20 Unexpected Butternut Squash Treats That Actually Work

Posted on October 25, 2025

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Introduction

Butternut squash isn’t just for soups and savory dishes — it can transform everyday baked treats into soft, moist, and subtly sweet desserts. From cakes to muffins and bars, these 20 recipes show how squash can add natural sweetness, moisture, and a cozy fall vibe to unexpected treats. Ready to try squash in a whole new way? Let’s get baking!

1. Butternut Squash Muffins


Soft, moist muffins packed with subtle sweetness and fall flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, soda, and spices.
  3. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and squash puree.
  4. Combine wet and dry ingredients, add milk gradually.
  5. Pour into muffin tin, bake 20–25 minutes until golden.

How to Serve It
 Cool slightly; serve with a light dusting of powdered sugar or cinnamon.

2. Butternut Squash Brownies


Fudgy brownies gain extra moisture and subtle sweetness from squash.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt butter, mix with sugar and eggs.
  3. Add cocoa, flour, salt, and squash puree.
  4. Pour into greased pan; bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

3. Butternut Squash Bread


Moist, tender bread perfect for breakfast or snack time.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix dry ingredients; cream butter and sugar.
  3. Combine squash puree and eggs; mix with dry ingredients.
  4. Pour into greased loaf pan, bake 50–60 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; slice and serve with a pat of butter.

4. Butternut Squash Cookies


Chewy cookies with a subtle sweet flavor from squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 egg

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and squash puree.
  3. Stir in dry ingredients.
  4. Drop spoonfuls on baking sheet, bake 12–15 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool slightly; optionally drizzle with white chocolate.

5. Butternut Squash Cupcakes


Soft and airy cupcakes with natural squash sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix dry ingredients; cream butter and sugar.
  3. Add eggs and squash puree; combine with dry ingredients and milk.
  4. Fill cupcake liners; bake 20 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Top with cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

6. Butternut Squash Bars


Sweet and moist bars perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Stir in flour and spices; pour into greased pan.
  4. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; cut into squares and serve with tea.

7. Butternut Squash Blondies


Moist blondies with a hint of sweetness from squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt butter, mix with brown sugar and eggs.
  3. Stir in vanilla, flour, salt, and squash puree.
  4. Pour into greased pan, bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool before cutting; serve plain or with caramel drizzle.

8. Butternut Squash Pancakes


Breakfast treat with subtle squash sweetness and fall flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat skillet over medium heat.
  2. Mix dry ingredients; combine milk, squash puree, egg, butter.
  3. Fold wet and dry ingredients.
  4. Pour ¼ cup batter for each pancake; cook 2–3 minutes per side.

How to Serve It
 Serve with maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

9. Butternut Squash Scones


Tender scones with a hint of natural squash sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon.
  3. Cut in butter; stir in squash puree.
  4. Shape dough, cut into triangles, bake 18–20 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Serve warm with butter or honey drizzle.

10. Butternut Squash Cheesecake Bars


Creamy, soft bars combining squash with a rich cheesecake layer.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 (8 oz) cream cheese blocks
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  2. Press crumbs and butter into pan.
  3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, squash, eggs; pour over crust.
  4. Bake 35–40 minutes until set.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; slice into squares and serve chilled.

11. Butternut Squash Coffee Cake


Soft, tender cake with a cinnamon-sugar topping that complements squash sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Combine wet and dry ingredients, add milk gradually.
  4. Pour into greased pan; sprinkle cinnamon-sugar topping.
  5. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

How to Serve It
 Serve warm with a light drizzle of glaze or powdered sugar.

12. Butternut Squash Chocolate Chip Cookies


Chewy cookies with subtle sweetness and pockets of chocolate.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and squash puree.
  3. Mix in dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips.
  4. Drop spoonfuls on baking sheet; bake 12–15 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool slightly; serve as an afternoon snack with milk.

13. Butternut Squash Bundt Cake


Moist and tender cake with cozy fall flavor.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients and milk.
  4. Pour into greased bundt pan; bake 45–50 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze.

14. Butternut Squash Cupcake Bars


Individual cupcake bars that are easy to serve and share.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients and milk.
  4. Pour into greased pan; bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool before slicing; top with cream cheese frosting if desired.

15. Butternut Squash Pound Cake


Dense, buttery cake with subtle squash sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 4 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time.
  3. Fold in squash puree and dry ingredients.
  4. Pour into greased loaf pan; bake 50–60 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; slice thick and serve plain or with butter.

16. Butternut Squash Snickerdoodle Bars


Soft bars with classic cinnamon-sugar flavor enhanced by squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and squash puree.
  3. Mix in dry ingredients; pour into pan.
  4. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top; bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool before slicing; sprinkle additional cinnamon sugar if desired.

17. Butternut Squash Lemon Bars


Citrus brightness pairs with sweet squash for a tangy treat.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Press half dough into pan for crust; bake 10 minutes.
  3. Combine squash puree, eggs, sugar, lemon juice, zest.
  4. Pour over crust; bake 25 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; dust with powdered sugar before serving.

18. Butternut Squash Carrot Cake Bars


Moist bars blending squash and carrot for warm fall flavors.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Fold in flour, cinnamon, carrots.
  4. Pour into greased pan; bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool; top with cream cheese frosting if desired.

19. Butternut Squash Coconut Macaroons


Chewy, naturally sweet bites with squash and coconut.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups shredded coconut
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 egg whites

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Beat egg whites with sugar until frothy.
  3. Fold in squash puree, vanilla, and coconut.
  4. Drop spoonfuls on baking sheet; bake 15–18 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool before serving; optionally drizzle with chocolate.

20. Butternut Squash Blondie Bars


Dense, chewy bars with warm, natural sweetness from squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup roasted butternut squash puree
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and squash puree.
  3. Fold in flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Pour into greased pan; bake 25–30 minutes.

How to Serve It
 Cool completely; cut into squares and enjoy with coffee or tea.

Conclusion

These 20 recipes transform butternut squash into a variety of surprising, cozy treats. From bars and muffins to cookies and cakes, squash adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a subtle fall flavor to every bite. Slice, bake, and enjoy these treats with friends and family — they’re perfect for snacks, dessert tables, or gifting this season.

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