Baked Acorn Squash is a delicious winter squash that looks a bit like an acorn. The most common variety is dark green with a deep ridged outer skin and a deep yellow to orange flesh and is often about 6 inches long. Baking acorn squash is the easiest and most popular way of cooking it. Acorn squash are wonderfully easy side dish that is great anytime of the year.
Acorn Squash: As its name suggests, this winter squash is small and round shaped like an acorn. One of my favorite baking squashes, it is easy to slice into halves and fill with butter. A small acorn squash weighs from 1 to 3 pounds, and has sweet, slightly fibrous flesh. Its distinct ribs run the length of its hard, blackish-green or golden-yellow skin. In addition to the dark green acorn, there are now golden and multi-colored varieties.
Acorn Squash is easily found in supermarkets. Choose firm, well-shaped squash that are heavy for their size and have a hard, tough skin.
Learn about Squash Hints, Tips, and Information and more delicious Squash Recipes.
- 1 acorn squash, halved
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons honey, pur maple syrup or Hickory Syrup
- 2 tablespoons firmly-packed brown sugar
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
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Cut squash in half lengthwise (from stem to end). Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff in the center of each squash half. Score the insides of each half several times with a sharp knife.
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Add 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 teaspoon of honey, honey (maple syrup or hickory syrup), 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, salt and pepper to the hollow scoop of each squash half.
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Place each half in a large baking pan, cut side up.
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Add about approximately 1/4-inch of water to the bottom of the baking pan so that the skins do not burn and the squash does not get dried out.
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Bake approximately 1 hour or until tender when flesh is poked with a fork. Remove from oven and let cool a little before serving.
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Spoon any buttery sugar sauce that has not already been absorbed by the squash over the exposed areas of the baked squash.
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Makes 2 Servings.
Backed Acorn Squash Variations Ideas:
add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
add 2 tablespoons raisins (or other dried fruits)
add 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (of your choice)
add Herbs of your choice