This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through our link, at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure here.
Pumpkin bread is for fall. But spiced butternut squash bread is for winter!! Fall is coming to a close and winter is just around the corner. And we’re swapping pumpkins for butternut squash to create this delicious soul-warming bread loaf.
We like to think this loaf is the cousin of a pumpkin loaf. A spiced molasses bread with shredded butternut squash, walnuts and topped with coarse sugar and baked to create delicious sweet bread. The butternut squash adds a yummy flavor and texture to this bread. The butternut squash plays a similar role to zucchini does in zucchini bread. Its a perfect bread for breakfasts or snacks throughout the week or for serving at a brunch.
Looking for more brunch recipes? Try these!
Spiced Butternut Squash Bread Loaf
Recipe Snapshot
- Peel and grate butternut squash.
- Mix together dry ingredients.
- Mix in wet ingredients.
- Fold in butternut squash and walnuts.
- Bake bread, cool, slice and serve.
How to make spiced butternut squash bread
The best way to prepare your loaf pan…
Start by prepping your loaf pan before you make the bread batter. Follow this two step process for preparing your loaf pan for baking. This will ensure that the bread doesn’t stick to the pan and you can easily remove after baking.
- Butter loaf pan. Using about 1/2 tbsp of butter, spread over the bottom, sides and corners, making sure to get butter in the creases of the pan. This will make sure your loaf doesn’t stick to the pan.
- Line pan with parchment paper. Tear a sheet of parchment paper to fit the side of the pan. Make sure the parchment paper hangs about an inch over the long sides. Once the bread is baked and cooled, you can remove the loaf from the pan by pulling up on both sides of the paper. It should come out very smoothly. If there is some resistance, you may need to loosen the cake from the pan. To do this, gently glide a butterknife between the edge of the cake and and pan.
Peel butternut squash…
Butternut squash can be a bit tricky to cut and peel, but if you follow these steps, it will be quite a bit easier.
- Cut the stem end off first.
- Peel skin off with a vegetable peeler. The skin on butternut squash is a somewhat thick. This step may take the longest amount of time, but you’ll want to make sure all the skin in removed before boiling and pureeing.
- Slice butternut squash in half.
- Remove seeds. Scoop out seeds with a spoon and discard all the stringy bits.
- Slice squash into 1/4 pieces to make
Grate butternut squash…
A box grater is the best tool to use for grating the butternut quash. Hold onto the box grater handle with one hand and grate using the side with the largest holes. You will be sure to get an arm workout doing this. It’s not hard to do, but depending on your squash size, it can take a while.
Why do you have to grate the butternut squash? Instead of making a butternut squash puree, we opted to grate the butternut squash to add some texture and moisture to the bread. You may see bits of squash sprinkled throughout the bread slices. The grated pieces of squash will soften as it the bread loaf bakes.
Make bread mix…
Start by mixing dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder and baking soda, salt and all the yummy spices. We added a lot of delicious winter spices that will make this bread such a cozy and heartwarming treat.
Next, whisk wet ingredients together and combine with dry. In a large bowl, whisk together all your wet ingredients – melted butter, eggs, sugars, vanilla and molasses. After the wet ingredients are mixed together, you want to gently fold in half of your flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the second half of the mixture until just combined. You want to make sure you are not over mixing. Over mixing your bread could leave you with a tough texture.
Lastly, fold in grated butternut quash and chopped walnuts. Both of these will add yummy flavor and texture to the bread.
Shop our Kitchen Favorites
Spiced Butternut Squash Bread Loaf
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Description
Spiced molasses bread with shredded butternut squash, walnuts and topped with coarse sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup butternut squash, grated
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla flavor (or vanilla bean paste)
- 1 tbsp coarse sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Grate butternut squash following these steps. Peel butternut squash with a vegetable peeler. Chop stem end off squash. Slice squash in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy bits. Cut each slice in half, separating the neck from the body. This will make grating easier to manage. Grate squash using a box grater, using the side with the largest holes.
- In a medium bowl, add flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together.
- In large mixing bowl whisk together melted butter, eggs, sugars, vanilla and molasses. Stir in flour mixture, adding 1/2 the flour at a time and stirring until just combined. Lastly, fold in grated butternut squash and walnuts.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar for the crunch topping. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top and using the end of a knife, swirl the cinnamon sugar into the top of the bread.
- Bake for 50-60 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack for 30 mins. Slice and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 50
