Baked Butternut Squash Dessert

If you love easy fall desserts, this 3-ingredient baked butternut squash dessert is one to keep in your recipe collection. A whole butternut squash is roasted until tender, then finished with butter and brown sugar for a naturally sweet, caramelized treat.

This easy butternut squash dessert is warm, cozy, budget-friendly, and requires very little preparation. Instead of peeling and chopping the squash before baking, you simply roast it whole, making this an especially convenient easy fall dessert recipe for busy weeknights.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Butternut Squash Dessert

• Only 3 simple ingredients: Butternut squash, butter, and brown sugar are all you need.
• Easy preparation: There is no peeling or chopping before roasting.
• Naturally sweet: Roasted butternut squash develops a rich, naturally sweet flavor.
• Perfect fall dessert: Brown sugar and warm squash create a cozy autumn flavor.
• Budget-friendly: This homemade dessert uses inexpensive pantry staples.
• Family-friendly: The soft, creamy texture makes it easy to serve to kids and adults.
• Easy cleanup: Everything cooks in one roasting pan.

Ingredients

• 1 whole butternut squash, unpeeled
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar

How to Make Baked Butternut Squash Dessert

1. Roast the squash

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Rinse the outside of the butternut squash thoroughly and pat it dry. Place the whole squash in a metal roasting pan.

Roast for 60 to 90 minutes, depending on its size, until the squash is very tender when pierced deeply with a knife.

2. Cut and remove the seeds

Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and allow the squash to cool slightly. Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.

Place the squash halves back into the roasting pan with the cut sides facing up.

3. Add butter and brown sugar

Divide the butter between the two squash halves. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top.

Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the butter has melted and the brown sugar becomes warm and syrupy.

4. Serve warm

Spoon the melted butter and brown sugar mixture over the roasted squash. Serve directly from the shells or scoop the soft squash into small serving bowls.

Easy Variations

Add cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon over the brown sugar for a classic fall dessert flavor.

Use pumpkin pie spice: A small pinch of pumpkin pie spice adds warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other autumn spices.

Add pecans: Top each serving with chopped pecans for a delicious crunchy contrast.

Try maple syrup: Replace some of the brown sugar with a small drizzle of maple syrup for an extra-rich flavor.

Make it creamy: Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or plain vanilla yogurt.

Make it kid-friendly: Scoop the cooked squash from the skin and mash it together with the melted butter and brown sugar for a smooth, creamy dessert.

Helpful Tips

• Choose a butternut squash that feels heavy for its size and has firm, undamaged skin.
• Roasting time will vary depending on the size and shape of the squash.
• Let the squash cool slightly before cutting it because it will be extremely hot after roasting.
• If preferred, carefully prick the skin once or twice before roasting to allow some steam to escape.
• For the best caramelized flavor, return the squash to the oven after adding the butter and brown sugar.
• Serve immediately while the squash is warm and the buttery brown sugar sauce is still syrupy.

What to Serve With Butternut Squash Dessert

This warm roasted butternut squash dessert is delicious on its own, but it can also be served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, Greek yogurt, chopped pecans, or a drizzle of maple syrup.

It makes an especially comforting easy Thanksgiving dessert, fall dinner dessert, or simple after-dinner treat with coffee or tea.