Spiced Kabocha Squash Custard

Spiced kabocha squash custard is a dreamy dessert that is yours to cherish when you are in need of a gluten-free dessert for Thanksgiving.

This fall holiday often triggers a common situation when all-American traditions can severely crash against one’s gluten limitations and dietary needs.

It can be quite a bleak time, watching others sit at the table with belts unlatched as they happily feed their bellies with rolls, stuffing, and pies.

All of which – more often than not – contain a sensitive digestive system’s mortal, backstabbing enemy:

Et tu, Gluten?

If you’re living with gluten restrictions, mild or severe, you understand the necessity of strategizing at times to avoid a digestive uprising:

“We need to make sure all of the gluten-free options are on a separate table. And labeled!”

“Oh no, Jane and John want to have us over next week for a holiday party? Should I make my own dinner and bring it over?”

“…maybe I should just eat before I leave?”

And these concerns are often multiplied exponentially during the holidays, when you’re invited to or hosting multiple gatherings.

While managing certain menus may be out of your control, this fall-themed custard is one tasty solution to a potentially problematic dining situation that would have originally denied you a sweet ending.

Start a new tradition this Thanksgiving with a dessert that’s homemade, delicious, seasonally appropriate, and entirely devoid of wheat!

This homemade custard with its creamy pureed kabocha squash base is a gluten-free dessert you can make throughout the fall months.

Also referred to as Japanese pumpkin, kabocha squash is a winter variety with a hard shell. You can read more winter squash and find tips for growing your own on our sister site Gardener’s Path.

Much like pumpkin, butternut, or acorn squash, kabocha can be roasted and pureed to yield a thick, whipped mixture that is sweet and velvety – the best base for this custard.

Reminiscent of traditional pumpkin pie, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and a pumpkin spice blend flavor the filling with a happy autumnal aura.

And there is no crust in sight!

This is also the ideal dessert for anyone who doesn’t like the crust part of pie, or for the adventurous Thanksgiving host who wants to make a fun, individually portioned version of pumpkin pie that anyone who wishes to partake is sure to enjoy.

We’re not going too far astray from the beaten path – I highly encourage you to still serve this custard as you would a pie: with a big dollop of whipped cream.

There is no need to cut the celebration short with gluten shortcomings. A creamy kabocha custard will satisfy everyone at the table!

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Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep

Make the kabocha squash puree. Follow the easy method in our tutorial for preparing roasted squash puree. As opposed to boiling, this cooking technique adds a dynamic caramelization, and provides a boost of flavor to recipes.

One small kabocha squash, weighing about 1 1/2 pounds, will provide roughly 1 to 1 1/2 cups of pureed roasted squash.

Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Evenly space six 6-ounce ramekins in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with tall walls – a rimmed baking sheet won’t do. You’ll need a dish with tall walls to hold the water bath.

Speaking of which, fill a kettle with water.

Place 1 cup of pureed squash in a medium saucepan along with the heavy cream, whole milk, and pure maple syrup.

Measure out the packed light brown sugar, pumpkin spice blend, vanilla extract, and kosher salt in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Separate the yolks from the whites of four eggs and add the yolks to the mixing bowl.

Reserve the whites for another use – have you tried baking homemade coconut macaroons? Our recipe uses 4 egg whites, the exact quantity you will have left over when making this recipe!

Do you keep a variety of spices in your cabinet? You may have everything you need already to make your own pumpkin spice blend.

Step 2 – Boil Water and Heat Squash Puree Mixture

This is the best time to heat the water in your kettle for the water bath. Boil the water in the kettle and set aside. Baking the custard in a warm water bath maintains a consistent temperature, helping the base bake evenly. It is the same technique that you might apply when making a smooth and creamy cheesecake.

As the water is boiling, whisk together the wet ingredients in the saucepan until they are combined well. The thick puree will easily blend with the milk, cream, and maple syrup.

Place the saucepan on the stovetop over low heat – you don’t want to go any higher with the heat in order to prevent boiling or burning. Whisk occasionally until the mixture begins to steam, for about 5 to 8 minutes.

You do not want to whisk this mixture in excess, as this will develop foam that will form a thin, bubbly top layer as the custard bakes.

While definitely not a devastating mistake that will compromise the integrity of the final product, it’s simply an aesthetic annoyance that can easily be covered with a dollop of whipped cream upon serving!

Step 3 – Whisk Together Egg Yolk Mixture

As the squash puree is heating, whisk together all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl until completely combined, to form a smooth and homogenous mixture. There should be no streaks of egg yolk remaining.

Step 4 – Temper the Egg Yolk Mixture

Once the cream mixture is steaming, remove it from the heat.

Starting with about a quarter of the warm cream mixture, slowly pour it in a steady stream into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.

Once you have thoroughly whisked this in, slowly pour in the remaining warm cream mixture. Again, this should be added in a steady stream as you whisk continuously.

The continuous and steady pouring and whisking motions help to gently heat the delicate yolks while simultaneously blending the mixtures together. This careful process is also referred to as tempering.

Step 5 – Strain and Divide into Ramekins

To yield a smooth base, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove any small lumps of coagulated egg yolks or chunks of squash puree.

You can strain the liquid directly into a clean pitcher, large liquid measuring cup, or a large bowl with a spout. Any of these options will help you to pour the liquid cleanly into the ramekins.

Evenly pour the liquid into the six ramekins in the baking dish so it’s divided equally among them. Leave about 1/4 inch of space at the top of each ramekin. Make sure the ramekins have a little space in between each one to promote even baking around the entire cup.

Step 6 – Make Water Bath and Bake

Carefully pour the hot water from the kettle into the dish. The water should reach about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

After pouring in the water, carefully transfer the dish to the oven, positioning it in the center of the rack.

Be very slow and careful with this step! You do not want to risk spilling hot water into the custards and on yourself as you try to maneuver the pan!

Bake the custards uncovered until they are mostly set. The very center of each one should still jiggle just slightly if you gently shake the pan. This will take about 40 to 45 minutes.

Step 7 – Cool, Set, and Serve

Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven – don’t forget you still have hot water in there!

Using heatproof tongs, remove the ramekins one at a time from the baking dish and transfer them to a cooling rack. Let them cool to room temperature for one hour before transferring to the refrigerator to chill and set completely, for about 4 hours.

If you are planning to serve the custards directly after chilling, you do not need to cover them while they are in the refrigerator. However, if you are waiting to serve them on another day, cover the tops of the ramekins with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming during storage.

Store covered for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Still Craving Some Crunch? Bring out the Sugar and Torch!

If you’re looking for an excuse to use your kitchen torch more often, and want to bring fire, flare, and crunch to the dessert course, don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

A fall-themed crème brulee sounds pretty nice doesn’t it? And it will still be gluten free!

Right before serving, sprinkle the tops of each chilled custard with a thin, even layer of granulated sugar – roughly 2 teaspoons for each 6-ounce ramekin.

Now… activate the kitchen torch! Heat the sugar until a deeply caramelized and hardened crust develops. Master this technique by studying the step-by-step instructions in our recipe for classic crème brulee.

Crack the top with a spoon, and dive into dessert!

What are your favorite gluten-free dishes you like to make for Thanksgiving? Is there another wheatless dessert you love to serve? I’m always searching for ways to expand my recipe repertoire for the holidays – leave a comment for me below.

There are zero insurrections, mutinies, uprisings, revolts, riots, rebellions, or coup d’etats in your kitchen when pumpkin spice is around – this spice mix is beloved by so many! Maintain peace and prosperity with more pumpkin spice recipes, starting with these fall favorites that are also gluten free:

• Pumpkin Flavored Coffee Creamer
• Pumpkin Spice Margaritas
• Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Popcorn

Photos by Nikki Cervone, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published by Shanna Mallon on November 16, 2012. Last updated on November 4, 2022.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.