Every year for the last several years I’ve been experimenting with the seeds that come with my fall pumpkins. I enjoy roasting them and candying them but I’ve always grappled with their often tough mouthfeel. I always seem to be gnawing on them for eternity as the texture slowly starts to remind me of sawdust. Every year I’ve tackled this problem differently; usually simmering them in water for a certain amount of time to soften them before roasting. This tactic has only yielded me marginally more tender pumpkin seeds. I needed to take this further.
A few months ago I picked up my first slow cooker. After some initial testing I found that slow cooking the pumpkin seeds in water on high (about 210F (99C) for 10 hours allowed me to roast them to perfection. Using this method, your pumpkin seeds will be crispy on the outside and give way to a subtle chew on the inside as they release their flavors. Oh yeah, the flavor. Now that found the optimum texture, I opted for a savory punch thanks to the shiro miso, paprika and a dash of sugar and cayenne for depth of flavor. Now I can finally really enjoy pumpkin seeds as an easy going snack.
This Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll recipe takes every opportunity to pack itself with pumpkin and then become enhanced with a delicate balance of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves. Barley malt syrup can be a little tough to find but it's an essential flavor booster that puts the pump in pumpkin for these vegan cinnamon rolls. Rum Spice Icing is literally icing on the cake.
Pumpkin Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts during the holidays. This vegan recipe variation pairs pumpkin with Easy Vegan Caramel Sauce for a great way to end a feast. It also features barley malt syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon and ginger powder to help marry bold pumpkin flavor with vegan creaminess. I recommend opting for non-hydrogenated vegan cream cheese so you can avoid trans fats. This vegan cheesecake also goes great with a dollop of Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream.
Don't know what to do with all those pumpkin seeds from pumpkin carving? Take those little pepitas and dress them up in little spiced sugar costumes with this Candied Spiced Pumpkin Seeds recipe. They'll love it and you will too because this vegan recipe features barley malt syrup, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom to help push the savory pumpkin seed flavors forward.
Bread pudding is probably the most comfortable comfort food. What other type of food has a moist pudding-like texture paired with a soft cake-like feel? Take some barley malt syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Now add some pumpkin and bourbon to the mix and you have this Vegan Pumpkin Bourbon Bread Pudding recipe to warm your soul. In one bite all your worries are forgotten for a few minutes. Preparing this bread pudding is really easy, provided you already have pumpkin purée. For the base, you can use any bread that is light in color and neutral in flavor.
Pumpkin purée gives this Vegan Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookie recipe extra Halloween street cred. These cookies also pack a combination of barley malt syrup and molasses enhanced with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and just the right amount of vanilla extract for a scary good flavor.
This Vegan Pumpkin Buckwheat Pancake recipe features pumpkin enhanced with barley malt syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Buckwheat flour then lends an earthy, nutty richness. They're delightful topped with a touch of almond butter, fruit and/or real maple syrup to brighten up any morning.
This Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffin recipe has a wonderful warm, buttery flavor that is enhanced by barley malt syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and a touch of cloves. Pecans add flavor complexity and a delightful crunch. These vegan muffins are equally good with baked sweet potato purée substituted for the pumpkin as well.
This Celebration Vegan Pumpkin Pie recipe features barley malt syrup to considerably push pumpkin flavors forward. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and a touch of lemon juice are also effective flavor enhancers in this easy to make vegan pie. Flaky Pie Crust is recommended.
This Vegan Pumpkin Pie recipe features the pumpkin boosting flavors of cashew butter and barley malt syrup. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves further enhance flavors better than eggs ever could in this vegan pie. Flaky Pie Crust is recommended.
This Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe takes advantage of barley malt syrup's ability to really drive pumpkin flavors. This vegan cake is then enhanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and a touch of lemon juice, making it perfect for special occasions during the Fall season.
Every year for the last several years I’ve been experimenting with the seeds that come with my fall pumpkins. I enjoy roasting them and candying them but I’ve always grappled with their often tough mouthfeel. I always seem to be gnawing on them for eternity as the texture slowly starts to remind me of sawdust. Every year I’ve tackled this problem differently; usually simmering them in water for a certain amount of time to soften them before roasting. This tactic has only yielded me marginally more tender pumpkin seeds. I needed to take this further.
