Happy Halloween! It's the spookiest night of all tonight and I feel like we're properly starting into the cold, dark months from tomorrow. So what we really need is a nice sweet treat! Here in Germany you can usually get sugar roasted almonds and other nuts at Christmas markets and similar markets and fairs. With covid cancelling quite a few of these over the last couple of years, I had to find out how to make these at home. To give them a more autumnal touch, I decided to use pumpkin seeds instead of the classic almonds. This literally uses like 5 basic ingredients and all the equipment you need is a pan and a stove :)

Here's the ingredients you need:

Add the water, sugar and spices into your pan and heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Now add the pumpkin seeds to the sugar water and cook on high heat, stirring occasionally. You will notice the syrup thickening with time.

Meanwhile, prepare a baking tray with greaseproof paper. You will leave your roasted pumpkin seeds to cool and set on this.

After about 10 to 15 minutes, the syrup will have thickened considerably. At this point it's important you keep stirring the seeds continiously so they don't stick to the pan and burn or build one big lump. Your kitchen will already be smelling divine at this point! :)

Once the sugar starts to properly coat the pumpkin seeds and starts to set and get crumbly, your pumpkin seeds are ready to come out of the pan. Pour them onto the baking sheet and spread them out evenly to cool down and set completely.

Be sure to wait for the seeds to cool down before tasting as the hot sugar mixture is really just that - painfully hot! ;)

These also make for a perfect little foodie christmas gift for friends and family or a lovely little winter snack for when you have some friends over. Have you tried making your own sugar roasted nuts or seeds? How did you get on? Leave me a comment if you try this recipe and enjoy :)

If you're looking for a sweet treat for your next picnic with friends or family, look no further! These tiny little apple pies are perfect to enjoy as a picnic treat or a sweet dessert served with some vanilla ice cream. They are easy to make and this recipe uses only plant based ingredients so everyone can enjoy them :)

Here's what you'll need:

In a big mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Using your hands, add in the margarine as well as the cold water bit by bit until your ingredients start to form a dough.

Form a ball out of the dough and wrap it in clingfilm. It will need to rest in the fridge for about an hour.

Meanwhile, peel and chop the apples into small chunks. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, corn starch and lemon juice to them and mix thoroughly. Put aside.

Preheat your oven to 200°C.

Roll out 2/3 of the dough on a floured surface and cut circes out of it. They should be big enough to form a sort of cup when put into a muffin tray. You need 12 of those. Once your dough circles have been added to the muffin tray, spoon the apple & cinnamon filling into it, filling it about two thirds of the way up.

Roll out the rest of the dough and cut it into strips to form a grid on top of your pies. This is optional of course and if you fancy making other shapes to top them you're more than welcome! 

Your pies will need to bake in the oven for about 20 -30 minutes. Keep an eye on them while they're in there :) Leave them to cool in the tray before removing and serving. 

There you go. Mini apple pies that look, smell AND taste amazing. :)

What's your favourite picnic food? Which recipes can you not live without when it comes to having friends over for a summer dinner outdoors? Leave me a comment and let me know :)