Butternut squash flax bread is so warm, moist and delicious without any dairy or added oils! A new healthy holiday favorite bread loaf to bring to the table!
Holiday bread loaves and breads that have squash in them are my favorite! They taste like secret healthy cake that it is acceptable to eat for breakfast. And to top this recipe off it comes with a sweet whipped cinnamon spice butter that complements the moist bread. It is a knock-off of my gluten-free pumpkin bread.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Bake Time: 55 minutes at 350 degrees F
- ⏳ Total Time: 65 minutes, plus cooling
- 🍽️ Yield: 2 loaves, about 24 slices
- ⚡ Calories: 78kcal per slice for the bread only, per the recipe card
- 🥣 Ingredients: gluten-free flour, ground flax meal, coconut sugar, baking soda, canned butternut squash puree, eggs, maple syrup, apple sauce, nutmeg, cinnamon and pink salt, plus vegan butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and cloves for the whipped butter
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Warm, moist and lightly spiced like pumpkin bread
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, two bowls and two loaf pans
Quick Answer
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 8.5 inch loaf pans. Whisk a 15 ounce can of butternut squash puree, 4 eggs, 1 cup maple syrup and ½ cup apple sauce. In a large bowl mix 1 ½ cups gluten-free flour, ½ cup ground flax meal, ¼ cup coconut sugar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon each nutmeg, cinnamon and pink salt. Whisk the wet into the dry until there are no lumps, divide between the pans and bake 55 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, then move to a rack.
Jump to:
- Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Bread Stays So Moist
- Why You'll Love This Butternut Squash Bread
- Ingredients
- Our Favorite Holiday Gluten-Free Breads
- How to Make Butternut Squash Flax Bread
- Tips for the Best Squash Bread
- More Butternut Squash and Holiday Recipes
- Butternut Squash Bread FAQs
- More Gluten-Free Holiday Breads
- Butternut Squash Flax Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
I made this recipe for my Mom's & Mentors brunch gathering last week and it got rave reviews by friends and my family! So when my friends Dalina and Jill (hi friends!) requested the recipe be sent right away, I knew you all will love making this special holiday recipe at home too 🙂
After our gathering, I ran right home and made another batch of quick bread with the extra can of butternut squash I had sitting in the pantry. Luckily I did not eat the whole loaf of bread during the photo shoot! This gluten free butternut squash flax bread is sitting in my freezer now for Thanksgiving (if it lasts another couple of days)!
Why This Bread Stays So Moist
Click to see why it works
- Canned butternut squash. It is already cooked and mashed, the same way you would use canned pumpkin.
- Apple sauce and maple syrup keep it moist with no added oils.
- Flax meal adds body to the gluten-free flour.
- No lumps. Whisk the wet into the dry until any chunks are dissolved.
Why You'll Love This Butternut Squash Bread
- Gluten-free and dairy-free with vegan butter.
- No added oils.
- Two loaves, one to serve and one for the freezer.
- A sweet whipped cinnamon spice butter to spread on top.
- Made for the holidays, from Thanksgiving brunch to Christmas morning.
Ingredients
- Gluten-free flour.
- Ground flax meal.
- Coconut sugar and maple syrup.
- Canned butternut squash puree - one 15 ounce can.
- Eggs and apple sauce.
- Baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon and pink salt.
The recipe is a knock-off from my gluten-free pumpkin bread recipe only I use less sugar and added flax meal to the mixture. The butternut squash adds extra fiber along with flax meal. Flax meal also contains omega-3s and Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities.
Whipped Sweet Butter
Vegan butter (or regular butter or ghee if dairy is not a concern), maple syrup, cinnamon and ground cloves.
See recipe card for quantities.
Our Favorite Holiday Gluten-Free Breads
A few other favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas gluten-free breads I love to make are:
- Gluten-Free Banana Bread
- Healthy Sweet Bread Recipe (made with Spelt flour so it's not wheat free)
- Cranberry Nut Bread
- Spelt Flour Irish Soda Bread
- Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread
How to Make Butternut Squash Flax Bread
1Prep the pans. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom of two 8.5 inch bread loaf pans with cooking spray or (vegan) butter; set aside. I like to use canned butternut squash, the same way you would use canned pumpkin. It is already cooked and mashed and ready-to-go!
2Mix the wet ingredients. In a small bowl whisk together the butternut squash puree, eggs, maple syrup and apple sauce.
3Combine. In a large bowl add the gluten-free flour, flax meal, baking soda, coconut sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk together well to combine (making sure there are no lumps).
4Bake. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake each loaf for 55 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. You will have two beautiful light loaves that serve about 12 each.
5Whip the butter. Here comes the fun part... the sweet whipped cinnamon spice butter! Simply whisk or mix together room temperature vegan butter or regular butter (if not concerned about dairy), cinnamon, ground cloves and maple syrup! It really complements this butternut squash bread!
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Tips for the Best Squash Bread
- Use canned squash the same way you would use canned pumpkin.
- Whisk out the lumps before it goes in the pans.
- Freeze a loaf. Mine sits in the freezer for Thanksgiving (if it lasts another couple of days)!
- Dairy-free butter. For the butter use vegan for dairy-free. If dairy-free is not a concern regular butter or ghee can be used.
- Nutrition note. The nutritional information is based on just the bread and not the butter added.
More Butternut Squash and Holiday Recipes
Also try our roasted butternut squash pasta sauce, Roasted Butternut Squash Apple Soup, Butternut Squash Pancakes or Cranberry Butternut Squash Stuffing.
For the holiday table: Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Rolls, Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Recipes.
Butternut Squash Bread FAQs
Bake each loaf for 55 minutes at 350 degrees F, then cool 10 minutes before moving it to a cooling rack.
Yes. Use canned butternut squash the same way you would use canned pumpkin. It is already cooked and mashed.
Yes. It uses gluten-free flour and no dairy. Use vegan butter for the whipped butter to keep it dairy-free.
No. It has no added oils. Apple sauce and maple syrup keep it moist.
Yes. I keep a loaf in my freezer for Thanksgiving.
Two 8.5 inch loaves that serve about 12 each.
Butternut Squash Flax Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups gluten-free flour
- ½ cup ground flax meal
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 15 ounce can butternut squash puree
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup maple syrup
- ½ cup apple sauce
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pink salt
- Whipped Sweet Butter:
- ½ cup vegan butter or regular or ghee can be used if dairy is not a concern
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom of two 8.5 inch bread loaf pans with cooking spray or (vegan) butter; set aside. In a small bowl whisk together the butternut squash puree, eggs, maple syrup and apple sauce. Set aside in a large bowl add the gluten-free flour, flax meal, baking soda, coconut sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together until any chunks are dissolved.
- Bake each loaf for 55 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
April says
Great flavor and texture. I used fresh butternut squash and roasted until very tender. I also used half a grated apple for applesauce. Moist on the inside with a really nice crispy top.
Danielle Fahrenkrug, Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach says
April, I am so glad you enjoy this recipe!
dalina says
The flax seed bread is amazing! It is so light and fluffy and delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!!
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
You are so welcome! What makes this bread so much more delicious is enjoying it with friends like you! xoxox