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)

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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.

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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)

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20 Best Chestnut Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with too many chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts are great for snacking on, adding to salads, or mixing into stuffing with cranberries or apples. You can braise them with meat, or saute with garlic and vegetables. They can be used to make a wonderful winter soup, or chopped and stirred into a warm risotto… but the possibilities don't stop there.

Do chestnuts lower blood pressure? ›

As discussed earlier, chestnuts contain potassium and this is one of the most important minerals when it comes to lowering blood pressure.

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.

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.

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.

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 is the healthiest way to eat chestnuts? ›

Cooking them before you eat them, though not required, is strongly recommended, says Applegate. “It makes the starch more digestible.” The best cooking method depends on how you plan to use them, Kamp says. For snacks and salads, you want to keep the chestnuts dry, so roasting is her pick.

Should diabetics eat chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts have a low glycemic index and are rich in fiber, making them an ideal option for uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Eating a high-fiber diet helps you avoid sudden blood sugar spikes by ensuring that your body absorbs the starches slowly. This is especially beneficial for people with diabetes.

Are chestnuts bad for high cholesterol? ›

Digestive health – chestnuts reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels. They also reduce the risk of constipation and intestinal complications such as diverticulosis.

Why do you boil chestnuts? ›

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.

Why are my chestnuts still hard after roasting? ›

If you over-cook OR under-cook them, they will get hard and the inner skin will be very difficult to remove. Now comes the hard part: peeling them! You need to peel them while they are still warm. Let them cool just enough so that you can touch them, then start peeling.

Can you eat chestnuts raw? ›

How to cook chestnuts. Fresh chestnuts must always be cooked before use and are never eaten raw, owing to their tannic acid content. You need to remove the chestnuts from their skins by either boiling or roasting them.

Why do you soak chestnuts before roasting? ›

The soaking period allows the shells to fill up with water. The water in turn produces a steaming effect when the chestnuts roast, forcing the shells to burst away from the nut. Many recipes and tips I've encountered throughout my cooking life call for a brief soak, 30 minutes or so.

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 you eat too many roasted chestnuts? ›

However, chestnuts are still considered a higher carb nut. While eating a small to moderate quantity of chestnuts may offer these benefits, consuming too many chestnuts frequently may counter these health benefits. Chestnuts are a good source of fiber, which may help balance your blood sugar levels and prevent spikes.

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.

Is it OK to eat a lot of chestnuts? ›

However, chestnuts are still considered a higher carb nut. While eating a small to moderate quantity of chestnuts may offer these benefits, consuming too many chestnuts frequently may counter these health benefits. Chestnuts are a good source of fiber, which may help balance your blood sugar levels and prevent spikes.

How do you preserve chestnuts? ›

If you find yourself unable to consume all the fresh chestnuts within a couple of weeks, freezing them for long-term storage is an excellent option. Simply place the uncooked nuts in a plastic ziplock bag, remove excess air, seal it, and freeze.

Are too many chestnuts bad for you? ›

Raw chestnuts are safe for most people to eat, but because they contain tannins, they may cause digestive disturbance and nausea in some individuals.

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