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Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters

October 12, 2015 by hapagirl 33 Comments

Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters with pumpkin pie spices - great to snack on and totally delicious!

Don’t you just love when a complete blunder turns into something incredible?! I had this fantastic idea to make a pumpkin pie spiced pumpkin seed brittle. Sounds great, right?

Just a few minutes into making the brittle, I realized that my measurements were all off – there just wasn’t enough thick caramel-like syrup to form into a classic brittle. I muttered a few choice curse words, scraped the contents of the pan out onto a Silpat, and just left it – thinking that I would have to scrap it once it cooled. Except when I tasted it, it was good! Really good! Like I can’t stop eating it, kind of good!

Just for the sake of my original idea, I went back to square one and tried to make an actual brittle. With a little tweaking of the recipe, it worked. I made a gorgeous brittle. But after a sampling, I actually much preferred the taste and texture of the clusters I had accidentally made. Talk about a happy accident!

I’ve been making this all weekend, it’s great to snack on, to take with you on a hike, or even tame that midday sweets craving. With the holidays coming up, it also makes a perfect snack for your guests!

Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters with pumpkin pie spices - great to snack on and totally delicious!

Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters
Recipe Type: Snack
Author: Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 8 mins
Total time: 13 mins
Serves: 1 cup
Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters with pumpkin pie spices – great to snack on and totally delicious!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw green (hulled) pumpkin seeds*
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
  1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a Silpat. Then prep all of the spices measuring and combining the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves in a small bowl.
  2. Add the pumpkin seeds, sugar, honey, and water to a large heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Place over medium-high heat and stir constantly until the mixture becomes syrupy and a caramel color, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and add the butter. Stir until melted and then add the vanilla. While stirring constantly, add the spices, and stir until fully incorporated.
  4. Transfer the candied pumpkin seeds to the prepared sheet pan and spread out in a thin layer. Allow to cool, break apart into clusters, and enjoy!
Notes
*The pumpkin seeds I used are raw, green, and hulled (outer casing removed). These can be purchased at any whole food or health store. I have not tried this recipe with seeds straight out of the pumpkin (still in its hull), but I do have a great recipe for [url href=”http://hapanom.com/roasted-pumpkin-seeds/” target=”_blank”]Roasted Pumpkin Seeds[/url], that uses those seeds freshly scooped from a pumpkin – they’re also great to snack on!
3.4.3177

 

Candied Pumpkin Seed Clusters with pumpkin pie spices - great to snack on and totally delicious!

Filed Under: Blog, Desserts, Dishes, Fall, Gluten Free, New Year's Eve, Party Foods, Recipes, Snacks, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian, Western, Winter Holiday Recipes Tagged With: autumn, brittle, candied, caramel, cinnamon, dessert, fall, ginger, holidays, nutmeg, pie, Pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin seeds, seeds, snack, Thanksgiving

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Comments

  1. FoodGeekGraze says

    November 12, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    i am supposed to be pinning for holiday eats and keeping others’ taste buds in mind, but i keep wandering off the path for my own tummy. taking these bites of love on a hike = great idea! they look beyond yummy.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      November 15, 2015 at 2:32 pm

      Haha! I do that ALL the time! I call it productive procrastination. I’m so glad you decided wander off the holiday path to my blog πŸ˜‰ xoxo

      Reply
  2. Kristen @ The Endless Meal says

    October 25, 2015 at 11:54 am

    I made these last night to go on top of some pumpkin pots de creme I served at my supper club. Perfect recipe!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 26, 2015 at 3:57 pm

      That’s great, Kristen! I’m so glad you enjoyed them! And those pumpkin pots de creme sound incredible!

      Reply
  3. athleticavocado says

    October 17, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    sometimes the recipes that seem like they are going to fail end up making it big, just like this one! i could see myself snacking on these tasty clusters! Pinning for later πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 19, 2015 at 11:38 am

      Thank you so much! I just wish all mistakes could end up so tasty πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  4. Thao @ In Good Flavor says

    October 15, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    These pumpkin seed clusters are wonderfully unique. Aromatic, sweet, sticky, and crunchyβ€”they must be so addictive!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 16, 2015 at 12:51 pm

      They are! I just polished off my 3rd batch last night πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  5. Lokness says

    October 15, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Awesome snacks! Anyone who is craving a pumpkin for Halloween should use their seeds to make these clusters! Sweet and crunchy little bites are perfect for the holidays.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 16, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      Thanks, Lokness! You’ll actually want to use pumpkin seeds that have been hulled – I find it’s easier to buy them at a whole foods/health store than try and hull them myself. However, if you’re looking for a recipe to use the pumpkin seeds leftover from carving a pumpkin, I have a great Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe πŸ™‚ Hope you have a great weekend! xo

      Reply
      • Lokness says

        October 23, 2015 at 4:59 pm

        Ooo…. I didn’t know pumpkin seeds have to be hulled first. Good to know. Thanks girl.

        Reply
  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    October 15, 2015 at 7:20 am

    There is NOTHING better than a happy accident! I got all giddy for you just reading this post! (I was high five-ing you through the computer screen). And I actually prefer little clusters of yummy nom noms vs. larger bricks of brittle, so these pumpkin seed clusters look absolutely fabulous to me!! I LOVE that you even thought to candy pumpkin seeds- you evil genius you! I could snack on this allllll day long.. and then some! Pinned! Cheers, lovie! XO

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 15, 2015 at 9:10 am

      You know what? I didn’t think about it prior to my mistake, but I prefer the clusters to slabs of brittle too! Yay to happy accidents!

      Reply
  7. MiraL (@miralsl) says

    October 14, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    Love that these turned into clusters and I’ll definitely try them! What a fun happy accident!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 15, 2015 at 9:07 am

      Every mistake should end up so well… right?!

      Reply
  8. nagimaehashi says

    October 14, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    This is why I follow you. While everyone else is doing pumpkin desserts, muffins, dips, you knock it out of the park with something so unique but totally doable AND thrifty. Never will I throw out pumpkin seeds again.

    So glad you stuffed up and “discovered” this. You rock! Sharing!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 15, 2015 at 9:05 am

      Aww…. thanks, Nagi. You always have the sweetest comments. Now don’t you just wish that every mistake ended so well? Ha, if that were the case I’d be a freakin’ genius! πŸ˜›

      Reply
  9. traci | vanilla and bean says

    October 14, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Mmmm… I love it when these types of blunders happen, Kathleen! No doubt kitchen fails can be frustrating.. but then, there’s the beauty of when this happens! Delicious mistake my dear and I love the suggestion of taking them on a hike! Can’t wait to give these a go!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 15, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Thanks, Traci πŸ™‚ I’m always looking for little snacks to take on hikes or bike rides, so this happy accident definitely did double duty.

      Reply
  10. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    October 14, 2015 at 7:16 am

    Oh my, I feel like I could pluck a cluster right off the page! Your pictures are stunning. Don’t you just love happy accidents? This looks like a treat I could get used to!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:10 am

      Thanks sweetie! Happy accidents are the best! It’s like finding a 20 dollar bill in your winter jacket πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  11. hipfoodiemom says

    October 14, 2015 at 4:14 am

    Talk about a very happy accident! Every year we look for different things to do with our pumpkin seeds .. love love love these clusters!! Brilliant!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:11 am

      Thanks so much, Alice! How much fun to plan new ways to use pumpkin seeds with the family! I hope you guys give these a try πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says

    October 14, 2015 at 2:51 am

    I love pumpkin seeds like anything. And these candied one are driving me crazy, Kathleen. They are so so deeeeeeelicious. I know, so many eeeee’s, but they look really deeeeeeeeeelcious β€” so tempeting. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:14 am

      Lol! Love all the ‘eeeee’s’ πŸ˜‰ You can’t have fall without pumpkin seeds, right?!

      Reply
  13. nicole (thespicetrain.com) says

    October 13, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    I love it, that’s how great recipes come about, by accident! Beautiful photography as well, it’s not easy to photograph random clusters and you did it very well.

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:16 am

      Thanks so much, Nicole! I really appreciate it πŸ™‚ I just wish every accident turned out so well πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  14. karrie @ Tasty Ever After says

    October 13, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Your mistakes turn out so much better than mine! hahaha! Love me some pumpkin seeds and always have them on hand so I’ll be whipping these clusters up in no time (and for the weekend to munch on while watching football games). Hope you make another recipe mistake soon πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:19 am

      Aw… that’s sweet of you to say, Karrie. But believe me, most of my mistakes are EPIC! Like epically bad!!! I think life just finally threw me a bone on this one πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  15. Mon Petit Four (@byMonPetitFour) says

    October 13, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Kathleen, these clusters look so yummy! I wish my kitchen accidents turned out like that! lol I actually just picked up some pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds from TJ’s for a salad I wanted to share on the blog. I’m already addicted to them so I can just imagine me downing these clusters like it’s no one’s business LOL! These are genius and I can’t wait to make them!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 14, 2015 at 10:23 am

      Ooo… I can’t wait to see your salad – I just know it’s going to be stunning!

      I hope you enjoy these clusters. They might even do well crumbled over a salad… like candied walnuts πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  16. Amy | Club Narwhal says

    October 13, 2015 at 11:24 am

    Kathleen, I love that you were able to save this into these gorgeous clusters! I don’t eat pumpkin seeds nearly as much as I should–they are so tasty, and I bet they’re even tastier transformed into these!

    Reply
    • hapagirl says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:54 am

      Thanks, Amy! I hate wasting food, so I was thrilled when my ‘mistake’ turned into something delicious πŸ™‚

      Reply

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I'm Kathleen and I live in the Atlanta area. In a lifelong search to discover where I belong and what group I identify with, I found that food is the strongest tie that brings us together. On Hapa Nom Nom, food is a kind of connective tissue, bringing my background, family, travels, and tastes together in one delicious bite. Find out more!

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