Description
These smoky, spicy, and slightly sweet baked pumpkin seeds are a game-changer. Perfectly crunchy and packed with flavor, they turn even the biggest pumpkin seed skeptic into a fan.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups of warm water with 1 tablespoon of fine sea salt. Stir until the salt dissolves completely.
- Add 1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds to the brine and stir to make sure they’re all submerged. Let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Pour the seeds into a colander or fine-mesh strainer and rinse them briefly with cold water. Spread them out on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and pat them very dry.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir until it forms a thick paste.
- Transfer the dried seeds to a clean bowl and pour the seasoning mixture over them. Toss until evenly coated.
- Pour the seasoned seeds onto the prepared baking sheet and spread them into a single, even layer.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway through at the 7-minute mark. Watch carefully in the last few minutes to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and let the seeds cool on the pan for at least 10 minutes. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- Once completely cool, transfer to a bowl and enjoy, or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Don’t skip the soak—it’s the secret to crunchy seeds. Watch the seeds closely in the last 5 minutes of roasting to prevent burning. Let them cool completely for maximum crunch. The seeds taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 9
Keywords: pumpkin seeds, baked pumpkin seeds, smoky pumpkin seeds, healthy snack, fall recipe, Halloween snack, pepitas