• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About

Boulder Locavore logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Holiday ยป Christmas ยป Roasting Chestnuts: Everything You Need to Know

    LAST UPDATED: November 4, 2022 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: December 5, 2018 By Toni Dash 82 Comments

    Roasting Chestnuts: Everything You Need to Know

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Roasting Chestnuts title image

    Roasting Chestnuts is easy in the oven and shouldn’t be missed as a holiday treat! This guide has Everything You Need to Know!

    Roasting Chestnuts title image
    WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
    Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes every week)!
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading
    Roasting Chestnuts title image

    You’ve probably sung about ‘chestnuts roasting over an open fire’ but have you eaten roasted chestnuts? OR did you know you can roast chestnuts yourself?

    They are a fun treat at during the holidays and the oven is perfect for roasting chestnuts!

    Roasted chestnuts are a delicious and unique signature of the holiday dining-scape, as well as very easy to prepare.

    Jump to:
    • When are Chestnuts Available?
    • Where to Buy Chestnuts
    • How Long to Keep Chestnuts Before Roasting?
    • What Do Roasted Chestnuts Taste Like?
    • How to Eat Roasted Chestnuts
    • Roasting Chestnuts: How to Make an X and Why
    • Roasting Chestnuts: How to Do It
    • How to Peel Roasted Chestnuts
    • More Recipes Youโ€™ll Love
    • Recipe

    The chestnut itself is a large, soft, sweet-tasting nut enclosed in a beautiful, hard mahogany-looking shell.

    With a few tips you can start a new tradition to go along with the Christmas Carol!

    Vintage pie pan full of Chestnuts

    When are Chestnuts Available?

    In the United States, chestnuts begin showing up in grocery stores around Thanksgiving. In other areas of the world they are available at different times of the year.

    You will find them in grocery stores now (available as ‘organic’ too), ready to be oven-roasted and enjoyed as part of your holiday celebrations.

    Where to Buy Chestnuts

    You will find chestnuts in grocery stores and Farmer’s Markets. Often outdoor Christmas markets and fairs will sell them already roasted too.

    Roasted Chestnuts close up

    How Long to Keep Chestnuts Before Roasting?

    Chestnuts should be kept in the refrigerator only for a few days before roasting.

    What Do Roasted Chestnuts Taste Like?

    The tender meat of the chestnut has a slightly sweet flavor more like a sweet potato than another type of nut.

    Roasted chestnuts also are a bit spongey rather than crunchy. They are a wonderful flavor of the season that everyone should try!

    How to Eat Roasted Chestnuts

    They can be eaten plain or added to dishes like stuffing for a sweet crunch.

    Peeled roasted chestnut (chestnut meat)

    Roasting Chestnuts: How to Make an X and Why

    You’ll notice both in these photos and in most photos of roasting chestnuts there is an X cut into the chestnut.

    If the chestnuts are not scored, they can explode due to the pressure inside as they cook.

    That’s easy to avoid. Making an X avoids the pressure build up AND makes them easy to peel after roasting.

    I have read other methods suggesting using a dull knife; ignore that advice!

    The outer shell of the chestnut takes some effort to penetrate.

    Though it is a thin shell, it’s smooth requiring a tight grip and a sharp knife to slice through it; a sharp serrated knife works best.

    Roasting Chestnuts: How to Do It

    The great news is that roasting chestnuts is easy with a few simple steps!

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

    STEP 2. Cut the chestnuts to vent

    With a serrated knife (a bread knife works great), slice a large ‘X’ on the flat side of the chestnuts.

    NOTE: Be sure you slice through to the nut itself which allows steam to escape when cooking and easy peeling.

    Chestnuts with an X before roasting

    Place scored chestnuts on a baking sheet with the X facing up.

    STEP 3. Bake

    Bake until the shell of the chestnut is peeling back around the ‘X’ (depending on the chestnuts aproximately 15-25 minutes). Refer to the photos below.

    Baking sheet of Roasting Chestnuts

    STEP 4. Steam

    Remove from oven and place a kitchen towel over the pan allowing them to steam slightly for 15 minutes.

    How to Peel Roasted Chestnuts

    When peeling roasted chestnuts there is the outer shell and a thin inner covering that comes off easily after this roasting method.

    Chestnuts can be peeled when cool enough to handle (peel by pulling the shell away at the ‘X’). Roasted chestnuts are best eaten right after roasting (versus saving them for another day).

    More Recipes You’ll Love

    • Wassail: a Classic Holiday Drink
    • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: The Best Method Ever!
    • Cranberry Goat Cheese Party Appetizer
    • Hot Chocolate Mix: An Easy Recipe for Home and Gifts
    • Candied Pecans
    • Instant Pot Caramel Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Quiche Lorraine
    • Eggnog Magic Cake

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and PINTEREST!

    Recipe

    Roasting Chestnuts title image

    Roasting Chestnuts

    Roasted chestnuts are a signature of the holiday season. This easy method leaves them easy to peel and perfectly cooked.
    5 from 70 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 (1/4 pound serving per person)
    Calories: 222kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Chestnuts (edible variety from a store, in the quantity you desire)

    Supplies

    • serrated knife
    • rimmed baking sheet
    • clean kitchen towel

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
    • With a serrated knife (a bread knife works great), slice a large ‘X’ on the flat side of the chestnuts. Be sure you slice through to the nut itself which allows steam to escape when cooking and easy peeling.
    • Place scored chestnuts on a baking sheet with the X facing up. Bake until the shell of the chestnuts are peeling back around the ‘X’(depending on the chestnuts aproximately 15-25 minutes). Refer to photos.
    • Remove from oven and place a kitchen towel over the pan allowing them to steam slightly for 15 minutes. Chestnuts can be peeled when cool enough to handle (peel by pulling the shell away at the ‘X’). Chestnuts are best eaten right after roasting (versus saving them for another day).

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 548mg | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 45.6mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Roasting Chestnuts title image
    WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
    Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes every week)!
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: December 8, 2012

    « Mexican Chorizo Lentil Stew
    Homemade Crรจme de Menthe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amber says

      November 23, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      They turned out hard, after they cooled, like an uncooked bean. I need them for 20 minutes when the edges turned and covers them with a towel for 15 to 20 minutes. I’m not sure what the trick is. Maybe I used the wrong being sheet or maybe I should have let them cool and covered in another room temperature surface. I don’t get it. I’ve tried to make chestnuts several times in the oven and pan and none seem to work.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        November 23, 2022 at 4:24 pm

        Hi Amber. I’m wondering if your chestnuts were fresh (sometimes they might not be and it’s hard to know) and I’m sure you purchased edible chestnuts? Did you score them with an X and bake them until the X begins to peel back? I wasn’t able to completely follow your method in your comment but I’ve never had the result you mentioned. Since you mention you’ve tried to make chestnuts multiple times unsuccessfully I am curious about the quality of the freshness of the chestnuts, oven temperature accuracy, steaming method and time. As you can see from the comments others have had success with this method so it feels like something may be going wrong as you mentioned in your comment. I’m so sorry they didn’t turn out for you! You might also check your oven temperature by adding an auxiliary thermometer in to see if the oven is actually cooking at the temperature you’ve set the oven to.

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    5 from 70 votes (40 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Picture of Toni

    Welcome! Iโ€™m Toni Dash. Iโ€™m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavoreยฎ. Iโ€™m so glad you are here!

    More about me โ†’

    Featured on....

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Grilling Recipes

    • Ultimate Burger Grill Guide title photo with burgers on a charcoal grill Ultimate Burger Grill Guide: How to Grill the Perfect Burger
    • steak on grill with flames How to Grill Steak Perfectly: Everything You Need to Grill Like a Pro
    • grilled porterhouse steak title Perfect Porterhouse Steak on the Grill
    • Grilled Kabob Recipes on grate (titled image) Grilled Kabob Recipes: 20 Must Make Recipes for Summer
    • bruschetta chicken title image Bruschetta Chicken recipe โ€“ Baked, Grilled or Stove Top
    • Chicken Shish Kabobs title Easy Grilled Chicken Shish Kabobs

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Ultimate Burger Grill Guide title photo with burgers on a charcoal grill Ultimate Burger Grill Guide: How to Grill the Perfect Burger
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Recipe
    • homemade ketchup title image The Best Homemade Ketchup โ€“ Made with Fresh Tomatoes!
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright ยฉ 2010-2025 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.