Festive Cheese Spread in a Winter Squash Shell

This creamy sweet cheese spread makes such a gorgeous presentation in its winter squash shell.

The mouth-watering meld of cream cheese, winter squash, dates, and cranberry chutney makes a perfect complement to any cheese board. It looks beautifully fancy, but it’s really easy to make.

Here’s how:

INGREDIENTS

1 medium-sized acorn squash, 1 large sweet dumpling squash, or 1 small turban squash
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped pitted dates
2 tablespoons drained and chopped cranberry chutney

1. If necessary, cut a 1-inch slice from the bottom of the squash so that it sits upright. Remove the stem end. Scoop out and discard seeds and fibers.

2. Fill a saucepan with about an inch of water. Bring to a boil. Set the squash upside down in the saucepan.

3. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and simmer until the squash flesh is tender when pressed with a fork but the shell is still firm, about 20 minutes. Transfer the squash to a colander to drain and cool.

4. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until thoroughly blended. Mix in the dates and chutney.

5, Scoop the flesh from the cooled squash shell, leaving about 1/4 inch of shell. Add the squash flesh to the cream cheese mixture and blend well. Spoon the mixture into the shell. Cover and chill.

Serve chilled with crackers.

Serves 8-12.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Appetizers & Snacks

Adapted from The Zucchini Cookbook, by Nancy C. Ralston, Marynor Jordan, and Andrea Chesman (Storey Books, 2002). Copyright (c) 2002 by Ralston, Jordan, and Chesman. Reprinted by permission of Storey Books.
Adapted from The Zucchini Cookbook, by Nancy C. Ralston, Marynor Jordan, and Andrea Chesman (Storey Books, 2002).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Maija S.

7:40PM PST on Nov 17, 2011

OMG! That looks incredible!
I'll have to make a bit of cranberry chutney so I can make this.
Ohhhh... it sounds like heaven!
Thanks!

send a green star

Michele W.

9:11AM PDT on Oct 31, 2011

Thank you

Val G.

7:53PM PDT on Oct 30, 2011

Thank you Annie!!

Jennifer C.

12:11AM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

Yummy. Thanks for the great recipe.

Kristi C.

2:45PM PST on Dec 2, 2010

So where does one find cranberry chutney? I've never seen it.

Bon L.

6:50AM PST on Dec 2, 2010

Thanks for the info.

KayL N.

8:53PM PDT on Nov 2, 2010

Sounds interesting and delicious, but my local grocery store doesn't carry either dumpling squash or turban squash. Indeed, I have no clue what they are, as I have never seen nor heard of them before...

Stephanie D.

12:47AM PST on Jan 8, 2010

mmmmmmmmm it sounds really great and as I like cooking and prepar new receipes , I will do this tomorrow ! Thanks !

Kirsty R.

9:07PM PST on Jan 6, 2010

Thanks!

Jo C.

11:29PM PST on Jan 4, 2010

I love cheese so...........................