It’s pumpkin carving time!! And what to do with all those pumpkin seeds???
Growing up we’d pick a Sunday before Halloween and spend the afternoon making a mess out back carving pumpkins (fun for us but messy for mom ??) I always wanted Mom to ‘cook’ the pumpkin seeds and although she lovingly did toast them a few different years, they were never as tasty as this recipe!!! In fact I may make HER some this year!!
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SUGAR & SPICE PUMPKIN SEEDS
* 3 cups pumpkin seeds dried for at least 24 hours
* 3 TBS coconut oil or butter
* ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
* 4 TBS granulated sugar
* 2 tsp Vietnamese cinnamon or Apple Pie Spice
* 1 tsp sea salt
To dry pumpkin seeds:
* The key to awesome pumpkin seeds starts with making sure you dry them completely!! Remove from pumpkins and rinse thoroughly. Spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Let sit at room temperature for 24 hours, changing the damp paper towels out for dry ones after about 12 hours and stirring occasionally.
To make the pumpkin seeds:
* Preheat oven to 325°F. Very lightly grease a large baking pan, set aside.
* In a small bowl, mix together sugar, spice, and salt. Set aside.
* Melt coconut oil or butter in a large microwave safe bowl or on the stovetop over low heat
* Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
* Mix in dried pumpkin seeds until they are all evenly coated.
* Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin seeds and mix until all they are evenly coated.
* Spread pumpkin seeds on your prepared baking pan in single layer.
* Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until seeds begin to brown . Make sure not to over bake.,
* Check for doneness: remove a few seeds from the pan and let sit on the counter to cool. If they harden up the seeds are done. If they remain soft, return to the oven, checking them after 5 minutes. Continue baking in 5 minute intervals until done.
* Once seeds are done, transfer them from the warm pan to another pan lined with parchment paper to let cool thoroughly.
* To enjoy later just crisp in a 250 degree oven for 5-10 minutes before eating later.