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Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.
Updated on February 25, 2020
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The sweet, comforting scent of roasting chestnuts is an instant pick-me-up on a cold evening. Want to roast them at home for the holidays? Here's how.
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How to Select and Slice Chestnuts
Chestnut season runs from early October through late December. Look for healthy, unwrinkled shells and a glossy brown surface. Dingy or mottled shells may indicate mold, and small pinholes likely indicate that worms have been drilling; avoid such nuts. Fresh chestnuts are firm to the touch and heavy in the hand, with no space between the shell and the meat of the nut inside.
First, using a sharp knife, make an incision about 1/8-inch deep through each chestnut shell, just into the flesh of the nut, and work your way almost around its circumference.
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How to Roast Chestnuts
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After slitting the shells, transfer the chestnuts to a chestnut roasting pan or a rimmed baking pan, and roast them in a 350-degree oven for about 35 minutes.
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How to Peel Chestnuts
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While the chestnuts are hot, remove and discard each shell and the papery skin.
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You're Done!
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Warm chestnuts are delicious by themselves, but you can also use them in these decadent holiday desserts and hearty soups:
Chocolate-Chestnut Mousse Cake
Chestnut Cake with Chocolate-Armagnac Glaze
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Chestnut Pie
Chestnuts are also delicious used raw or in chestnut cream for desserts. This is one of our favorite chestnut dessert recipes, a rich, sweet chestnut pie from pastry chef Sandro Micheli.
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How To Peel a Chestnut Quickly and Easily
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