Roasting Chestnuts at Christmas

When I was a little girl, my Dad used to make cook chestnuts in the fireplace. He had a wire netted cooker that he used to cook the chestnuts. The entire house smelled wonderful. I have many memories of eating warm chestnuts on a cold winters night.

Now that I have my own family, I keep the same tradition going in our home. However, since I don't have a fireplace, I cook them in the oven.

Oven baked Chestnuts taste just a great as they did over an open flame! When I think of chestnuts I think of comfort. It reminds me of my happy childhood as a little girl.

The Chestnut makes the entire house smell good while it is cooking. And since nothing else tastes like a chestnut it always seems to bring back many memories of Christmases from when I was a child.

I'm not sure if they even make chestnut cookers anymore, but a great alternative is a metal Popcorn Popper.

With a popcorn popper you can simply fill with a layer of chestnuts and then bake them over a fire pit or you could use it in the fireplace for yummy roasted chestnuts.

You can also use a chestnut roaster pan like this Paderno Black Carbon Steel 11 Inch Chestnut Pan. All you need to do is score your chestnuts and add a bit of salt. Hold them over the flames until they are nice and dark.

This pan can hold up to really hot flames and your chestnuts come out perfect.

Did you know chestnuts are healthy! Chestnuts are full of nutrition! The are a sweet nut that is loaded with protein and fiber. They are a softer nut, so they are a little bit chewy.

If you have never had Chestnuts, then maybe this Christmas would be a great year to start this new tradition. The smell of chestnuts has a way of pulling the family together.

Roasting Chestnuts in the oven

Here is how I make Chestnuts in the oven.

• I soak the chestnuts in a bowl of water for an hour or so before cooking.
• Pre-heat oven to 425
• Use a cutting board and cut an X in each chestnut. By scoring the chestnuts, it helps to let the steam out while cooking.
• Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minute.
• Eat nuts when the nuts are cool enough to handle. They should be easy to peal.

Enjoy!

Another alternative is to use a chestnut roaster like the Sassafras Superstone Chestnut Roaster in the image to the right. This roaster make everything simple. It steams the nuts so they are nice a moist.

Roasting Chestnuts over an open fire

Follow the directions above except you will use a long handled fry pan or Chestnut Pan. Cook over an open fire for approx. 20 minutes.