NYC bakery wants to 'bring chestnuts back into New York culture'

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – You've heard of chestnuts roasting on an open fire... but have you ever had one?

Though the nuts are a long part of Christmas lore, they aren't nearly as popular as they used to be. But one duo is trying to change that.

"Our goal is to bring chestnuts back into New York culture," said Sasha Sherman, co-founder of The Great Chestnut Experiment. 

The team makes chestnut-forward pastries and treats – like simple chestnuts in a cone, chestnut swirl brownies and even a hot drink called Chesnog. They work with local cafes to get the items on the menu. 

"Chestnuts were once an abundant crop in New York," said Sherman. "They were wiped out by a blight, so at the Chesnut Experiment, our goal is to bring them back into the heart of culture so we can plant more trees."

The Great Chestnut Experiment doesn't have a brick-and-mortar storefront but works with city bakeries and cafes to create their chestnut-based treats.

"We're sharing chestnuts that are locally grown working with farmers to bring chestnuts back to New Yorkers," Sherman said. 

You can learn more about their mission by clicking here.