It is squash season and we want to share the easiest, yummiest way to prepare Acorn (or other) Squash and create Caramelized Acorn Squash!
Squash hasn’t always been the easiest thing for me to prepare, because for so long, I just simply didn’t know how to prepare it! They can be hard to cut open, use and cook. I just didn’t know! Well, the past couple of years, I started making this and it is easy, painless, quick (as far as the actual hand’s on) and tastes utterly amazing!
So this is a winner in my family’s book and it could be for your’s too!
Ingredients for Caramelized Acorn Squash:
- 2 TBSP butter
- 4 TBSP Brown Sugar (approx. amount, I really don’t measure, just use what you want!)
How to make Caramelized Acorn Squash:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- While the oven is preheating, cut your acorn squash in half, length-wise. A good sturdy knife starting at the top and pressing in and down. Very often, I have to lift my knife as it won’t go through and start at the ending point. If your knife will not go through, keep lifting it out and starting in the newest cut spot. I find cutting to be the most challenging, you need a good knife for this!
- Once it is cut in half length-wise, the scoop out the seeds.
- Then, take 1 TBSP of the butter per half and “rub” the flesh of the squash with butter, including the top edges. Once it is all rubbed down, then put the remaining butter in the bowl of the squash.
- Repeat this process with the second half.
- Then, with your knife, you are going to make many cuts into the flesh of the squash from top to bottom and left to right to make a checkerboard look into your squash. Do this with both halves.
- Then sprinkle brown sugar on the cut squash, on the edges, and all around.
- Place on a baking sheet covered in foil (as the caramelized goodness will seep off the squash and cake onto your pan and be very difficult to clean – with foil, you can just toss!
- Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes. The reason for the wide range is squash comes in all shapes and sizes and so it is difficult to give an exact time. But, you will know it is done when you stick a fork in it and it is soft. My family likes more on the al dente side and not on the too soft side.
- Serve immediately and serve warm……
Oh so YUM! This is autumn and winter comfort food! I love anything caramel, and I love the taste of squash, so the roasted, baked on caramelized flavor is just too good to forget. You will want to keep making this – and do! It’s a wonderful side with your meals this time of year while the squash is affordable!
Note: you can do this same process with pretty much any squash, not just acorn!
So now, don’t let your squash simply be table decoration this year, but actually enjoy and eat!
Here is a printable recipe for you to print and keep in your home binder for easy access and reference!
| Caramelized Acorn Squash (Process Used for Any Squash) | | Print |
- 2 TBSP butter
- 4 TBSP Brown Sugar (approx. amount, I really don't measure, just use what you want!)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- While the oven is preheating, cut your acorn squash in half, length-wise. A good sturdy knife starting at the top and pressing in and down. Very often, I have to lift my knife as it won't go through and start at the ending point. If your knife will not go through, keep lifting it out and starting in the newest cut spot. I find cutting to be the most challenging, you need a good knife for this!
- Once it is cut in half length-wise, the scoop out the seeds.
- Then, take 1 TBSP of the butter per half and "rub" the flesh of the squash with butter, including the top edges. Once it is all rubbed down, then put the remaining butter in the bowl of the squash.
- Repeat this process with the second half.
- Then, with your knife, you are going to make many cuts into the flesh of the squash from top to bottom and left to right to make a checkerboard look into your squash. Do this with both halves.
- Then sprinkle brown sugar on the cut squash, on the edges, and all around.
- Place on a baking sheet covered in foil (as the caramelized goodness will seep off the squash and cake onto your pan and be very difficult to clean - with foil, you can just toss!
- Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes. The reason for the wide range is squash comes in all shapes and sizes and so it is difficult to give an exact time. But, you will know it is done when you stick a fork in it and it is soft. My family likes more on the al dente side and not on the too soft side.
- Serve immediately and serve warm
So now, don't let your squash simply be table decoration this year, but actually enjoy and eat!
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Jane Petermann
Microwaving your squash for a few minutes before you cut it will soften the skin enough to make cutting easier. Another trick with any squash is to use a grapefruit spoon to take out the seeds. The serrated tip of the spoon really helps get all those innards out.
Emily
Looks tasty! I currently have an acorn squash from this week’s CSA and don’t have plans for it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Lucinda Nutting
I have been looking for a good and simple squash recipe. Thanks so much, I can’t wait to make this for myself and my fiance 🙂
Cassie
It is so yummy!
raja perabotan
A pressure cookerr allows you to cook large quantities of food (inexpensive, mouth-watering,
down-home food like bwan soup or stew or chicken) in a very short time.
Use cucumber chips and ranch dip instead oof potato chips.
They should far away from the electrical instruments.
Lhsa
I grew up on squash…. like above but two different versions (depending on which side of the family you were with) :
1) filled with mixture of apples, raisins, and brown sugar
2) filled with sausage meatballs ….and often used maple syrup