Fall is all about the cozy vibes, and there’s no better way to get in the spirit than to cook up a delectable treat. Make your dishes more sustainable by saving the pumpkin seeds from your Halloween pumpkins and putting them to use in the kitchen! 

Pumpkin seeds are a versatile ingredient with plenty of health benefits to boot. They are full of magnesium and zinc, as well as antioxidants. Antioxidants can reduce inflammation and help protect against disease. Pumpkin seeds (all parts of the pumpkin, in fact) can also lower blood sugar, likely due to their magnesium content. They are also packed with fiber, which supports digestive health. 

Are you sold on pumpkin seeds yet? Here are some fall-inspired recipes to help get you cooking. 

3 Fall Recipes to Upcycle Pumpkin Seeds

1. Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix

Taste the season with this delicious snack! It’s a delightful mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, perfect to bring along on an autumnal picnic. To make it, you’ll need:

• Nuts (whatever mix you have on hand)
• Rolled oats 
• Raw pumpkin seeds
• Coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• Pumpkin puree (you can source this from your Halloween pumpkin too!)
• Apple juice or apple cider
• Dried fruit like cranberries and/or raisins
• Spices 

Check out the full recipe here.

2. Vegan Pumpkin Seed Pesto

There's nothing like a warm bowl of pasta on a cool fall night. Cozy up with this pumpkin seed pesto! Here’s what you need:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Fresh basil
• Garlic
• Parmesan cheese (regular or vegan) OR nutritional yeast
• Lemon juice 
• Salt 

You can find the full recipe here. 

3. Pumpkin Bread Topping

Not only do pumpkin seeds add the perfect crunch to fluffy pumpkin bread, but using them also means you’re using most of the pumpkin itself! To cook up this yummy treat, you’ll need:

• Flour 
• Sugar (coconut or regular)
• Pumpkin puree
• Pumpkin seeds
• Oil or applesauce
• Baking powder and baking soda
• Milk of choice
• Vanilla extract
• Pumpkin pie spice

Here is the full recipe.