Make Ahead

Butternut Squash Custard

by:
October 26, 2010
5
1 Ratings
Butternut Squash Custard
  • Serves 4 (can be multiplied)
Author Notes

This recipe was inspired by two things: a soup I recently made with butternut squash and sweet potato with these spices, and the winter squash flan recipe in one of my favorite vegetable cookbooks, Greene on Greens, by Burt Greene (another vegetable-loving Southerner like me). I had it mind to garnish the flan with caramelized onions and a few pine nuts, or the surprise of savory whipped cream, but when it cooked, the spices rose to the top and created a circular design that was so pretty I decided to leave it alone. And it was so delicious that I ate one for breakfast. —drbabs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 butternut squash, roasted till soft, peeled and seeded
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup half and half (or milk or heavy cream; I took the middle road)
  • 3 tablespoons Grade B maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
  1. Place 4 6-oz. ramekins in a large roasting pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 325. Scoop flesh from squash, discarding skin, and puree in a food processor until it is very smooth (the consistency of baby food for infants), about a minute. Scrape sides as needed. Use 1 (liquid) cup of the puree for the recipe and reserve the rest for another time.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, maple syrup, spices, salt and cayenne. Stir squash into egg mixture, and whisk together till thoroughly combined. Scrape mixture into a pitcher. Put a teakettle or pot of water on high heat to boil water for the water bath.
  3. Strain mixture through coarse strainer into each of the 4 ramekins, filling each about 3/4 full. Place the in roasting pan into oven, and carefully pour boiling water into roasting pan to halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes, or until custard is set. Remove ramekins from water bath and let cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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15 Reviews

KateC
KateC December 7, 2024
This spice combination is excellent. I left out the maple syrup and the salt and it was still good.
Star system isn’t working here but I’d give it 5 stars
 
drbabs
drbabs December 7, 2024
Thank you for commenting! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
 
Arianna_H
Arianna_H December 18, 2013
This sounds wonderful! I don't have small ramekins - how would you modify this to cook it in one large dish?
 
Jo P.
Jo P. November 12, 2019
would like to know that also.
 
KateC
KateC December 7, 2024
I did. I used a different ratio of eggs to squash, about 1 cup squash to 1 egg, and coconut milk instead of cream. I cooked it in a shallow pan for 40 minutes. Great stuff.
 
AppleAnnie
AppleAnnie October 27, 2010
This sounds very appealing, and I would have never thought of using those spices so I am eager to try this out!
 
drbabs
drbabs October 28, 2010
Thanks--I had already put my ice cream maker away, but I'm dying to try yours!
 
TheWimpyVegetarian
TheWimpyVegetarian October 27, 2010
This looks so delicious! I've saved it to make it soon. This might have to come to my Thanksgiving dinner this year, although I'm not waiting that long to make it!
 
drbabs
drbabs October 27, 2010
Thanks, I hope you enjoy it.
 
dymnyno
dymnyno October 26, 2010
This sounds delicious! nice pic too!
 
drbabs
drbabs October 26, 2010
Thanks--it really was...can you believe I took the picture with my phone?! I swear it takes better pictures than my camera!
 
Lizthechef
Lizthechef October 26, 2010
This does sound SO good - like aargersi, I am so hooked on pumpkin. Guess I need to branch out a bit...
 
drbabs
drbabs October 26, 2010
Thanks, Liz!
 
aargersi
aargersi October 26, 2010
YUM! Love this! I make pumpkin flan for Thanksgiving - the lazy way with canned pumpkin. Yours sounds better.
 
drbabs
drbabs October 26, 2010
Thanks! It's not much harder-- you can roast the squash in advance and just put it all together when you're ready to cook.