Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (2024)

Bless This Mess Recipes Desserts Candy

By Melissa

on Oct 23, 2012, Updated Feb 14, 2024

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This delicious Pumpkin Seed Brittleis just like traditional peanut brittle, but with roasted pumpkin seeds instead of peanuts. It’s so good!

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (2)

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle Recipe

I’m so excited about today’s post! I actually woke up at 4:30 am to the old windows in our roomwhistlingand rattling in a wind storm. I laid in bed for a while but kept thinking about working on this post, so here it is, just before 5 am and I’m out of bed blogging. 🙂

Peanut brittle. I love the stuff. Roasted pumpkin seeds. I love the stuff. Have you ever thought to marry the two? I sure hadn’t until my friend Carrie asked how we like our pumpkin seeds on her Facebook page. I answered roasted with butter, garlic powder, and salt. Another person said in brittle, and I was completely intrigued. It has never crossed my mind, but after that I just had to try it.

I really loved how it turned out. The seeds are hard and crunchy inside of an equally hard and crunchy candy shell, and they almost taste like popcorn to me. If you don’t love roasted pumpkin seeds normally, or if the shell is a bit too much for you, then try pepitas. Pepitas are the green raw pumpkin seeds left when the outer shell has been removed. You can buy them at health food stores or Mexican markets. I’m sure it’s completely different, but I bet the pepitas would taste more like traditional nut brittle (I wouldn’t roast the pepitas before adding them either…).

There you have it – a beautiful and tasty way to use your pumpkin seeds and a great excuse to start the candy-making season just a few weeks earlier than normal. Are you going to try it?

Here is my professional pumpkin seed extractor. This model isn’t available in stores.

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (3)

The night we did this the sky was amazing! It was perfect for carving pumpkins and making candy.

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (4)

Tips for Making Pumpkin Seed Brittle

  • I recommend calibrating your candy thermometer. I did this and realized my thermometer was off by 12 degrees (which is a lot!). So now I adjust the temperature accordingly and I haven’t burnt a batch of candy since. Here’s a great post on how to calibrate your candythermometerwith lots of pictures.
  • If you don’t want salt on top of the brittle then feel free to stir it in with the soda, vanilla, and butter.
  • Putting the pumpkin seeds in a strainer and then running water over them is a good way to clean the pumpkin goo off.
  • No pumpkins carving in your life? No worries! You can use pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds) instead of pumpkin seeds you’ve scooped out of a real pumpkin. You won’t need to roast them first, just toss them in the brittle when it calls for the roasted pumpkin seeds. You can find them in the bulk bins of most health food stores. They are awesome on salads, trail mix, and my favorite easy pomegranate pear salad, too, just fyi!

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (5)

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Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (6)

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle

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  • Author: Melissa Griffiths
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
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Description

This delicious Pumpkin Seed Brittleis just like traditional peanut brittle, but with roasted pumpkin seeds instead of peanuts. It’s so good!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 T. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 T. butter, plus a little more for the pan
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Wash the pumpkin seeds well and remove any bits of pumpkin pulp.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  3. Lay the seeds out on an unlined, ungreased metal baking sheet and let them dry while the oven is heating. Once the oven is hot place the pumpkin seeds inside and bake for 30 minutes.
  4. After 30 minutes stir the seeds around and then continue to bake until seeds start to brown slightly and begin to have an aroma, 20 to 30 minutes. Once the seeds are cooked, remove from the oven.
  5. Butter a large metal baking sheet and set aside.
  6. Measure out the baking soda, vanilla, and butter into a small bowl and set it aside.
  7. In a medium saucepan, bring the water, corn syrup, and sugar to a boil over medium high heat. Stir the mixture while the sugar is dissolving. Once the sugar is dissolved and the mixture begins to bubble, don’t stir anymore.
  8. Using a candy thermometer, allow the mixture to reach 285 degrees (soft crack stage).Stir in the toasted pumpkin seeds and continue cooking. Cook until the mixture reaches 300 degrees (hard crack stage), and be sure to stir often once the seeds have been added to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  9. Remove the sugar and seed mixture from the heat and stir in the baking soda, vanilla, and butter. The mixture will puff up and foam; that’s normal. Stir until it almost stops foaming and then quickly pour the brittle, as thin as possible, onto the buttered baking sheet.
  10. You can pick up the edges of the pan and tilt it back and forth to help the brittle spread, just don’t spread it with a spoon. While the brittle is still hot, sprinkle on the kosher salt.
  11. Let the brittle completely cool and then break it into pieces. Store in an airtight container or a plastic freezer bag at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Notes

I recommend calibrating your candy thermometer. I did this and realized my thermometer was off by 12 degrees (which is a lot!). So now I adjust the temperature accordingly and I haven’t burnt a batch of candy since. Here’s a great post on how to calibrate your candythermometerwith lots of pictures.
If you don’t want salt on top of the brittle, then feel free to stir it in with the soda, vanilla, and butter.
Putting the pumpkin seeds in a strainer and then running water over them is a good way to clean the pumpkin goo off.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Such a fun idea and I hope you love pumpkin seed brittle, too! Enjoy from my kitchen to yours!

About Melissa

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Roasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle | Easy Homemade Dessert Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to soak pumpkin seeds before roasting? ›

Some people soak pumpkin seeds before roasting them—they say it helps make the seeds extra crispy. But our Test Kitchen found that soaking the seeds didn't make much of a difference when it came to crispiness. If you do soak your seeds, though, be sure to dry them thoroughly before roasting.

Do pumpkin seeds have to be dry before you put them in the oven? ›

Drying the seeds before roasting ensures they can be evenly coated in oil, for a perfectly toasted texture.

How long do homemade roasted pumpkin seeds last? ›

How Long Do Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Last? Allow the roasted seeds to cool, then store them in an air-tight container. They will last this way at room temperature for a couple of weeks and in the freezer for a few months.

Are pumpkin seeds good for your liver? ›

Heart and Liver Health

As pumpkin seeds are dense in nutrients such as fats, omega 3s and fibres they can be a fantastic savoury, satisfying snack. Research published has found that pumpkin seeds when combined with flax seeds protect the liver from a high cholesterol diet as well as lowering the blood pressure.

Which is better roasted or soaked seeds? ›

Soaked: Soaking in water or yogurt makes them more digestible and releases beneficial mucilage fiber. Add them to smoothies, oatmeal, or yogurt. Roasted: Enhances flavor and makes them crunchy.

What is the minimum time to soak pumpkin seeds? ›

Soak Them Overnight in Salt Water

But this step is the most important. Pumpkin seeds are covered in a thin membrane. The enzymes in the membrane are difficult to chew and digest, which is why you want to soak the seeds for 12-24 hours. For every 1 cup of seeds add: [2 cups of water + 1/2 Tablespoon salt.]

How to tell when pumpkin seeds are done roasting? ›

Bake– Bake for 20-30 minutes at 325 degrees, or until the pumpkin seeds are crisp and light golden brown. Smaller seeds will need less time than larger ones. Let cool– As the seeds cool, they will crisp up a little more. Make sure to let them cool completely before transferring to a sealed container.

Can I leave pumpkin seeds out overnight to dry? ›

Spread 'em out on a sheet pan and let them dry for at least several hours. I like to dry them overnight even. Dry seeds = crispy seeds, and you most definitely want your seeds crispy. How do you eat pumpkin seeds after roasting?

Why do you boil pumpkin seeds before baking? ›

Should You Boil Pumpkin Seeds Before Roasting? Although you don't have to boil the pumpkin seeds before roasting, we recommend it. Boiling pumpkin seeds in salted water helps the salt to permeate the seeds inside the shells and helps them to cook more evenly.

Can you eat too many roasted pumpkin seeds? ›

It is not advised to eat more than the recommended daily amount. If in case you eat too many, you may experience gaseous distension and bloating.

Should I refrigerate roasted pumpkin seeds? ›

Roasted pumpkin seeds can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks or in the fridge for up to two months. Pumpkin seeds are great for snacking, but they are also a fun addition to soups, salads, baked goods and more.

Why do my pumpkin seeds taste bad? ›

Lastly, if you can't see any signs of mold, and they don't smell untoward, then the final check to make is to give your pumpkin seeds a taste. A rancid pumpkin seed will instantly taste bitter and unpleasant, while a pumpkin seed that is still ok to eat will remain true to taste.

Who should not eat pumpkin seeds? ›

A. People allergic to pumpkin seeds should avoid consuming them. In addition, pregnant and lactating women, infants, people with hypoglycemia and hypotension should avoid eating pumpkin seeds. In addition, if you are on a low-calorie diet, you should limit its consumption as they are high in calories.

What organ is pumpkin good for? ›

Supports heart health

Pumpkin is recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet that may help lower your risk of heart disease. It offers a long list of nutrients that protect and support the heart, such as vitamins A, B1, B6, and C, copper, fiber, folate, and manganese.

Are pumpkin seeds good for your bowels? ›

With a low fat and high protein content, pumpkin seed is an important part of the pumpkin plant and may also help with constipation.

Why are seeds soaked overnight in water? ›

Soaking can accelerate germination and increase the proportion of seeds that successfully germinate. Seeds have evolved a protective coating around the embryo so the embryo can survive being dispersed by some means. The coating protects the seeds until they find themselves in a suitable place to grow into a new plant.

Should you soak seeds before eating? ›

Soaking nuts and seeds can activate enzymes, making them more easily digestible. It also helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors and reduces phytic acid content. Soaked nuts and seeds can be enjoyed as is or used in recipes like smoothies, salads, or homemade nut milks.

How long to soak pumpkin seeds to remove phytic acid? ›

this is your friendly reminder to soak your pumpkin seeds before roasting them. this neutralizes the phytic acid and other enzyme inhibitors. making them more nutritious and easier to digest. to save the seeds from any winter squash. cover with filtered water and add some sea salt and let it soak for 23:54 hours.

Do you rinse pumpkin seeds in cold or hot water? ›

Rinse: Once you've removed the strings of pumpkin from the seeds, place the seeds in a colander and rinse under cold water. While washing the seeds, pinch off the remaining strands or chunks of pumpkin flesh. Dry: Lay the rinsed seeds out on a baking sheet, ensuring they're spread out in one layer.

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