After you carve a pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern, you’re left with a bunch of gooey innards and piles of pumpkin seeds. Don’t just throw those seeds away. Here are 14 fun ideas for using those leftover seeds — from crafts and activities to tasty treats.
1. Toasted pumpkin seeds
One of the easiest and most common ways of using pumpkin seeds is to toast them in the oven for a seasonal snack. Toss them in some salt and olive oil, spread on a foil-covered baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about a half an hour or until the seeds are aromatic and golden brown.
2. Mosaic craft
Give your pumpkin seeds a color makeover — by using paint, food coloring or even nail polish for a glossy sheen. Then let kids glue the seeds onto cardstock or cardboard to create colorful mosaics.
3. Seasonal photo frame
Glue the seeds to a store-bought wooden photo frame to make a seasonal fall frame for displaying your favorite pumpkin patch or Halloween costume photos.
4. Awesome avocado toast
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients that are good for your health. Add them to your avocado toast for an extra-healthful boost.
5. Homemade tiddlywinks
Turn your pumpkin seeds into a fun game of tiddlywinks. The different sizes of the seeds will make for some unpredictable fun!
6. Pumpkin seed crusted chicken strips
Instead of breading chicken strips the usual way, try making pumpkin seed crusted chicken. Finely chop pumpkin seeds and mix them with salt, parmesan, oregano, paprika. Use olive oil to adhere the mix to your chicken strips and pan fry for a crunchy, nutritious seasonal dinner that kids will love.
7. Beadwork
Clean and dry the pumpkin seeds, then use them to make beaded necklaces (think the traditional puka shell necklaces of the Pacific islands). Make holes in the center of the seeds and string a bunch onto a cord for pretty pumpkin seed jewelry.
8. Counting games
Sneak some math practice into your autumn fun. Use piles of seeds to teach small children about “less” and “more” and counting. Older children can practice their multiplication tables and guess the number of seeds put into a jar or glass.
9. Healthy “croutons”
Add seasonal crunch to your fall salads. Instead of regular croutons, toss a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds atop your leafy greens. They’re healthy and lower in carbs than most croutons.
10. Leaf painting
Paint seeds brown, red, yellow and orange, and use them to make an autumn tree craft. Draw or paint a tree and glue the seeds as autumn foliage to give dimension.
11. Trail mix
Make your favorite trail mix recipe and toss in toasted pumpkin seeds. Don’t have a favorite? Try this pumpkin seed trail mix with dried cherries and chocolate. Yum.
12. Smoothies
Pumpkin seeds make a perfect addition to most smoothies. Grind up your pumpkin seeds ahead of time with a food processor and add some of the ground powder to your blender when you’re making your morning smoothie. Delicious and nutritious!
13. Halloween fingers
Use store-bought frozen puff pastry dough and pumpkin seeds to make scary witch finger breadsticks — perfect for Halloween parties! Cut dough into strips, more of a finger-shape. Leave uneven edges for knuckles and wrinkles. Press one pumpkin seed “fingernail’ at the end of each breadstick and bake according to the dough instructions.
14. Granola
Mix up a quick batch of cranberry pumpkin seed granola for a perfect seasonal flavor addition to your morning yogurt or your afternoon snack.
15. More pumpkins
The circle of life can come around if you simply clean your pumpkin seeds and plant them in some fresh soil. While it will be a long time before the fruits of the gardening labor comes around, taking care of your own pumpkin patch can become a family project that promotes togetherness. And then you can start the cycle again next year!
