
- Coat with Butter: Pour the melted butter over the seeds and mix them well so they are covered in the buttery goodness.
- Season with Salt: Generously salt the seeds.
- Bake: Pop in the oven for 2 hours at 250 degrees.
These are great on their own but if you prefer a bit of flavor, try the sweet and spicy seasoning.
Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 TB Olive Oil
- 1 TB Sugar
- 2-3 TB Sugar
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Cumin
- 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Ginger
- 1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Traditional Seeds: Follow the steps for traditional pumpkin seeds as described above.
- Sauté with Sugar: In a skillet, add 1 TB of olive oil and 1 TB of sugar. Mix this up so the sugar semi-caramelizes on the seeds (about two minutes).
- Mix Sugar and Spices: While these are cooling, mix up your sugar mixture by adding 2-3 TB sugar and 1/4 tsp each of salt, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper.
- Coat with Sweet & Spicy Mixture: Add the sautéed seeds to the sugar and spice mixture and mix well to coat.
Additional Tips
- If you have a good-sized pumpkin and a full sheet of seeds, you will need about a 1/2 stick of melted butter for the traditional seeds.
- In my family, we always carve a pumpkin so there are plenty of seeds to do both the traditional and sweet & spicy versions.
- Utilize the hollowed-out pumpkin for our unique ‘Queso in a pumpkin‘ recipe!
Conclusion
There you have it, the best pumpkin seeds made both traditionally and sweet & spicy. These are perfect for snacking while carving pumpkins, or to enjoy as a tasty treat during Halloween parties.
Don’t forget to save some for yourself before they disappear! Experiment with different spices and seasonings to find your own unique twist on this classic fall snack.
I’m pretty confident that you will be making them this way for the rest of your life. Write it down so your children will know this recipe! I hope you love them as much as I do! Happy Halloween!
Best Ever Pumpkin Seeds Made Traditional and Sweet & Spicy
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet To bake your seeds prior to adding Sweet & Spicy Mixture
- 1 Non-Stick Skillet To toss your pre-baked seeds in oil and sugar
Ingredients
- 1 Pan Pumpkin Seeds Remove the stringy pumpkin insides leaving the goo on the seeds-do not rinse
- 1/2 Stick Butter
- 1-2 Tsp Salt
Sweet & Spicy Mixture
- 1 TB Olive Oil
- 1 TB Sugar
- 2-3 TB Sugar
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Cumin
- 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Ginger
- 1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Dry seeds at 250 degrees for 2 hours according to traditional recipe with butter
- Saute dried seeds in pan with 1TB Olive Oil then add 1TB Sugar
- Mix and let cook for about 2 minutes
- Mix in a bowl the 2-3 TB Sugar and all the spices
- Add sauteed seeds to the above mixture and mix to coat
