Clean Eating Holiday Butternut Cranberry Bake Recipe (2024)

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This cranberry butternut bake recipeis perfect for your holiday table!

This is the first cranberry recipeI’ve done this year, and it set something off in me that has made me want to cook every dish hereafter with cranberries, cranberries, cranberries!!!

Clean Eating Holiday Butternut Cranberry Bake Recipe (1)

This dish is perfect for any Thanksgiving table. In fact, it’s even a great dish for a Halloween dinner party!

This is a fairly versatile dish. You can adjust the spices and maple syrup to your liking and even switch out the butternut for pumpkin if you prefer.

Most dishes like this add a ton of brown sugar. But to make this healthier, I stuck with maple syrup, and I was not disappointed. The flavors are a fantastic blend of sweet, tart, and savory.

Have some fun with this one! Just be sure to give it a good stir after baking. You want those cranberries to be popped and more of a jelly-like substance than full, whole berries. So if there are any whole ones left when you pull this out of the oven, just use a wooden spoon to smash them and then stir well. It’s a perfect dish for the upcoming holidays!

What Squash To Use For This Butternut Bake

As I mentioned this recipe is versatile. You can use just about any winter squash you like. The important thing is to cut it into small, bite-sized chunks or cubes. You want the squash pieces to be hearty, but not so oversized that they are hard to eat. Try:

  • Butternut
  • Pumpkin
  • Kabocha
  • Acorn
  • Sweet potatos – not a squash, but they work!

To Peel Or Not To Peel

Make sure you do a thorough job of peeling your squash, even if the squash you use has an edible skin, like Kabocha squash.

Do You Need To Peel Butternut Squash Before Roasting?

Yes! The skin of butternut squash, while edible, will not be very good here. The finished texture is much better without it.

Butternut Bake Cooking Time

Each oven will vary slightly. In the end, the important thing is to bake this until the squash is fork-tender and the cranberries easily pop.

Extra Additions

You can garnish this dish with chopped pecans or walnuts, raisins, or just a little cinnamon if you wish. You can even add dried cranberries. It might be a little over the top, but if you love cranberries, it could work!

Special Diets

If you follow any special diets, here are some of the diets this dish works great for.

Vegan Recipe

For those of you who are plant-based, this dish is naturally vegan! So enjoy!

Gluten-Free

This recipe is naturally gluten-free. That being said, I don’t know a lot about cross-contamination. So if any of the ingredients are a risk for you, make sure to purchase those labeled as gluten-free.

Paleo Recipe

This dish is naturally paleo! And if something here doesn’t fit into your personal Paleo plan, all the ingredients are super easy to substitute with something else.

What Goes Well With Butternut Squash Bake?

This is a Thanksgiving side dish. So it will pair well with pretty much anything you’ll find on a traditional Thanksgiving table.

Clean Eating Holiday Butternut Cranberry Bake Recipe (2)

What Protein Goes Well With Butternut Squash?

Your best bet for proteins are as follows:

  • Turkey (obviously)
  • Chicken
  • Pork
  • Salmon

Needed Ingredients

1lb.butternut squash– Peel and chop this into bite-sized cubes. You can also purchase pre-cut butternut squash.

1largeapple– Peeled and cored.

½lb.fresh cranberries – I used a (227 g) bag. If your store sells them in a slightly different quantity, it’s okay. Buy what you can get.

1tbsp.olive oil– Or coconut oil in a liquid state.

¼cupmaple syrup – Use the real stuff.

2tsp.ground cinnamon – Just the spice, no added sugar.

½tsp.ground nutmeg – You can use pre-ground, or grind it yourself from the nut.

1 tsp.ground cloves – This should be a scant measure.

How To Make Cranberry Butternut Bake

Place all ingredients in a 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag or a large container with a tight-fitting lid.

Shake well to coat everything in spices and maple syrup.

Pour out into baking dish (Mine was 9×13) and bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Note that if you have a smaller, deeper baking dish that this will take longer in the oven. The bigger and more shallow the dish is, the quicker this will cook. (I do not recommend a cookie sheet unless it has edges, due to the cranberries.)

Add salt to taste after cooking if needed.

How To Store Cranberry Butternut Bake

You’ll want to store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can You Freeze This?

Once it’s cooked, you can freeze this in an airtight container for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge.

Need Recipe Supplies?

Holiday Cranberry Recipes:

  • Roasted Rosemary Root Vegetables
  • Cranberry Butter
  • Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Butternut Bake Recipe

Clean Eating Holiday Butternut Cranberry Bake Recipe (7)

Holiday Cranberry Butternut Bake Recipe

This delicious cranberry butternut bake is sure to become a family favorite!

3.34 from 6 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings, approximate

Calories: 195.85kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. butternut squash (chopped/cubed, peeled)
  • 1 large apple (peeled and cored)
  • ½ lb. fresh cranberries (227 g) bag
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil in liquid state)
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 scant tsp. ground cloves

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag or a large container with a tight-fitting lid.

  • Shake well to coat everything in spices and maple syrup.

  • Pour out into baking dish (Mine was 9×13) and bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

  • Note that if you have a smaller, deeper baking dish that this will take longer in the oven. The bigger and more shallow the dish is, the quicker this will cook. (I do not recommend a cookie sheet due to the cranberries)

  • Add salt to taste after cooking if needed.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25the recipe | Calories: 195.85kcal | Carbohydrates: 42.53g | Protein: 1.57g | Fat: 3.92g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Sodium: 8.94mg | Potassium: 552.29mg | Fiber: 6.83g | Sugar: 22.74g | Vitamin A: 12118.33IU | Vitamin C: 33.92mg | Calcium: 94.27mg | Iron: 1.09mg

Reposted from The Gracious Pantry archives from 11-16-13.

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Clean Eating Holiday Butternut Cranberry Bake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you chop cranberries before baking? ›

If your cranberries are on the larger size, we'd cut them in half or quarters before baking. Toss them with a little flour so they won't sink in the batter, too!

Can you substitute dried cranberries for fresh cranberries? ›

Can I substitute dried cranberries in recipes that call for fresh cranberries? Yes, dried cranberries work well in baked goods; however there is a ¼ cup difference in measurement. If a recipe calls for one cup of fresh or frozen cranberries, use ¾ cup of sweetened dried cranberries.

Can I substitute blueberries for cranberries? ›

If you can't find fresh cranberries, fresh blueberries make a good substitute; just reduce the sugar in the filling by ½ cup.

How long to soak cranberries before baking? ›

Rehydrate the fruits: Dried fruits can be quite hard and dry, so it's often a good idea to rehydrate them before adding them to your baked goods. To do this, simply soak the dried fruits in warm water or fruit juice for 15-20 minutes until they are plump and tender.

Why should cranberries not be eaten raw? ›

Yes, raw cranberries are safe to consume raw, but you probably don't want to eat them that way. "Cranberries are safe to eat raw. However, usually they are cooked and have sugar added because of the bitter and sharp taste they have when raw," says Kelly West Keyser, a registered dietitian in Alabama.

Do you have to soak dried cranberries before baking? ›

If you are planning on using dried fruits, it may be a good idea to soak them first. Dried fruits can lose up to 75% of their volume during the drying process according to cookinglight.com. Once they are mixed with the other ingredients they will begin to reabsorb the moisture around them.

Are dried cranberries as healthy as regular cranberries? ›

Even in their dried form, cranberries are loaded with nutrients such as vitamins, fibres, minerals, and antioxidants. Their high nutritional value delivers essential health benefits, such as promoting heart health, aiding in weight loss, and treating urinary tract issues.

What are the pros and cons of dried cranberries? ›

Both forms of cranberries will offer you the same nutritional benefits and medicinal value. However, dried ones are high in carbs, calories, and sugar than fresh ones, but they still contain most of the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh ones.

Is it better to bake with fresh or frozen cranberries? ›

If cooking your berries into a pie filling, you may need to add additional thickening agents because frozen berries tend to release more liquid than fresh and will lead to a runnier consistency. For best results in your baking, don't defrost the berries before use but instead toss them in flour.

What is the healthiest way to eat cranberries? ›

There are lots of ways to add this fruit to your diet. Some varieties, such as dried cranberries, cranberry juice, and canned cranberry sauce, are available year-round. The healthiest way to enjoy cranberries is to eat them fresh. Raw cranberries take about 16 months to fully mature and are gathered in early fall.

What takes the bitterness out of cranberries? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries. Start with a little, then add more gradually. It's easy to overdo it when in comes to bold vinegars.

Which is healthier dried cranberries or blueberries? ›

The cranberry is also a contender when it comes to antioxidant content. While wild blueberries outperform them when it comes to measuring both antioxidant capacity and cellular antioxidant activity, cranberries pack their own health punch.

What fruit tastes like cranberry? ›

To me, lingonberries are similar in taste to cranberries. If there's an IKEA store near you, stop by and pick up a jar of lingonberry jam and try it.

Is there an easy way to chop cranberries? ›

The best way to chop cranberries is by using a sharp knife and a cutting board. You can also use a food processor if you prefer a finer chop. Do I need to remove the stems before chopping cranberries? Yes, it is recommended to remove the stems before chopping cranberries.

Should dried cranberries be soaked before baking? ›

Don't Skip This Step if You're Cooking or Baking With Dried Cranberries | Livestrong.com. To rehydrate dried cranberries for baking recipes, simply soak them in hot water, juice or other liquid. You don't need to soak dried cranberries overnight.

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