I have bought packaged roasted pumpkin seed squares in store before. They were delicious … but boy, were they expensive! $6 for a little packet – eek!
So here is my super simple version!
- 250g pumpkin seeds, dry roasted
- 2 tbsp chia seeds/hemp seeds
- 2 tbsp rice malt syrup
- pinch pink salt
Dry roast the pumpkin seeds. I do this on a lined baking tray under the grill in my oven. Watch them very carefully. They only take a few minutes. Mix and turn the seeds and return them to the oven (a couple of times if necessary) so that they seeds are golden brown all over and puffing up.
Place the syrup in a bowl, then while the pumpkin seeds are still hot, tip them into the syrup, also add the chia/hemp seeds and salt. Work quickly to mix the 4 ingredients well together – the heat from the seeds melts the syrup and makes it easy to work with.
Place on a lined baking tray and cook in a pre-heated 150C oven for about 25 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before cutting in to squares and storing in an air tight container in a cool place. Best to put a sheet of baking paper between layers when you store, otherwise they stick a bit to each other.
Extra additions:
For a nutty version, add in 100g of your favourite chopped nut. You’ll need to add an additional 1/2 tbsp of syrup too.
For a Christmas version, add in a good handful of dried cranberries and the finely grated zest of 1/2 an orange.
Enjoy 🙂
Itchin' Kitchen 
Yum!! Used a bit less rice malt so I can eat this more often. 🙂
You are right. The packaged version of this is so expensive!
Yass! I totally fell in love with these as soon as i had my first taste of the store-bought ones. But as they were ridiculously overpriced, I tried to make my own and the dummy that I was didn’t look up the recipe before I made it so I had really yum pepita crunchies that superglued itself to the baking pan
Oh no! That’s so frustrating!!
Yeah it was a shame, but I ended up using it as granola so it’s still pretty good
I substituted the chia seeds for sesame seeds and it’s amazing. I also made a batch with added in sunflower seeds and cranberries. Delicious.
That sounds good Sarah!! We have a sesame allergy here so that’s out for us, but at Christmas time I add some cranberries too, along with a few slivered almonds and some finely grated orange zest – so good! Glad you are enjoying them 🙂
Tastes Great and TOTALLY suitable for a KETO treat! Yum 😋 and really inexpensive
Could I substitute maple syrup or honey?
I think you could use honey. Just watch it carefully as honey does tend to brown very quickly and it will change the flavour.
I use rice malt because it is fairly neutral and then you can still taste the seeds.
Let me know got you go!
I added some crushed almonds and dark choc chips oh my god yummmm