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These easy Roasted Pepitas are made with a few basic ingredients including cinnamon and spice in less than 15 minutes! These roasted shelled pumpkin seeds are the perfect snack or garnish for fall dishes.
Healthy snacks that you can take on-the-go are the perfect snacks. Roasted pumpkin seeds are the perfect snack any time of the year. Use shelled pumpkin seeds, like pepitas, for a nutritious and delicious addition to any meal.
We combine maple syrup, cinnamon, salt and a pinch of cayenne with raw pepitas to create this easy roasted pepitas recipe. This healthy snack is made in less than 10 minutes and is perfect for snacking or using as a garnish for your favorite fall recipes. You can store them for up to 2 weeks.
Grab five ingredients and 15 minutes of your time to make this tasty snack!
What are Pepitas?
Pepitas are pumpkin seeds, but they are not the type of pumpkin seeds that you would scoop out of a pumpkin that you buy at the store. They are a seed that comes from hull-less pumpkin varieties like Syrian or Oil Seed Pumpkins. They don’t have a shell and grow shell-free inside the hull-less pumpkin varieties.
Look for seeds labeled “pepitas” at your local grocery store. They are small green seeds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pepitas: You can use standard white shelled pumpkin seeds but the texture and flavor will be different. Pepitas have the best flavor and texture and are the best type of seed to use for this recipe.
- Maple Syrup: The maple syrup helps to concentrate the flavors on the seeds. You can substitute the maple syrup with honey, if desired, but it will change the flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: You can omit but the flavor will be different.
- Ground Cayenne: A pinch of cayenne doesn’t make these pepitas spicy but it adds a nice kick when combined with the other ingredients. Add more or less cayenne to adjust the spice.
Steps to Make
Cooking pumpkin seeds is easy. You can roast them in the oven in under 10 minutes for the perfect crunchy snack.
- Mix together the ingredients in a bowl.
- Spread them out on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Roast in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes. That’s it!
How to Store Pepitas
Store roasted pepitas in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. A zipped-top bag or plastic or glass container works great for storage.
These nutritious toasted pumpkin seeds are a flavorful snack anytime.
FAQs
Yes, pepitas and pumpkin seeds are technically the same thing, since they come from pumpkins. But, they only come from select pumpkin varieties, not the standard orange pumpkins you buy at the store or farmer’s market.
When roasting, you can substitute one for the other but pepitas are much more flavorful and have a crunchier texture. Either way, homemade pumpkin seeds are a great snack.
They are low calorie and high in protein. They are also filled with beneficial vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorous and magnesium.
What to Do with Roasted Pepitas
We like to grab a handful of roasted pepitas and eat them as a snack, but you can also add them to yogurt parfaits, trail mix, smoothies, or anything else. We love including them on a cheese or charcuterie board. They are perfect for serving as a snack at holiday parties. You can even package them nicely and give as a holiday gift.
Toasted pepitas are also a perfect garnish. They add a crunchy texture and flavor.
A few of our favorite recipes featuring the easy roasted pepitas are below.
- Pumpkin Hummus
- Pumpkin Muffins
- Roasted Autumn Squash Soup
- Pumpkin Bread (sprinkle them on top)
- Pumpkin Pie (serve with whipped cream and garnish with pepitas)
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Pumpkin Oatmeal
No matter how you enjoy these homemade roasted shelled pumpkin seeds, you’re going to love them! If you try this recipe, leave a star review and rating below.
Roasted Pepitas
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw shelled pumpkin seeds, (pepitas)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- pinch of cayenne
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients together until combined. Spread seeds on baking sheet in an even layer. Roast in oven for 6 minutes, tossing once half way through. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- This recipe makes 1 1/2 cups. The nutritional information is provided for 1/2 cup.
- Pepitas: We recommend using raw no shell pumpkin seeds (ie: pepitas), however you can also use standard pumpkin seeds with the white husk. Nutritional information and flavor make vary.
- Maple Syrup: You can use honey instead but it may alter the flavor.
- Spices: You can omit the spices but it will change the flavor.
- Store the seeds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was updated with new process photos and FAQs in October 2020.
Perfect Snack! Thanks for sharing!
This looks sp delicious, perfect for a snack or adding it to a granola bowl. Yummy!
So good. We eat these all the time in the fall.
These are my new favorite snack, I just can’t stop eating them!
You know I love pepitas, but I never thought about spicing them up before now. It’s honestly a brilliant idea and I can think of soooo many things I’d want to put them on! I am in love!
I love how simple this recipe is and the flavor is so good! Super addictive snack!