#EatSeasonal, Autumn, Gluten-Free, Holiday, Side Dish, Sides, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter

Butternut Squash Bake with Cranberries and Apples

January 26, 2012 26 Comments

This Butternut Squash Bake with Cranberries and Apples wants to be the star of your Thanksgiving or holiday table. Loaded with seasonal flavors, it’s sure to be a hit with one and all.

Awhile back I was part of a cooking club that met monthly. It was such a fun group and everyone always went all out with their recipes. This recipe is based on my friend Jenny’s. She brought a delicious, autumnal butternut squash bake with cranberries and apples. So simple, so satisfying, and the best use I could think of for all of those seasonal ingredients. This is my take on Jenny’s recipe – I’ve long since lost her actual recipe, so I made it up as best as I could remember.

Once Halloween is over and the leaves on my giant maple tree have covered my lawn in a blanket of crimson, I know it’s time to get cracking on the Thanksgiving menu. I always test out quite a few new recipes to see if we want to add it to our ever-growing menu. This year my father-in-law will be spending the week with us and I’m even more excited to stretch Thanksgiving out for as long as possible! This butternut squash bake is something that may or may not be on our day-of Thanksgiving table, but I’ve already made it a few times this season. It will for sure be made a few more times between now and Christmas. It really is Thanksgiving in every bite.

What is a “Bake” and Isn’t it Really Just a Casserole?!

Okay, yes. A “bake” and a casserole are basically the same thing. But for those averse to casseroles, bake it is! I don’t really classify this as a casserole merely because it doesn’t contain some kind of creamy sauce to bind the ingredients together. It could be made on a sheet pan. But I love the way the squash, cranberries, apples, and seasonings blend together, with the layers of flavors and textures. I like baking them in a casserole dish rather than spreading them out in a single layer. (But you totally could do that.)

I use cubed butternut here. You can use other kinds of winter squash and even cubed sweet potatoes. I’ve even made this with frozen butternut squash and frozen cranberries when neither was available fresh. Apples, of course, are always available, but this is really good with the juiciest, crunchiest apples you can find. I love this with Honeycrisp, Autumn Glory, Granny Smith, Gala, or Golden Delicious. The herbs are fresh from my humble garden. This year it fell a little short of my expectations, i.e. it was a rather busy summer and was sorely neglected! Hooray for hearty herbs that keep on growing in spite of neglect. ;) Sage, thyme, and rosemary are a must! There’s also a sprinkle of spices to go along with fresh squeezed orange juice. This has A LOT of flavors going on.

Also, this makes a TON. Like, one batch could feed a small army of hungry relatives. When I make this for my family (a much smaller, but just as hungry army), I know it will last a loooooong time. My kids aren’t the biggest fans, I’ll be honest. No worries – more for me! I love using the leftover bake on top of mixed greens, tossed with quinoa, rolled up into a wrap with turkey, etc., etc.

Must-Make Thanksgiving Recipes

To accompany this Butternut Squash Bake with Cranberries and Apples, I invite you to check out some of my other very favorite Thanksgiving and holiday recipes: