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Easy Candied Brown Sugar Roasted Butternut Squash

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This candied brown sugar roasted butternut squash is tender, caramelized, and perfectly sweet with a hint of warmth from cayenne. It’s the side dish that disappears first at holiday dinners and is simple enough for a cozy fall weeknight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium butternut squash (about 2.5–3 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Fresh thyme leaves or chopped pecans for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a large rimmed baking sheet in the oven while it preheats.
  2. Prepare the butternut squash: cut off both ends, peel with a vegetable peeler, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, salt, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract until a thick paste forms.
  4. Add the cubed squash to the bowl and toss with your hands or a spatula until every piece is evenly coated.
  5. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and line with parchment paper. Spread the coated squash in a single layer, leaving space between pieces.
  6. Roast for 20 minutes without opening the oven door.
  7. Remove the baking sheet, flip each piece of squash with a spatula, and rotate the pan front to back.
  8. Roast for another 15-20 minutes, until the squash is fork-tender and the edges are dark and caramelized. Watch carefully in the last 5 minutes to prevent burning.
  9. Let the squash rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh thyme or chopped pecans if desired.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd the pan; use a hot baking sheet for better caramelization; watch the sugar carefully in the last 5 minutes; don’t skip the cayenne; use room temperature butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: candied butternut squash, brown sugar roasted butternut squash, roasted butternut squash, holiday side dish, fall recipe, easy side dish

Find it online: https://spoonluma.com/easy-candied-brown-sugar-roasted-butternut-squash/