20 Best Chestnut Recipes (2024)

These deliciously different chestnut recipes will make you fall in love with the nutritious nut.

Rustic and earthy, chestnuts add a sweet nutty flavor to any recipe. They’re also packed with vitamin C, fiber, and potassium.

20 Best Chestnut Recipes (1)

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Snacks, sides, mains, or desserts – chestnuts are a delicious addition to any dish.

These 20 chestnut recipes will give you plenty of culinary inspiration if you’re new to the nut.

Keep it simple and satisfying with roasted chestnuts, or broaden your taste horizons with fun and festive chestnut cheesecake.

If you’re serving a crowd, you might want to whip up some chocolate-covered chestnuts or an impressive chestnut risotto.

There’s a chestnut dish for everyone on this list. These nutty nibbles are too good not to share!

1. Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts are a classic winter warmer.

Served piping hot, straight from the oven, they’re an amazingly cozy treat.

Sprinkle them with sea salt and dive in. You’ll gobble these up by the handful!

2. Chestnut Soup

This nutty soup makes a great fall appetizer.

Made from pureed chestnuts, it’s thick, creamy, and cozy.

Garnish with salty bacon and aromatic chives before serving for a dreamy dish of warming goodness.

3. Chestnut Pasta with Pork and Cabbage

This hearty recipe is a traditional Italian dish from the northern mountain regions.

It’s made with chestnut flour, shaped into thick ribbons, and boiled until beautifully tender. If you love authentic, rustic pasta, this is a must-try.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

4. Marrons Glaces (Candied Chestnuts)

A popular French candy, marrons glaces are festive treats traditionally enjoyed at Christmas.

For those of us who aren’t French chefs, this recipe makes things easy.

The sugar syrup does all the work here.

Simply dunk your chestnuts in the syrup, let them soak for a few days, and then dry them in the oven before eating. Bon appetit!

5. Karyoka (Chocolate Covered Chestnuts)

These Turkish treats are to die for.

They’re soft balls of pureed chestnuts and sugar, coated with a hard chocolate shell and sprinkled with pistachios.

You could make them as a gift for loved ones, or eat them all yourself. No one needs to know.

6. Chocolate Chip Chestnut Cake

This fluffy cake is all about chestnut goodness.

It’s sweetened with a sugary chestnut puree, making it that much more moist and delicious.

And if that’s not enough, there are plenty of dark chocolate chips in the batter.

This is a cake to fall in love with and eat in one sitting.

7. Castagnaccio Pugliese (Chestnut Flour Cake)

An Italian classic, this gluten-free cake is a dense dessert with plenty of rich flavor.

It’s made with chestnut flour, olive oil, dried fruit, and nuts. Chewy, crunchy, soft, and sweet – there’s a little bit of everything in each delicious bite.

8. Boiled Chestnuts

If you’re looking for healthier snacks, look no further.

With a bowl of these boiled chestnuts on hand, you’ll have a nutritious alternative when carb cravings strike.

Fancy something savory? Add sea salt or cajun flavorings for a spicy treat. Do you have a hankering for the sweet stuff?

Sprinkle them with cinnamon or a natural sweetener like stevia.

9. Roasted Pumpkin Chestnut Soup

This nourishing soup has all the flavors of fall.

It’s a dreamy blend of creamy pumpkin, nutty chestnut, and seasonal herbs.

Swirl with a dash of cream before serving for an elegant appetizer or hearty main.

10. Chestnut Cookies

In Italy, these cookies are known as calzoni di castagne. In the U.S, you can just call them insanely delicious.

They’re more like sweet pastry pockets than cookies made from flaky dough wrapped around a chestnut, coffee, and chocolate filling.

You’ll need an air fryer for this decadent dessert, but any kind of deep fryer would work in a pinch.

11. Chestnut Brownies

Show your gluten-intolerant friends and family how much you love them with these grain-free brownies.

They’re soft and gooey (like all good brownies should be) with a melt-in-the-mouth fudgy texture.

They’re also topped with a silky chestnut ganache, just to make things really special.

12. Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts

Brussels sprouts are a true team player, blending nicely with all sorts of other ingredients.

You may have paired them with bacon in the past, but now’s the time for a change.

Pan-fry them with a dash of cream and some soft chestnuts for a truly impressive Thanksgiving side.

13. Chestnut Cheesecake

This lusciously rich cheesecake is one for special occasions.

The creamy chestnut cake is layered over a cookie crumb and then drizzled with a syrupy glaze.

And there’s a lot going on in this glaze. Nutty chestnuts, zesty lime, warming ginger, and cardamom make for an intensely flavorful topping.

This is an unforgettable combo that’ll soon become a holiday favorite.

14. Chestnut Rice

This Japanese rice is the perfect accompaniment to curries, stews, and other aromatic dishes.

It’s a warming bowl of fluffy, sticky short-grain rice, flavored with freshly boiled chestnuts and black sesame seeds.

15. Chestnut Risotto with Butternut Squash

Chestnuts add nutty depth to this creamy risotto.

Sweetened with tender chunks of butternut squash and flavored with fresh herbs, this is a dreamy dish.

It’s also very adaptable and is equally welcome at family suppers or fancy dinners.

16. Chestnut Log

Make the holiday season super special with this heavenly chestnut log.

It’s a rich blend of pureed chestnuts, amaretto, pistachios, and spices, all coated in a thick chocolate shell and drizzled with white icing.

Make this indulgent dessert for a crowd. A small slice goes a long way.

17. Chocolate Chestnut Mousse

Don’t be tied to the stove over the holidays, serve this make-ahead mousse and get on with the celebrations.

This easy but elegant dessert is a rich blend of chocolate, chestnuts, cream, and brandy.

There are no eggs, no cooking, and no hard labor involved. Just chill, serve, and gobble it down!

18. Chestnut and Mushroom Casserole

This hearty plant-based casserole will have both vegetarians and carnivores begging for more.

It’s packed with seasonal ingredients like butternut squash, wild mushrooms, shallots, and thyme, alongside a generous helping of chestnuts.

19. Chestnut Chocolate Truffles

I love giving food as gifts, and these colorful chestnut truffles are the perfect present.

You can dress them up with sprinkles, coconut flakes, or chopped nuts.

This is a great weekend project to do with kids. Just be careful they don’t eat all the results!

20. Chestnut Smoothie

This 4-ingredient smoothie makes a great Christmas co*cktail.

It’s a thick, silky blend of chestnuts, yogurt, almond milk, and bananas.

You might want to drink it for breakfast on Christmas morning or add a splash of rum and sip it over dinner. Either way, this is one blissful beverage!

20 Best Chestnut Recipes (3)

Did you like the recipe?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 5

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Thanks!

Share on social media:

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Related posts

25 Water Chestnut Recipes You Won’t Want to Pass Up17 Best Mini Muffin Recipes25 Chicken and Bacon Recipes to Keep on Repeat20 Healthy Chicken and Tomato Recipes17 Best Purple Potato Recipes You’ll Ever Try23 Best Chinese Sausage Recipes and Ideas

20 Best Chestnut Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How many chestnuts should you eat a day? ›

Just 10 roasted chestnuts include 17% of what you need for the day — a major plus considering most of us don't get nearly enough. Americans eat on average about 16 grams of fiber per day, half of the recommended amount of 25 to 30 grams.

What can I do with too many chestnuts? ›

Top 10 chestnut recipe ideas
  1. Chestnut stuffing. ...
  2. Roast dinners. ...
  3. Veggie pastries. ...
  4. Chestnut pasta. ...
  5. Chestnut risotto. ...
  6. Soups and stews. ...
  7. Chocolate & chestnut torte. ...
  8. Mont Blanc.
Dec 5, 2019

Should you soak chestnuts before baking? ›

If you're short on time, tossing them straight into the oven will yield flavorful results, but chef and food stylist Carla Contreras says steaming them first is the easiest way to get the shells off. Her go-to method is to soak them in hot water, which allows them to steam while cooking.

When should you not eat chestnuts? ›

Raw chestnuts are safe to eat for most people. However, they do contain tannic acid, which means they could cause stomach irritation, nausea, or liver damage if you have liver disease or experience a lot of kidney problems.

Are too many chestnuts bad for you? ›

Not only are chestnuts healthy, but they are also delicious and easy to add to your diet. They have a mildly sweet flavor and soft yet firm texture. Although you can eat chestnuts raw, they are high in tannins, which may cause digestive issues or other complications in individuals sensitive to tannins.

What is the healthiest way to eat chestnuts? ›

What is the healthiest way to cook chestnuts? Use a sharp knife to cut an 'x' in the top of each chestnut, then roast them in n the oven at 400°F until the skin peels away from the meat and the center is soft enough to pierce easily. Even better if you can cook them over a fire, but oven roasting will do.

Why do you soak chestnuts? ›

I score the chestnut peels first and soak the chestnuts in water before roasting. The residual water left in the drained chestnuts creates steam in the hot pan, keeping the chestnuts from drying out and making them easier to peel.

Can I freeze raw chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts can be frozen with or without their shell, raw or cooked. Regardless of form, they can remain frozen for 2 to 3 months. If you intend to use your frozen chestnuts for roasting, then it's ideal to leave the shells intact.

How do the French eat chestnuts? ›

They've perfected the culinary art of chestnut cooking. There are multitudes of ways to eat chestnuts. Roasted, baked, soup, sweet puree, candied, or dried and milled to make flour for a whole array of cakes and breads. I've even encountered chestnut beer!

Is it better to roast or boil chestnuts? ›

Oven-roasting chestnuts is the best way to bring out the fullest flavour (if you want to eat them straight away or chop them into your stuffing mix). Boiling them will give a smooth texture for cooking in soups or purées.

What do you eat with chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts compliment the flavor of meats, game, and poultry and add a wonderful sweet richness to soups, stews, and dishes with vegetables. Chestnuts are also eaten as a stuffing or cooked with pheasant, duck, goose, and chicken.

Why do you boil chestnuts before roasting? ›

You can boil the chestnuts for about 20 minutes to loosen the skins, they are often easier to peel after boiling. Scoop them from the water a few at a time and leave until cool enough to handle before peeling. The peeled chestnuts can be roasted for about 20 minutes, to add extra flavour.

Why are my chestnuts still hard after roasting? ›

When cooked, the shells will burst open, and the chestnut will be golden brown. Roast until the shells begin to peel back where you cut into them. “Keep a careful watch to ensure they are not overcooked or undercooked,” Patton says. “Either will result in hard chestnuts and the inner skin will be difficult to remove.”

How many minutes does it take to roast chestnuts? ›

Tip the nuts onto a baking sheet or into a roasting tin and arrange them cut-side up. Roast for 30 mins. The cuts should open up and the shell will start to peel back. Leave the nuts in the tin to cool down to warm – they will be very hot inside.

Is it OK to eat chestnuts everyday? ›

Improves cardiovascular health

They reduce any inflammation in the body which reduces any risk of strokes, heart attacks, blood clots, arthrosclerosis and coronary disease. People with a history of heart disease in the family can benefit by eating a handful of these delicious nuts every day.

How often should you eat chestnuts? ›

You can eat as many chestnuts as you want as long as they are boiled/cooked properly but preferably boiled then roasted.

Are chestnuts healthier than almonds? ›

Chestnut Benefits

Chestnuts are mostly carbohydrates. Because carbohydrates have fewer calories per gram than fat—4 calories vs. 9 calories—chestnuts are far lower in calories than other nuts. A half-cup of chestnuts has 175 calories compared with 414 calories for a half-cup of almonds.

Are chestnuts full of sugar? ›

Chestnuts have certain nutritional characteristics similar to those of cereals. Even though they do not contain gluten, they do have a high content of sugars, especially starch. Chestnuts are rich in fiber, as well as mineral salts such as potassium, phosphorus, and small quantities of iron.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5988

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.