Make Ahead

Butternut Squash Custard

by:
October 26, 2010
0
0 Ratings
  • 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.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • AppleAnnie
    AppleAnnie
  • TheWimpyVegetarian
    TheWimpyVegetarian
  • dymnyno
    dymnyno
  • Lizthechef
    Lizthechef
  • aargersi
    aargersi

12 Reviews

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. November 12, 2019
would like to know that also.
 
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 October 28, 2010
Thanks--I had already put my ice cream maker away, but I'm dying to try yours!
 
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 October 27, 2010
Thanks, I hope you enjoy it.
 
dymnyno October 26, 2010
This sounds delicious! nice pic too!
 
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 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 October 26, 2010
Thanks, Liz!
 
aargersi October 26, 2010
YUM! Love this! I make pumpkin flan for Thanksgiving - the lazy way with canned pumpkin. Yours sounds better.
 
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.