Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries (2024)

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Easy roasted acorn squash recipe topped with an utterly delicious mixture of butter, walnuts and cranberries. Jump to theRoasted Acorn Squash with Walnuts and Cranberries Recipeor read on to see our tips for making it.

Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries (1)

We love this roasted acorn squash recipe. It’s easy. Simply cut the squash into wedges the brushwith olive oil and season with brown sugar, salt and pepper.

Bake for about 1 hour then serve the roasted squash with a mixture of melted butter, walnuts and cranberries spooned on top.

Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries (2)

For more easy winter squash recipes, check out our Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash, our Parmesan Lemon Baked Spaghetti Squash with Chicken, Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and ourHomemade Pumpkin Puree Recipe.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, review it, and don’t forget to tag a photo#inspiredtasteon Instagram. Happy cooking!

Recipe updated, originally posted November2010. Since posting this in 2010, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. – Adam and Joanne

Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries

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Roast acorn squash in the oven and top with butter, crunchy walnuts and sweet cranberries. It’s stunning on the table and everyone’s loved it.

Makes 8 servings

You Will Need

2 medium acorn squash

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

3 tablespoons brown sugar, maple syrup or honey

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts, lightly toasted

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

    1Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

    2Cut squash in half and use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds from the middle. Carefully cut each half into 2 wedges.

    3Place the wedges into a large baking dish then brush all sides with the olive oil. Scatter the brown sugar evenly on top then season with salt and pepper. Bake until soft and caramelized around the edges, about 1 hour.

    4When the squash has roasted, add the butter, walnuts and cranberries to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter begins to bubble around the nuts then spoon over the squash.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values.

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 wedge / Calories 144 / Protein 1 g / Carbohydrate 18 g / Dietary Fiber 2 g / Total Sugars 6 g / Total Fat 9 g / Saturated Fat 3 g / Cholesterol 11 mg

AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher

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Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries (9)

42 comments… Leave a Review

  • KarenOctober 25, 2023, 7:02 pm

    Wow, this was delicious! What a great flavor combination. Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
  • DeeNovember 27, 2022, 7:40 am

    Delicious,healthy and so easy! Made w pecans for Thanksgiving, and roasted squashes in halves (took 30 min). We didn’t eat the skin – just scooped out the tasty and pretty insides. Added maple syrup to the butter mixture rather than when roasting. Will definitely make again!

    Reply
  • EmyOctober 4, 2019, 12:49 pm

    I loved this recipe! I got an acorn squash in my farm box and didn’t know where to start. I added a little syrup to the butter/nut topping to sweeten it up a bit more, and roasted the seeds, too!

    Reply
  • EllenJuly 12, 2018, 1:39 pm

    Silly question…..do I place the squash with the cut side facing up or down. Thank you as this sound delicious!

    Reply
    • JoanneJuly 27, 2018, 1:28 pm

      Both will work, but in our photos, we have cut-side facing up.

      Reply
  • RheaJuly 1, 2018, 1:58 pm

    Greetings! I purchased acorn squash in November for Thanksgiving but, they didn’t reach the dinner table. Christmas was upon us, I made Acorn Squash Bread, and saved the seeds. In April I put the seeds in the yard for the birds. In return I got several squash plants. In June the plants began produce. This Roasted Acorn Squash w/walnuts and cranberries made it to dinner table four times in four weeks.

    Reply
  • VeroFebruary 23, 2018, 4:44 am

    Delicious and so easy. We all loved it. Five Big Stars.

    Reply
  • Alicia OliverNovember 23, 2017, 6:35 am

    I have all ingredients, except Walnuts! Would you make it with only cranberries, or roast with butter and the brown sugar only?

    Reply
    • JoanneNovember 23, 2017, 12:03 pm

      The squash will be great with the cranberries, butter and brown sugar.

      Reply
  • LynnNovember 22, 2017, 5:33 pm

    Hello. This looks perfect for my vegetarian Thanksgiving. Dumb question… & I pray you can answer quickly, because it is Thanksgiving Eve!… is the “shell” of the squash edible?? I’ve always assumed it’s not! The photo appears to include the rind. Please reply! Thank you.

    Reply
    • AdamNovember 22, 2017, 10:36 pm

      Hi Lynn, the skin is definitely edible but depending on who is eating it they may prefer to leave the rind on the plate.

      Reply
  • RebekahNovember 21, 2017, 12:22 am

    Is there anyway to make ahead?

    Reply
    • JoanneNovember 22, 2017, 4:16 pm

      Hi Rebekah, Yes, this can be made ahead of time then reheated before serving. You might want to roast the squash ahead of time then make the butter-walnut mixture just before serving.

      Reply
  • PatNovember 18, 2017, 11:22 am

    Any suggestions on a substitute for the butter on the topping for allergy/intollerence for milk?

    Reply
    • JoanneNovember 20, 2017, 6:53 pm

      Coconut oil, walnut oil or an olive oil would be nice.

      Reply
    • Terry PeikonJanuary 7, 2018, 4:19 pm

      Earth Balance vegan ‘butter’, for the butter flavor, might work also.

      Reply
  • JanetNovember 13, 2017, 9:08 pm

    I baked the squash in my convection oven and the halves were tender in 35 mins. Added a little fresh parmesan on top which gave a nice salted contrast to the sweetness. Great recipe.

    Reply
  • Mary O.November 12, 2017, 8:55 am

    It’s hard to find vegetarian dishes for one. This recipe was perfect for me and I got two meals out of it! It was more delicious than I had expected it to be. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  • KateOctober 9, 2015, 7:10 pm

    Just made this for dinner! Eating is as I’m typing! SOOO good.

    Reply
  • kirstinNovember 11, 2012, 8:41 pm

    I’ll have to double or triple this recipe for thanksgiving. what would that do to the cooking time?

    Reply
    • AdamNovember 12, 2012, 8:38 pm

      Hi there! As long as you keep the squash in one layer, the cooking time should be about the same. If you are using two baking sheets/two oven racks, you might want to rotate halfway through cooking to make sure they cook evenly.

      Reply
      • kirstinNovember 14, 2012, 1:55 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

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Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe with Walnuts and Cranberries (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook Ina Garten acorn squash? ›

Place 1/2 tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon maple syrup in the cavity of each squash. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 40-60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, until tender when pierced with a small knife.

Does acorn squash need to be peeled before cooking? ›

Good news: you don't need to peel acorn squash. Its hard, grooved skin softens significantly as it cooks, and it's edible, too. If you do want to remove the skin, wait until after you cook it, at which point it will peel right off.

How to soften acorn squash before cutting without? ›

You can quickly soften an acorn squash before cutting it by using a microwave. Using a knife or fork, make a few small incisions in the squash to allow steam to escape. Place the squash in a microwavable bowl and heat on high for three minutes.

Do you eat the skin of roasted acorn squash? ›

Next time you roast a squash like acorn, butternut or honeynut, try leaving the skins on and give them a nibble. Be sure to scrub the skin well, Joyce recommends, to remove any dirt or debris. The pleasantly chewy texture may just surprise you, plus you can never go wrong with more fiber.

How do you cook squash so it doesn't get soggy? ›

Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a few drizzles of olive oil. Add the squash and sauté for about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that all sides get cooked. I like to cook mine until it's soft, yet still has a firm bite, but before it becomes too watery and mushy.

How to tell when acorn squash is done cooking? ›

You'll know when the squash is done when you can easily insert a fork in the flesh. You want it tender, yet not mushy. If the squash is already cut in half, you can easily test if it is done by sticking a fork in the flesh of the squash. If it's fork-tender, it's done cooking and ready to eat.

Is it OK to eat raw acorn squash? ›

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

Should you wash acorn squash before storing? ›

Food Safety and Storage

Scrub winter squash with a vegetable brush under cool running water before cooking or cutting. Do not use soap. Do not wash squash before storing. Keep squash away from raw meat and meat juices to prevent cross-contamination.

Why is my acorn squash dry? ›

Selection: Acorn squash should be uniformly green and matte—streaks/spots of orange are fine, but too much orange indicates over ripeness and the squash will be dry and stringy.

How do you cure acorn squash? ›

Curing Winter Squash

After cutting the fruits from the vine, sun-cure in the field for 5–7 days, or, cure indoors for 5–7 days at 80–85°F (27–29°C), in an area with good air ventilation.

How do you make acorn squash easier to peel? ›

Place the acorn squash into a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes. Boiling the squash will help soften the skin and make the removal process easier. Boiling the squash is ideal for people who are not fully comfortable with using a sharp knife or a serrated peeler.

How do you know when acorn squash is ready to cook? ›

One of the easiest ways is by noting its color. Ripened acorn squash turns dark green in color. The portion that has been in contact with the ground will go from yellow to orange. In addition to color, the rind, or skin, of acorn squash will become hard.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? He first tosses the butternut squash in oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper and then cooks it in the oven at 400°F for about 25 minutes.

Does acorn squash cook the same as butternut squash? ›

Butternut squash can be baked, boiled and mashed, and often needs some butter and salt. Acorn squash is better cut in half or quarters and baked. If it tastes sweet on its own, you can serve it that way.

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