Take full advantage of your traditional pumpkin carving fun and make these roasted cinnamon sugar seeds to enjoy as the perfect sweet and salty fall snack! If you really like Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, then you’re really going to love this pumpkin seed recipe!

October means spooky season and all things pumpkin. Carving pumpkins is a fun tradition, and we have four kids, so that always means lots of pumpkin seeds!

Pumpkin seeds are packed with fiber, protein and magnesium, so they make a great healthy snack. It’s also easy to customize them with different seasonings so you can enjoy endless flavors – or keep things on the simple side with just a sprinkle of salt.

Each year my family reserves a special bowl specifically for pumpkin seeds as everyone indulges in the fun of carving their own pumpkin.

We each put our seeds into the bowl, each kiddo overly excited, knowing that they’ll be transformed into a favorite fall snack!

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but honestly its little hands-on time and these roasted pumpkin seeds are so worth it!

Especially if you decide to use this roasted cinnamon sugar pumpkin seed recipe. It’s really easy to make and with only a small amount of ingredients that you likely already have hanging around your kitchen!

If you haven’t made roasted pumpkin seeds a part of your family’s yearly traditions, give this pumpkin seed recipe a try!

Pumpkin Seed Health Benefits

Pumpkin seeds are high in healthy fats, and they’re packed with protein and fiber. They also contain antioxidants, which can help decrease the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

Needed Equipment

Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Ingredients

Pumpkin seeds
Coconut oil or butter – coconut oil seals in the spices while increasing healthy fats! It also adds a touch of sweetness and helps to bring out the seed’s rich and nutty textures, but butter is always a great and tasty alternative!
Sugar
Cinnamon
Vanilla Extract
Salt

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Step by Step

Clean the Seeds

Once you’ve carved your pumpkin, you’re left with a pile of seeds that are covered with stringy pumpkin flesh. As messy as it looks, it’s easy to clean them off.

Remove as much flesh as possible before adding the seeds to a bowl of water. The seeds will float to the surface and the pumpkin flesh will sink, and you can then remove them using a slotted spoon. Use a paper towel to pat the seeds dry.

Dry the Seeds

The secret to making excellent roasted pumpkin seeds is allowing them enough time to dry out completely before roasting them. To do this, remove the seeds from the pumpkins and rinse thoroughly. Make sure there are no stringy orange pumpkin guts or pulp left on them!

Let the seeds drain. Then spread the seeds out into one even layer, onto a large baking sheet lined with paper towels. Let them sit and dry for about 24 hours. Around the 12-hour mark, replace the damp paper towels with dry ones and stir every now and then with your hand.

Make the Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Once the seeds are completely dry, you are ready to roast the pumpkin seeds!

In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients to create the cinnamon sugar coating.

In a microwave safe bowl or dish, melt the butter. Then mix in the vanilla and stir in the pumpkin seeds. Make sure the seeds are evenly coated with the mixture.

Then, add the dry cinnamon sugar mixture and stir to coat the pumpkin seeds.

Spread the cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds into a single layer onto a large baking sheet and bake.

Note Helpful Tip:

Be very careful not to over-bake these cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds! When they begin to brown ever-so-slightly, they are done.

How To Know If Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Are Done

By taking three or four seeds out and letting them cool to room-temperature. If the roasted pumpkin seeds are nice and crispy, then your seeds are done baking. If they’re soft and chewy, toss them back on the pan and bake a bit longer.

How To Re-Crisp Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After a day or two, your seeds may become a bit soft. No biggie. Simply preheat your oven to 250 degrees and bake them for about 5-10 minutes! Remove them from the oven and allow them a few minutes to cool. They’ll be perfectly crisp as if they were freshly made that day!

How To Store Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

You will need to store your roasted pumpkin seeds in an airtight container. I personally like to put mine in mason jars. It keeps them good for up to one week.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Q&A

Are roasted pumpkin seeds a healthy snack?

Yes, roasted pumpkin seeds are a great high-fiber, high-protein snack!

Obviously, the sugar on them in this specific recipe may not be the healthiest option, but there are lots of healthy recipes to go by when roasting pumpkin seeds.

Roasted Pumpkin Seed Seasoning Combo Ideas

If you’re looking for some pumpkin seed inspirational flavors and recipes, the options are endless! Sweet, spicy, or savory flavors – there’s plenty of great combos you could make! You don’t necessarily have to make them sweet, anyway is a treat!

And if you haven’t tried Ranch Pumpkin Seeds before, you are missing out!

Do I really have to dry my pumpkin seeds before roasting them?

Yes. Allowing the pumpkin seeds to dry thoroughly is imperative if you want crispy roasted pumpkin seeds that do not get soggy.

Where to Get Pumpkin Seeds

There are two options for getting your pumpkin seeds: carving a pumpkin or purchasing the seeds.

If you’re already engaging in fall festivities by carving pumpkins, then you might as well roast the seeds and enjoy a tasty snack! But if you’re hoping to skip the work of harvesting them yourself, then you can find shelled pumpkin seeds at your local grocery store.

How to Clean Pumpkin Seeds

Once you’ve carved your pumpkin, you’re left with a pile of seeds that are covered with stringy pumpkin flesh. As messy as it looks, it’s easy to clean them off.

Then, spread them into a single, even layer on a baking sheet or flat surface, and allow them to dry out for around 24 hours.

Is it safe to eat the shells of roasted pumpkin seeds?

Yes, the shells of a pumpkin seed are safe to consume. Removing the shells is time-consuming and not necessary to do before roasting them.

Are pepitas seeds the same as pumpkin seeds?

Pepitas are also pumpkin seeds, however, they are green and have no shells. They are found in certain varieties of pumpkins, like oilseed or Styrian pumpkins.

Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Take full advantage of your traditional pumpkin carving fun and make these roasted cinnamon sugar seeds to enjoy as the perfect sweet and salty fall snack!

Ingredients

6 cups of dried pumpkin seeds
6 tbsp coconut oil or melted salted butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup of sugar
4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp salt

Instructions

Dry the Pumpkin seeds. Remove seeds 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.

Once the pumpkin seeds are completely dry, you're ready to bake them!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Very lightly grease a large baking pan, set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
Melt the butter and add the vanilla.
Mix in pumpkin seeds until evenly coated.
Add dry ingredients to the seeds and mix until they're evenly coated.
Spread pumpkin seeds onto prepared baking sheet, in a single layer.
Bake 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until seeds begin to brown.
Test for doneness: remove a few seeds from the pan, allow to cool. If they are hard and crispy, they're done. If they're soft and chewy, bake a bit longer: I suggest 5 minute intervals.
Once the seeds are done, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to a mason jar or airtight container.
Enjoy!

Notes

You can store these roasted cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

You can substitute the butter in this recipe for coconut oil if you prefer.

I always use white sugar for this recipe, but you could also use organic cane sugar or coconut sugar if you're looking for a good substitution.