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Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

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This delicious roasted butternut squash recipe will be the highlight of your dinner table. Sweet squash and tangy apples are paired with tart cherries and crunchy walnuts. It’s literally a match made in heaven!

Recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries and Walnuts - Allergy Free Alaska

Fall is here! Our weather has cooled down and my electric blanket is already getting a ton of use! One of the things I love most about fall is the freshly harvested apples and squash… and the baking. I probably bake more in the fall than I do any other time. I mean, hello Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones!! 

Maybe the baking is a comfort thing?! Do you find yourself baking more in the fall, too? 

In celebration of the transition of the seasons, I wanted to create a simple and delicious side dish my whole family would love. I tell you what… you guys are going to love this Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries and Walnuts. My family gave it rave reviews! The flavor combination is right on point. Sweet brown sugar roasted butternut squash and apples, with dried tart cherries and crunchy toasted walnuts.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries, and Walnuts Recipe - Allergy Free Alaska

An absolutely delicious fall side dish, Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries & Walnuts.

Walnuts are a delicious and versatile ingredient that adds flavor, crunch and depth to sweet and savory dishes alike. They are perfect in this dish! Not to mention they are the champion of plant-based omega-3 among nuts, and are the only nut to provide a significant source of the essential nutrient (2.5 grams per ounce). I love walnuts!

How to peel a butternut squash

Just in case you’re not quite sure the best way to peel a butternut squash, I hope these directions and pictures will help you.

  1. Use a sharp knife (I use and recommend Global brand knives) to cut off both the top and bottom ends of the squash. 
  2. Use a peeler to peel the outer skin of the squash. This can be a little tricky, especially when the squashes can be large. Place one hand firmly on the end of the squash closest to you, and then peel from the middle of the squash out to the top end (be very careful of your fingers!). Do this until half of the squash is completely peeled. 
  3. Flip the squash around and peel the other side.  

Once the butternut squash is peeled, the hard part is done. Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, then cube into 1 inch pieces. Easy peasy! 

How to skin a butternut squash - Allergy Free Alaska

Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries, and Walnuts Recipe from Allergy Free Alaska

Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This delicious roasted butternut squash recipe with apples, tart cherries, and walnuts will be the highlight of your dinner table.

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash (about 3 lbs.), cubed into 1 inch pieces
  • 3 Pink Lady apples, peeled and cubed into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons of vegan butter, melted (or ghee or butter for non-vegan)
  • 2 tablespoons organic brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried tart cherries (or cranberries)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the cubed butternut squash and apples in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Drizzle with melted butter, then sprinkle with organic brown sugar, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg. Toss to coat thoroughly.
  4. Pour the contents of the bowl onto the parchment lined baking sheet, and use a spatula to spread it out in an even layer.
  5. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once. At the end of the baking time, pierce 1-2 pieces of squash with a fork, to ensure it is soft. If it is not soft, bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
  6. Add the roughly chopped walnuts and dried tart cherries and bake an additional 5 minutes.
© Mēgan Ancheta
Category: Side Dishes
 

Roasted Butternut Squash with Apples, Tart Cherries & Walnuts - Allergy Free Alaska

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Charlotte Moore

    WOW!! This looks like it would be very delicious. I have never tried butternut squash. I have used yellow squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and cushaw. My husband planted cumshaw a few years ago and we love it. He planted more this year. They are HUGE! HA!!

    Reply

    • Megan

      Hi Charlotte! Thank you! I’ve never tried cushaw squash before! Now I’ll have to try to track one down. 😉 How awesome to have your own garden! Enjoy!

      Reply

  4. Jerre Repass

    Hi girlfriend, Not so cold in Arkansas yet; just into the rice and soybean harvest. Recipe looks good, I’ll be using pecans off my own tree instead of walnuts and probably simplify with pumpkin pie spice, one of my favorite shortcuts.Thanks for the recipe, I brag about you all the time and am never without some of your bread in the freezer. Jerre (You may remember we had that little discussion about tongs 🙂

    Reply

    • Megan

      Oh Jerre, I read your message and laughed and laughed…. the tongs. 😉 How could I forget?! Your substitutions sound wonderful too. Thanks so much for commenting! (((hugs)))

      Reply

  16. Michele

    Made my take on this recipe for our Thanksgiving dinner today. It was a hit! Didn’t have time to roast the veggies so I cooked the butternut squash and two apples cut into cubes in the microwave with a little water. I drained the extra water from them and added them with some pre-cooked (about 3/4 cup measured dry before cooking) red quinoa, the other ingredients in the recipe, and I added about 2 tbs maple syrup, a pinch of salt, and about a tsp lemon juice. Was yummy hot and cold. Going to try the roasted version soon.

    Reply

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