Food & Cooking Cooking How-Tos & Techniques How to Roast and Peel Chestnuts By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 25, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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. 01 of 06 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. 02 of 06 How to Roast Chestnuts 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. 03 of 06 How to Peel Chestnuts While the chestnuts are hot, remove and discard each shell and the papery skin. 04 of 06 You're Done! 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 Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Compote and Roasted Chestnuts Chestnut-Mushroom Soup View Recipe 05 of 06 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. Get the Chestnut Pie with Rum Cream Recipe 06 of 06 How To Peel a Chestnut Quickly and Easily Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit