10 Savory and Sweet Vegan Chestnut Recipes for Christmas! (2024)

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… we’ve all heard the classic carol, and chestnuts are a key part of a Christmas menu that put us in the festive mood. Whether you serve them in savory or sweet dishes, entrees, or desserts, they’ll be a delicious addition to your holiday table. We hope you enjoy these recipes from our awesome bloggers and our Food Monster App!

1. Pumpkin-Cinnamon-Chestnut Rolls

Image Source: Pumpkin-Cinnamon-Chestnut Rolls

These Vegan Pumpkin-Cinnamon-Chestnut RollsfromTrue Foods Blog are a sweet treat that does not come with all the sugar of your typical cinnamon roll! Because of the spelt grain, and the low amount of added sugar, and fat, these autumn rolls are a sweet treat that you can enjoy with good conscience. Topping them with the glaze makes them even more amazing!

2. Chestnut and Lentil Loaf

Image Source: Chestnut and Lentil Loaf

The lentils and the rest of the ingredients in thisChestnut and Lentil LoaffromKim Sujovolsky will give you nothing less than the meatiest vegan meatloaf. Although there are endless ways to make a lentil loaf, this one is using chestnuts, which makes this dish perfect for the holiday season, and really good next to any gravies or pan sauces, not to mention the simple addition of a little extra ketchup on the side.

Get the Blessed Cookbook!

The ultimate Christmas cookbook is here!Blessed: Plant-based recipes for the most magical Christmas Ever contains the perfect recipes for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, Christmas morning, and scrumptious leftovers. From holiday classics like pineapple-baked ‘ham’, holiday loaves, and chocolate yule logs, to new flavors like saffron risotto, tropical Christmas fruit cake, and Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil. This magical cookbook offers everything you need to create a stunning holiday spread!

3. Mini Chocolate and Chestnut Stacks

Image Source: Mini Chocolate and Chestnut Stacks

If you are looking to add a little extra excitement to your dessert tray, look no further. These Mini Chocolate and Chestnut StacksfromPamela Higgins are the perfect bite-sized dessert and are as tasty as they are impressive. The rich chocolate cake sandwiches and delicate homemade chestnut cream in an elegantly delicious treat.

4. Chestnut Mushroom Stuffing

Image Source: Chestnut Mushroom Stuffing

Stuffing is another one of those Thanksgiving dishes that’s usually drowned in butter – but it doesn’t have to be. A good quality olive oil works very well. The trick is to make sure your other ingredients are packed with flavor. Try it out with thisChestnut Mushroom StuffingfromCathy Elton!

5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Apples and Chestnuts

Image Source: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Apples and Chestnuts

It’s that time of year! The time to roast chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, and apples. If you aren’t sure if you like Brussels sprouts, giveRoasted Brussels Sprouts With Apples and ChestnutsfromMichaell Johnson a try!Despite their reputation, they have a pretty mild flavor when roasted. If you are trying to convince your kids to try them, remind them they are mini cabbages made bite-size just for them. And pretty cute too! Make sure you make this dish on a cookie sheet for maximizing your crispiness efforts.

6. Orange Layer Cake With Chestnut Frosting

Image Source: Orange Layer Cake With Chestnut Frosting

ThisOrange Layer Cake With Chestnut FrostingfromMelina Kutelas is a meeting between two fantastic seasonal flavors: chestnut and orange. The whole wheat sponge cakes are infused with orange zest and juice. Those are layered with a decadent buttercream frosting made from chestnuts and coconut oil. When it comes to decoration, get as creative as you want! Whether you go with a dusting of cinnamon and cocoa or a drizzle of melted chocolate with sliced oranges, it’s perfectly picturesque and delicious.

7.Chestnut and Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Lemon-Parsley Oil

Image Source: Chestnut and Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Lemon-Parsley Oil

ThisChestnut and Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Lemon-Parsley OilfromNancy Partington pairs sweet, nutty chestnuts with earthy roasted cauliflower, the usual aromatics (onion, celery, garlic), and a pinch of herbs de Provence. It is rich, earthy, hearty, and very satisfying on a cold winter day. For a bright, punchy element, swirl each bowl with parsley-lemon oil, and a scattering of crispy sprouted pumpkin seeds, and a two-tone gomasio that adds crunch and a savory-salty finish.

8. Savory Hazelnut Chestnut Spread

Image Source: Savory Hazelnut Chestnut Spread

The perfect topping for toast, crackers, or bagels for a savory snack, breakfast, or a side for your soup! This Savory Hazelnut Chestnut SpreadfromCamille David is packed with protein and it has all of the delicious flavors of winter.

9. Creamy Roasted Chestnut and Potato Soup

Image Source: Creamy Roasted Chestnut and Potato Soup

Need some serious comfort food? This fillingCreamy Roasted Chestnut and Potato SoupfromTori Cooper embodies all the flavors of the chilly season. Chestnuts simmered until soft and puréed with roasted potatoes, aromatics, and fresh savory herbs like rosemary and sage. A swirl of coconut cream makes it extra rich and cozy — perfect for fighting the cold while embracing the holiday season.

10. Chocolate, Coffee, and Chestnut Torte

Image Source: Chocolate, Coffee, and Chestnut Torte

With an oat, date, and almond base topped with a chocolate torte brought to life by espresso, this combination works incredibly well with chunky, sweet chestnuts inside. Gold glitter is the finishing touch for this pretty, rich Chocolate, Coffee, and Chestnut TortefromPamela Higgins.

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content.Click here to Support Us

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

  • Eat Less Meat:DownloadFood Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of ourfavorite vegan cookbooks.
  • Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint:Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands likeTiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
  • Support Independent Media:Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please considersupporting usby donating!
  • Sign a Petition:Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list ofmust-sign petitionsto help people, animals, and the planet.
  • Stay Informed:Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing toour newsletter!
  • Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!
10 Savory and Sweet Vegan Chestnut Recipes for Christmas! (2024)

FAQs

What dessert flavors go well with chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts are rarely on their own in cakes and desserts. Other fruit, especially pear, also go well, and ingredients such as chocolate and different types of whipped cream also contribute to exalting the nuances and flavours of chestnuts.

Are chestnuts sweet or savory? ›

We have the Romans to thank for Britain's abundance of Sweet Chestnut trees – they highly rated chestnuts as a cookery ingredient and rightly so. These beautiful, shiny nuts are wonderfully versatile and, in spite of what the name may suggest, they are equally at home in sweet or savoury dishes.

What can I do with an abundance of chestnuts? ›

Chestnuts can be pureed into soups, stuffing for your Sunday roasts, delicious desserts, to make chestnut purée, chestnut paté, or even turned into a gluten free flour for cakes or to make pasta (check out our Chestnut Flour Pasta).

Do you have to soak chestnuts before roasting? ›

Roasting chestnuts can give them a tender texture while bringing out their natural sweetness. You don't necessarily need to soak them before roasting them, but it can go a long way in helping you to remove the shells after they're done cooking.

What do Italians do with chestnuts? ›

They can be candied or puréed and sweetened for desserts. They are used to make fritelli (fritters), and they are also used as a substitute for potatoes in stews. Many Italian-Americans incorporate chestnuts into their Thanksgiving stuffing.

What do Chinese people do with chestnuts? ›

In cuisine, the chestnut is an important ingredient. Chestnuts can be roasted or made into flour for cakes and bread. Stewed chicken with chestnuts is also a famous dish in many regions of China.

What are the side effects of chestnuts? ›

American chestnut might cause some side effects such as stomach and intestinal problems, kidney and liver damage. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American chestnut is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding.

What chestnuts can you not eat? ›

Sweet chestnuts are edible, but horse chestnuts are poisonous. If eaten, they can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and throat irritation. More than one in 10 cases of poisonous plants being mistaken for edible plants involve horse and sweet chestnuts.

Are chestnuts a Christmas food? ›

Chestnuts were synonymous with Christmas in the United States even before the popular carol hit airwaves. In fact, they were one of the most popular ingredients in American dishes throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and for good reason: the Eastern seaboard was covered in chestnut trees.

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 per person? ›

Compared to most nuts, chestnuts are lower in protein, fat and calories. Yet, one serving (about ten nuts) contains 36% DV (Daily Value, based on 2,000 calories per day) of antioxidant vitamin C, 17% DV of satiating dietary fiber, and a full 50% DV of manganese for healthy bones.

How do you get worms out of chestnuts? ›

Management: Weevil damage can be reduced by gathering nuts daily, and heating them to 120ºF for 20 to 30 minutes to kill larvae in the nuts. A cold treatment, holding nuts at 0ºF for four days may be effective, but it may affect the nuts' flavor.

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.

Is it better to boil or roast chestnuts? ›

You can either roast or boil chestnuts. Boiling will simply help you to remove the skins. Roasting will introduce more flavour into the chestnuts and is generally more preferred. Either way you need to start by cutting a small cross in the pointed end of each chestnut (a sharp vegetable knife is good for this).

Can you 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.

What are chestnuts good to eat with? ›

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.

What dessert flavors go well together? ›

  • Peanut butter and chocolate. This first flavor combination should come as no surprise: Peanut butter and chocolate is a timeless duo that conjures up feelings of comfort and nostalgia. ...
  • Strawberries and cream. ...
  • Caramel and chocolate. ...
  • Caramel and sea salt. ...
  • Raspberries and dark chocolate. ...
  • Pineapple and coconut.

What is the best taste for dessert combination? ›

Our Top 10 Classic Baking Flavour Combos
  • Mint and Chocolate. ...
  • Lemon and Blueberry. ...
  • Coconut and Lime. ...
  • Almond and Cherry. ...
  • Maple and Pecan. ...
  • Orange and Ginger. ...
  • Pistachio and Rosewater. ...
  • Bacon and Maple Syrup. The savoury, smoky, and salty taste of bacon is beautifully complemented by the sweet and rich flavours of maple syrup.

What do you eat sweet chestnuts with? ›

Roasted chestnuts taste great hot, particularly on a cold Christmassy day, so peel when they've cooled enough to handle, sprinkle them with a pinch of salt if you wish, and enjoy. You can also stir them into Brussels sprouts for the ultimate Christmas dinner side dish.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 5499

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.