This Savory Squash Bread Pudding Will Give You All The Fall Feels

By  Kirsten Nunez
A yellow and orange squash bake on a white plate topped with toasted bread crumbs. Kirsten Nunez

It's fall, y'all! With the new season in full swing, it's time to obsess over ​all​ the autumn ingredients. This includes pumpkin, of course, along with its delicious relative: the butternut squash. But why stick to just one? Thanks to this mouthwatering squash bake, you can enjoy both in every bite.

You can think of this recipe as a savory bread pudding. It calls for chunks of French baguette, butternut squash tossed with seasonal herbs, onions, and mushrooms that have been sautéed in earthy cinnamon. The mixture is then soaked in a creamy (and cheesy) pumpkin sauce and baked to perfection, resulting in a hearty autumnal meal.

A casserole dish filled with the squash bake next to a plate with a piece of the bake on it and a head of garlic on a white marble counter.Kirsten Nunez

One batch of this savory squash bake yields six to eight servings, depending on the size of each portion. Keep reading for the full recipe, plus tips for making it your own.

Things Needed

  • 6 to 8 cups stale French baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 1 medium white or yellow onion, diced

  • 1 small butternut squash, cubed

  • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced or chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

  • 6 large eggs

  • 15-ounces canned pumpkin puree

  • 1 cup half-and-half

  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped

  • 3 cups smoked Gouda cheese, shredded

  • Unsalted butter or oil

All of the ingredients laid out on a white marble countertop with a beige and blue and white striped tea towel.Kirsten Nunez

Tip

This recipe is vegetarian. If you'd like to include meat, replace the sliced mushrooms with cooked sausage or ham.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a large casserole dish and set aside.

In a large pan over medium heat, warm about two tablespoons of unsalted butter or oil. Cook the onion, butternut squash, mushrooms, and cinnamon for seven to 10 minutes, or until the squash is just about fork-tender. Add the minced garlic and cook for one minute.

The onionKirsten Nunez

Step 2

In a large bowl, toss the cubed bread, butternut squash mixture, and chopped sage, rosemary, and thyme. Feel free to use more or less of a certain herb, depending on your taste buds.

Tossed cubed breadKirsten Nunez

Step 3

In another large bowl, add the half-and-half, broth, pumpkin puree, salt, black pepper, and smoked Gouda cheese. Whisk until the pumpkin is fully combined with the liquid.

Whisk the eggs in a separate smaller bowl, then add it to the liquids until just combined. Avoid over-mixing the eggs.

Half-and-halfKirsten Nunez

Tip

If your broth is already very salty, feel free to skip the added salt. You can also used regular Gouda, cheddar, or Parmesan, or a combination of different cheeses.

Step 4

Add the bread mixture to the liquid in batches, tossing each time to combine. Every piece of bread should be soaked; you can let everything sit for a few minutes to help with this.

The bread and liquid mixtures combined in a silver metal bowl on a white marble countertop.Kirsten Nunez

Step 5

Transfer the mixture to the large casserole dish. Pour any leftover liquid over the bread. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown.

About 15 minutes before the casserole is ready to come out of the oven, add one cup of shredded smoked Gouda on top. You can also add a buttery breadcrumb mixture for extra texture and flavor. (To make it, simply combine one cup plain breadcrumbs and two tablespoons melted butter.)

A white casserole dish filled with the squash and bread mixture on a white marble countertop.Kirsten Nunez

Serve warm and top with fresh herbs, if desired.

The squash bake in a white casserole dish next to two small white plates with pieces of the bake on them.Kirsten Nunez

Happy fall!

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