… with Halloween just around the corner I always wish I was in America for this special holiday. Ink now we’ve pretty much embraced it here in the UK now but they really do do it so well over there. They take it seriously and I feel it really is a very serious time of year and with such celebrations now commonplace all over the western world I think it’s important for us to remember the plight of the humble pumpkin. Every year tens of thousands of tonnes of pumpkins get tipped, unloved into landfill and whilst I kinda love the appropriate creepiness that this picture brings to my mind I hate the idea of so much food waste. Fear not for the poor pumpkin because the clever people at Hubbub have created the #PumpkinRescue campaign which encourages us all to use as much of our pumpkins as possible wether that be through ideas for innovative recipes, pumpkin carving tutorials or simply helping us understand about food waste and how to reduce our own. It’s a brilliant and very timely campaign and i’d encourage you all to have a think about the amount of waste we create, especially at this time of year.
spiced pumpkin flapjacks with maple syrup caramelised pumpkin seeds
these flapjacks are a super-simple way to enjoy those bits of pumpkin that you’ve carved out of your ‘Jack O’Lantern’ but i’ve also caramelised the pumpkin seeds to create a sticky sweet topping so i’m really using as much of the big veg as I possibly can… I have to say that the flapjacks are great but i’m really impressed with the roasted pumpkin seeds. I had no idea how simple it was to create such a delightful little snack. Obviously this one is covered in sugar and maple syrup so they’re not as healthy as they could be but it’s inspired me to get more creative with this little seeds that come free inside my pumpkin!
for the sweet pumpkin flesh
roughly 200g of pumpkin flesh – I chopped mine into teeny cubes
3 or 4 nobs of butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup or golden syrup
for the flapjacks
175g butter
200g soft brown light sugar
6 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
300g rolled oats
the cooked sweet pumpkin flesh
for the sweet pumpkin seeds
the seeds of the pumpkin
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon all spice
pre-heat the oven to 180C and lightly oil a traybake tin – I used a classic Swiss Roll tin.
for the sweet pumpkin flesh spread the pumpkin out onto a baking sheet, sprinkle on the sugar and spices and then drizzle over the maple syrup and add the nobs of butter – bake for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until the flesh is soft and nutty
for the pumpkin seeds, wash the seeds first then in a bowl, add all the ingredients and stir together, then spread out over a baking sheet and bake for roughly 15 mins until the are golden – you should check on them and stir them a couple ofttimes during the cooking – set aside to cool
for the flapjacks melt the butter, sugar, syrup and spices in a pan and then once melted take it off the heat and add the oats and baked sweet pumpkin flesh and stir well
pour into the baking tin and bake for 20-25 mins until golden
cool on a wire rack but cut them into squares whilst they’re still a little warm and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top
naturally i’m linking this recipe up to the no food waste challenge founded by Elizabeth from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary and hosted this month by Kate from Veggie Desserts
because i’m being frugal with using as much of the pumpkin as possible this recipe is also going over to the credit crunch munch link-up hosted by Camilla from Fab Food 4 All and Helen from Fuss Free Flavours
eat and of course, enjoy!
Loving this flapjack Dom, sounds absolutely delicious with the sweetness of the pumpkin and those spices. A fab frugal post for #CreditCrunchMunch. Just one question, is that a self portrait? #runs
Gorgeous Dom, I especially like the addition of the pumpkin seeds. Loving all these autumnal bakes 🙂
Daft question time… I thought pumpkin seeds had a little shell around them. Can you eat that or do you need to crack the little green seed out of each one? They look really delicious 🙂
I thought the same Laura but apparently not. Once they're baked they're fine. Well I just ate them whole and they were lovely and I'm still alive. I actually saw a Jamie Oliver video where they did pretty much what I did.
I LOVE The Viking's Pumpkin, all that clever carving and that pumpkin expression make me smile! I also love those flapjacks too, of course, and I am a BIG fan of pumpkin seeds as a snack.
I never think to put fresh fruit, or veg, into flapjacks. I really ought to try – these look very tasty.
We were also discussing the waste with Halloween pumpkins just recently – fields of them grown and sold just for lanterns, then thrown away. It's a waste in so many ways – food, growing space, water to grow them, resources to deal with the waste! Perhaps we should start a movement for re-usable pumpkin-shaped ornaments, to be brought out every year, like artificial Christmas trees.
Thanks Suelle, the fresh pumpkin is divine in here but the final bars are quite soft…. I love the idea of going fake for Halloween!
I love these! I'm a huge pumpkin fan and this is a wonderful way to use up all those lovely, fragrant pumpkin 'guts'. Thanks for entering the No Waste Food Challenge.
Love the sound of this recipe and the campaign too – it's such a shame to see so much pumpkin going to waste every year. I'll have to get involved.
Ooh, ooh yes. Love this recipe Dom. I think of myself as the flapjack queen, but have never thought to add pumpkin. With the seeds, were you able to eat the whole thing, or did you have to dispose of the shell in some way? I've only tried roasting quite hard seeds and you definitely had to take the outside off before eating. Would be good to know you can eat the whole thing.
I hate the thought of all those pumpkins going to waste and I hate that huge (tasteless) pumpkins are grown with virtually no flesh just for carving……
We always get a good culinary pumpkin and use the flesh any which way we can (just made a delicious pumpkin cake!). Kicking myself though….. we threw away the seeds about an hour before I saw this recipe….. darn!!!!! They sound too good.
Lovely flapjacks Dom, and of course the pumpkin makes them a little healthier. I'll have some for breakfast please.
Thanks for linking up with #CredittCrunchMunch
Lovely flapjacks Dom, and definitely healthy with the addition of the pumpkin. I'll have one for breakfast please. Thanks for sharing with #creditcrunchmunch