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Photo, Erik Putz.
This fall, use squash for more than just dinner. This sweet pound cake is a perfect after-dinner treat.
1 butternut squash
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
For butternut squash purée: Preheat oven to 400F.
CUT squash into quarters. Scoop out and discard seeds. Roast pieces in a large baking dish covered with foil, until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven. (Reserve some squash to garnish, if desired.) When cool enough to handle, scoop flesh from skins. Whirl in a food processor until smooth. (Purée refrigerates for up to 3 days.)
For pound cake: Turn oven heat down to 350F.
STIR flour with cinnamon, ginger, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
BEAT granulated sugar with butter in a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high, until combined. Beat in eggs, 1 cup butternut squash purée and vanilla.
BEAT flour mixture into squash mixture. Scrape into a lightly oiled 9 5-in. loaf pan. Bake until a skewer inserted into cake comes out clean, 1 hour 5 min to 1 hour 10 min. Cool in pan on a rack for 10 min, then turn loaf out onto rack to cool completely.