There are many things that you could do with an acorn squash, such as stuffing it with a savory beef filling. Today however, I decided to go the sweet tooth route and smother it in butter and brown sugar! Not the healthiest option, but sometimes you roll with the punches. This recipe is so simple, your dog could do it. Just kidding. But it's super simple so you have nothing to lose! Don't throw the seeds! You can make a simple snack out of them while you are at it too!
INGREDIENTS
1 Acorn Squash, halved, cleaned, and seeds to the side.
3 Tbsp. Butter
4 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Maple Syrup
Dash of Salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat your oven to 400F. If you haven't yet, prep your squash by cutting it in half and cleaning it out. Don't toss the seeds, they will serve a separate purpose! If you would like to you can cut a checkerboard into the inside of each half by cutting a few slices both top to bottom and side to side. I skipped this step, but if I remember correctly that is how my mother would do it when I was younger. Either way, I have not had any trouble not doing it, but it will help the butter and sugar to melt and get each bite super sweet! If you are having trouble, you can microwave it for just a few seconds to soften it enough to slice into.
Place the squash halves cut side up in a roasting pan. Pour 1/4-inch of water over the bottom of the pan so that the squash doesn't burn to the pan, and the steam from the water will keep it from getting dried out in the oven. Rub a tablespoon of melted butter into the insides of each half. Sprinkle with a little salt if you are using unsalted butter. Crumble 2 tablespoon of brown sugar into the center of each half and drizzle with a teaspoon of maple syrup.
Bake at 400 F for an hour (maybe an hour 15 minutes, just keep an eye on it) until the tops of the squash halves are nicely browned, and the squash flesh is very soft and cooked through. When it is done, remove the squash halves from the oven and let them cool for a bit before serving. Spoon any buttery sugar sauce that has not already been absorbed by the squash over the exposed areas. Once cooled, the squash will have absorbed quite a bit of the liquid that was in each half. It is a simple dessert for this Fall weather! ENJOY!!!
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