Welcome » Craisin Ham Butternut Squash

After I finished testing this recipe, I made it again and again over the next three days. It was absolutely addictive. The butter and brown sugar glaze creates a subtle sweetness, while the cranberries and ham add a beautiful contrast of tart and savory. There are simply not enough meals in a day.

Craisin Ham Butternut Squash Recipe

Servings: 4
Calories per: 258
Active Time: 15 min
Total Time: 35 min
Difficulty: Easy

WHAT YOU NEED	WHAT TO DO	WHY
2 tablespoons butter	Evenly butter the interior of a half sheet pan; set aside. Center an oven rack; preheat to 400°F Convection (verify with an oven thermometer). Meanwhile…	Butter adds essential flavor to this dish. Internal oven thermostats are often improperly calibrated.
1 ½ pounds butternut squash, cubed to 1 inch (approximately 2 ½ pounds before preparation)	Spread prepared squash in a single layer with shoulder room on the sheet pan, allowing plenty of shoulder space.	Shoulder room promotes the Maillard (my YARD) reaction (browning), which adds rich flavor.
1 ½ ounces (6 cloves) garlic, quartered ½ cup cranberries, dried 4 ounces ham, diced to 1/4 inch	Sprinkle garlic, cranberries, and ham amongst the squash. Keep garlic away from pan edges to avoid burning.	Large pieces of garlic are less likely to burn during roasting but are still susceptible at the edges.
3 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar ½ teaspoon black pepper, roughly ground ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ½ teaspoon sage, rubbed	Sprinkle evenly over everything on the sheet pan. It seems like a lot of salt, but without it, the flavor will be a little flat. Bake until squash is glistening and fork tender (~18 minutes). Toss before serving to redistribute moisture. Serve hot.	Brown sugar adheres to squash better than maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar, but they substitute brown sugar, if necessary.

Additional Testing Notes: Acorn squash has inferior color and texture. Pumpkins have inferior taste and texture. Sweet potatoes are not quite as sweet or nutty.