– One gluten free butternut squash pie recipe, please! –
I’ve said it before – Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Even when life’s got you down and it feels like the Universe is throwing everything it’s got at you, it’s important to feel gratitude for the things you do have. Does your health suck? Maybe. Is your spouse a virtual 12-year old? Perhaps. Are you unemployed with no health insurance, rent money, or prospects of work? Indeed. But you know what? This is life. It’s all we’ve got, and the sooner you embrace the downs with the ups, the sooner you’ll realize that it’s the journey that counts, not what’s waiting at the end. Because that end will find you soon enough.
Today I am grateful for a lot of things, but what’s at the top of my mind right now is the lovely community that I’ve come to be a part of. This food blogging world that I’ve stumbled into has embraced me and swaddled me in a blankie of love and incredibly comforting things to eat. I can’t even express the gratitude that I feel for each and every one of you – my readers, my mailing list cohorts, and my blogging compatriots. Even if I can’t see you and touch you every day, knowing that you’re there makes this world a warmer, more inviting place. Even when the sh*te’s hitting the fan in my life, I can think of each and every one of you and know that you’re out there rooting for me, supporting me as I bumble my way through this existence I’ve built. Really, what more can a person ask for?
Now that I’m all weepy, I’d like to share a recipe with you. In support of Shauna and Danny’s new book, a handful of food bloggers are running a gluten free Thanksgiving recipe day. This is a book you’ll love, not just for Thanksgiving, but in your everyday life. I recommend it for more than the food – the Aherns are top purveyors of the purest gratitude, and you’ll find it in spades within their cookbook love story.
At the bottom of this post, you’ll find a series of links to other participating blog posts. Please, go check them out. These lovely people are my friends, and I’m so, so proud to share their work with you.
- Serves: 8
- Calories: 327
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated fat: 12g
- Unsaturated fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Sodium: 206mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 139mg
- 1 cup Gluten-Free Flour Mix
- 5 teaspoons sweet rice flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- Pinch of salt
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon orange juice
- 2 pounds butternut squash
- 3/4 cup low-fat milk
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- Prepare a 9-inch pie pan by greasing it with butter or nonstick baking spray and generously coating it with Gluten-Free Flour Mix (recipe below).
- Mix flours, sugar, xanthan gum and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut cold butter into dry ingredients until it becomes crumbly and resembles small peas. Add egg and orange juice, and mix with a fork until the dough combines. Form into a ball and place in the refrigerator, covered with wax paper, for 10 minutes.
- Lay down a sheet of wax paper and place the ball of dough in the middle. Lay another piece of wax paper over the top and press down gently with your hands to flatten the ball. Roll the dough with a rolling pin until it is about 1/4-inch thick, making sure to keep an even thickness and fill in any cracks with dough from the edges.
- Remove the top sheet of wax paper and place the dough in the pan, then peel off the remaining sheet of wax paper and gently press the dough into the pan. Take care not to puncture the dough with your fingers or fingernails. Crimp the edges and prick a few holes in the bottom of the dough with a fork. Cover pie pan loosely with wax paper and place in freezer for 15 minutes.
- While the dough is freezing, place rack in the middle of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove pie pan from freezer and line crust with aluminum foil, making sure to seal the edges so they don’t burn. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until crust is a pale brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
- Preheat to 425°F (218°C). Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds with a spoon. Lay squash face down on a jelly-roll pan and pour 1/2 cup of water into the pan. Roast in oven for 1 hour, checking occasionally to make sure there is still water in the pan. Squash is done when a fork easily penetrates the flesh. Remove squash from oven, allow to cool and scoop flesh out with a spoon. You need 1 1/2 cups of mashed squash for the filling.
- Make a shield for the edge of the pie crust by cutting 3-inch-thick strips of foil and folding them over the edges of your crust to protect them from burning. The foil should not dip down into the basin of the pan. Make sure it just covers the crimped parts around the rim of the pie pan.
- To make the filling, combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until ingredients are liquefied. Pour filling into pie crust and carefully place on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the pie comes out clean.
- Place pie on wire rack until completely cooled. Slice and serve with whipped cream, which is nice with a little cayenne pepper.
- Variation: For standard pumpkin pie, replace the butternut squash with 1 1/2 cups of fresh, unseasoned pumpkin puree. If you are roasting your own pumpkin, cut open the top, scoop out the seeds and split the body into four pieces. Roast according to directions above.
This content was originally posted on FearlessFresh.com.
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I love the idea of butternut squash and cayenne pepper. Wow, what a great idea. And orange juice in the pie crust. Hmmm? Another good idea. I’ll definitely be trying this as my community supported agriculture deliveries have been full of squash lately. Very fall-ish pie. I love the photo.
We eat a good bit of butternut squash (called butternut PUMPKIN here in NZ) but mostly in savory dishes. I DO love a good butternut pie recipe though. Thanks!
With each breath – thanks. THat is my motto for the rest of the year! Lovely post… as always
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays as well! Squash pie is right up my alley! Love all things squash!
Mmm – cayenne in the filling! Brilliant! And I LOVE the minimalism of your photo.
I’ve never had a sweet squash tart but oh my this looks good. And OJ in the tart shell, who would have thunk?
Stephanie, I adore your site! And look at this GF pie crust. Woo hoo! Will have to give this one a test run. Thanks for sharing.
Lexie
Crust! I’ve been looking for a good one. Will have to try yours. Love that you did a pie that was a little different. Looks delicious!
I keep on saying that I’m not a huge fan of winter squashes, but this looks amazing, but and, of course, having it as part of a tart totally makes a difference! I love that it’s not the traditional pumpkin pie. AND I love that you put a pinch of cayenne pepper in it. Brilliant.
Oh, and I didn’t see a recipe for your gluten free flour mix anywhere, even though say “see below”. Did I miss it?
Ack, my link didn’t go through! Fixed. Thanks for the heads up. :)
Stephanie, this pie looks amazing! I love how interchangeable all of the different winter squashes are. We get set into thinking that pumpkin is the only one good for a pie. I totally beg to differ and am so so glad you posted such a wonderful looking recipe!! Yum!
I like the recipe (which I’ll be making with pumpkin) — but even better, I like your take on community. many of my friends and family live in other countries and other states. good to be reminded that we *are* a strong community nonetheless. thanks.
I think you need music to go along with that gluten free Thanksgiving feast, though…
Because I love you, I’ll let you have my virtual slice of butternut squash pie. It’s all yours. :)
Wonderful pie. My son’s girlfriend is an wonderful cook who has to eat gluten free. I’m passing your wonderful blog on to her. :)
Your shot of the pie is wonderful! I hope the pie helped cheer you up!
Mmmm, I love butternut squash soup, this looks just as tasty. Thanks!
Stephanie-You had me at the cayenne pepper. Actually you had me at the weepy part about our GF community. You are giving as much as you are receiving. Thanks for your support.
I never thought of using butternut squash in a pie! Very great idea. And I am so happy to know you!
Heart warming pie and post. Sending you warm wishes over the waves Stephanie.
Wow great looking pie and a list a mile long on ideas to cook. I could eat all year from that list!
I need this pie. Love butternut squash in all forms – but never had it in a pie. Thanks for sharing the recipe – and equally important, thanks for sharing a part of yourself in every wonderful post!
Great recipe! I made a link on my food and history blog today”
Best wishes,
Fred
Yum, butternut squash pie. Now if I can just figure out how to make the crust without the butter and egg the pie should be pretty easy using coconut milk instead of milk and cream. Still, it looks absolutely yummy.