Snacks · Holiday candy
Maple Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Shelled pumpkin seeds add a roasted crunch to this maple brittle. Cooking the syrup to hard-crack temperature gives the candy its snap, so use a candy thermometer and prepare the tray before heating.
Illustrative image
- Total
- 50 min
- Active
- 10 min
- Servings
- Calories
- 92 cal / serving
- Difficulty
- Medium
Ingredients · 16 servings
- 3/4 cup shelled unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cup cane sugar
Woodstock Organic Pure Cane Sugar - 24 oz24 OZ · $6.60 - 1 tablespoon ghee, plus 1 teaspoon for the tray
Purity Farms Ghee - Clarified Butter - 7.5 oz7.5 OZ · $12.53 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup waterpantry staple
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon saltpantry staple
Checked items are in your order. Amounts scale with servings; products are sold as whole packages.
Steps
Prepare safe workspace
Lightly grease a rimmed sheet pan and a heatproof spatula with the extra teaspoon ghee. Measure baking soda, vanilla, salt and 1 tablespoon ghee into separate small dishes. Keep children away from the stove; hot sugar can cause serious burns.
Toast the seeds
Stir pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until fragrant and a few begin to pop. Tip into a heatproof bowl.
⏱ 3–4 min
Cook the syrup
In a heavy medium saucepan combine sugar, maple syrup and water. Stir over medium heat until dissolved, then stop stirring and boil about 8 to 10 minutes until a candy thermometer reads 300°F (149°C). Watch closely near the end and never taste hot syrup.
⏱ 8–10 min
Spread the candy
Remove from heat. Carefully stir in ghee, vanilla, salt, baking soda and seeds; the mixture will foam. Immediately pour onto the prepared pan and spread thinly with the greased spatula. Do not touch the candy or try to scrape it with bare fingers.
Cool and break
Leave undisturbed for 25 minutes, or until completely cool and firm. Break into 16 small pieces by hand only after it has cooled. The total includes this cooling period.
⏱ 25 min
Nutrition per serving estimated
1 serving = 1 small piece (1/16 of batch)
- Calories
- 92
- Protein
- 1.7 g
- Carbs
- 13.1 g
- Fat
- 3.9 g
- Fiber
- 0.6 g
- Sugar
- 12.5 g
- Sodium
- 57 mg
Estimated from package nutrition labels and USDA FoodData Central values. Actual values vary.
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Read recipe →Tips and substitutions
A thermometer is more reliable than syrup color because maple syrup starts dark.
Use a pan with high sides to contain the foam when baking soda is added.
For a dairy-free variation replace the ghee with a heat-stable dairy-free baking fat and check its label.
Sunflower kernels can replace the pumpkin seeds by volume if appropriate for your guests; toast them briefly and avoid scorching.
Storage, serving and make-ahead
Storage
Store airtight at cool room temperature for up to 1 week, away from humidity. Do not refrigerate; condensation makes the candy sticky.
Serving suggestions
Offer small pieces on a holiday snack plate once fully cool; brittle is very hard and sticky.
Make ahead
Make up to 5 days ahead in dry weather. Cool completely before packing, with parchment between layers.
Allergens and product labels
Contains: milk.
Check each product label for allergen details.
Questions about this recipe
Why is my brittle chewy?
The syrup may not have reached hard-crack temperature, or the candy may have absorbed moisture. Check the thermometer and keep cooled pieces airtight.
Does ghee make the candy dairy-free?
No. Ghee is clarified butter made from milk. Choose an appropriate dairy-free fat if needed and check all labels.
About this recipe
Estimates use package labels and USDA data; actual values vary.
By Akechi · Published .
Ingredient amounts are for cooking; products are sold as retail packages and pantry extras may be needed. Browse all recipes.