Description
Roasted butternut squash with cranberries and pecans delivers a delightful autumn medley of flavors. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a comforting side dish you’ll savor during cool seasonal gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large butternut squash or 2 small (4–5 cups / 946–1184 ml cubed squash)
- 3 tbsps / 45 ml butter
- 2 ½ tbsps / 37.5 ml brown sugar
- ½ cup / 60 g pecans
- ⅓ cup / 40 g dried cranberries
- 1 ½ tsps / 7.5 ml cinnamon
- ½ tsp / 2.5 ml salt
- ½ tsp / 2.5 ml pepper
- ¼ tsp / 1.25 ml cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to facilitate even roasting and easy cleanup.
- Glaze Creation: Whisk melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, seasoning salt, ground pepper, and cayenne into a fragrant, spicy mixture that will coat the butternut squash.
- Squash Preparation: Uniformly cube butternut squash, then generously toss with approximately three-quarters of the prepared spice mixture to ensure comprehensive flavor absorption.
- Initial Roasting: Arrange seasoned squash in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, then roast in a preheated 400°F oven, stirring midway to promote even caramelization and prevent burning.
- Topping Integration: Combine whole pecans and cranberries with remaining spice mixture, then sprinkle over partially roasted squash during the final roasting stage to infuse additional flavor and create textural contrast.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from oven when squash becomes tender, pecans turn golden, and cranberries soften slightly, presenting a warm, aromatic autumn-inspired side dish with complex flavor profiles and inviting visual appeal.
Notes
- Squash Selection: Choose firm, unblemished butternut squash with smooth, even-colored skin for the best roasting results.
- Uniform Cutting: Cut squash into consistent 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and beautiful caramelization.
- Spice Balance: Adjust cayenne pepper based on heat preference, starting with a small amount to control spiciness.
- Prevent Burning: Use parchment paper and maintain single-layer spacing to achieve perfect roasting without scorching.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg