Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese with Amaretti Cookie Crumb-Topping

BeginnerMacaroni and CheeseYummy and Unique!

Oct 20

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My roasted butternut squash macaroni and cheese with amaretti cookie crumb-topping is sophisticated enough to serve for an adult-centric dinner party, yet familiar enough for kids of all ages. Amaretti cookies are Italian almond meringues that are light as air and crispy through the middle. Adding these crunchy sweet gems to the buttery crumb-topping gives an unusual twist to traditional baked macaroni and cheese, and is the perfect complement to the natural sweetness of the roasted butternut squash.

For a dinner party, I love baking these off in individual ramekins and often play with different melting cheeses to offer an irresistible “death by cheese” course to a meal. For families, I load it all into one big family-style dish, keep the cheeses standard and leave the basil garnish on the side. Either way, this dish is anything but boring old mac n cheese!

Whoever first thought of roasting butternut squash and adding it to macaroni and cheese was a true genius! Not only does it add a healthy “creamy” texture without adding an excess of calorie-laden ingredients like cream, but it counts as an approachable vegetable exposure for your Small Fries. For picky eaters, adding pureed vegetables into their favorite “kid foods” like pizza sauce, grilled cheese, and pasta dishes can be the first step in expanding their culinary palates. Taking a food group like “mac n cheese” and presenting it in a new way, feels safer than say, a side of roasted butternut squash just on its own. Plus, the roasted butternut squash is sweet and mild in flavor and can go relatively undetected if using about half the amount that this recipe calls for.

Now, I’m not a fan of “hiding” foods and tricking kids in to taking a bite of something without knowing what is actually in it, but, adding juuuuuuust enough roasted butternut squash to their macaroni and cheese will earn points towards trying a side of roasted butternut squash on its own in the future!

#momwin

[cooked-recipe id="1474"]

Ingredients