Growing up in the south of France, chestnut country was nearby and it was an autumn treat that we shared every year at home. To do roasted chestnuts, my parents used to put the chestnuts directly in the oven without boiling them first, but it’s up to you, it saves a few minutes in the oven…

Here is a very simple recipe to enjoy chestnuts even when you are not lucky enough to have a fireplace to roast them. The oven allows to obtain hot and roasted chestnuts just as good but without the smell of fire…

The smell of roasted chestnuts still perfumes the kitchen and it is one of these autumnal sweets that I like so much! Well, this pleasure is also accompanied by some burns on the fingers when tasting these good hot chestnuts if you are as impatient as me ;-).

So I let you discover my recipe for baked chestnuts and I also take this opportunity to give you a little tip to easily sort the good chestnuts from the bad ones, before cooking, which avoids bad surprises and saves time.

Roasted Chestnuts {Homemade Recipe}

How to know if chestnuts are good to eat?

Chestnut quality control: To quickly and easily select chestnuts that are good to eat, dip them in a bowl of water. Chestnuts that float should be discarded because they are wormy or rotten (trust me!). This will save you time and disappointment after peeling your chestnuts.

What ingredients do you need to make this recipe for baked chestnuts?

fresh chestnuts only!

How to cook chestnuts in the oven?

For my part, I always start by boiling them for a few minutes, this allows them to remain more tender and it also saves time in the oven without them drying out.

So, 3 minutes in boiling water then 15 to 20 minutes in the oven, in revolving heat at 200°C, according to the size of your chestnuts.

Ingredients

500 g fresh chestnuts

Instructions

Start by checking that your chestnuts are good by dipping them in a bowl of water. Those that rise to the surface can be thrown away as they are bad.
With a knife, make a slit in the chestnuts so that they do not burst during cooking.
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and plunge the chestnuts in. Cook them for 3 minutes then drain them.
Preheat your oven to 200°C.
Then place the chestnuts on a baking sheet and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your chestnuts. You can stir them a bit in the middle of the cooking time.
Let cool for about 10 minutes so as not to burn yourself and enjoy.

Notes

To easily check which chestnuts are good to eat, dip them in a bowl of water. Chestnuts that float are to be thrown away, it’s a sign that they are wormy or rotten (trust me).

A little clarification for the cooking: I used a ventilated oven but you can also do it in a more traditional oven.

For those who wish to put the chestnuts directly in the oven without boiling them, it is quite possible, you will have to let them cook about 30 minutes. You can also peel them and then put them in the oven.

Personally, I wrote the recipe I prefer, above, because they are more tender and easier to peel by boiling them first.

Good hot chestnuts!

If you make my roasted recipe and like it, feel free to tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can see the result and share it back…

Just to let you know I am French and I translate my recipes, be indulgent if you see syntax errors and do not hesitate to leave me a comment so I can correct it. I hope you will like my recipes and enjoy your visit to my food blog!

Roasted Chestnuts {Homemade Recipe}