Sweet squash, browned butter, and subtle sage come together in our November Bundt of the Month to create a deliciously bountiful Bundt destined to grace your Thanksgiving table. The pillowy, amber-hued dough is infused with roasted butternut squash and fresh sage for an earthy, mildly sweet flavor. Butternut squash also adds an irresistibly rich, tender texture to the dough. But the true magic happens as the dough undergoes its first rise. Butter and fresh sage are combined and allowed to bubble on the stovetop, turning the butter a gorgeous golden brown while also infusing it with the fresh taste of sage. Each ball of dough is then dipped in the butter mixture and drizzled with any that’s left over, resulting in a nutty, savory Bundt perfect for sharing. Nordic Ware’s 75th Anniversary Braided Bundt Pan gives this Bundt its signature interwoven design while also releasing the bread with ease. Topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an added kick of savory flavor, this shareable Bundt is sure to be a holiday hit.
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Squash-Sage Pull-Apart Bread
Makes 1 (12-cup) loaf
Ingredients
- 3 to 3¼ cups (375 to 406 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 3½ teaspoons (10.5 grams) kosher salt*, divided
- 2¼ teaspoons (7 grams) instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) onion powder, divided
- ½ cup (120 grams) water
- ¼ cup (60 grams) whole milk
- 8 tablespoons (112 grams) unsalted butter, softened and divided
- ⅔ cup (162 grams) butternut squash purée (see Notes)
- 2½ teaspoons (3 grams) chopped fresh sage
- 4 (2½ to 2¾-inch-long) fresh sage leaves
- Garnish: freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1 cup (125 grams) flour, sugar, 2¾ teaspoons (8.25 grams) salt, yeast, and ½ teaspoon (1 gram) onion powder at low speed until combined.
- In a small saucepan, heat ½ cup (120 grams) water, milk, and 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and an instant-read thermometer registers 120°F (49°C) to 130°F (54°C). Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture; beat at medium speed for 1 minute, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add squash; beat just until combined, about 30 seconds. With mixer on low speed, gradually add 2 cups (250 grams) flour and chopped sage, beating just until combined.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until dough is soft and somewhat sticky and mostly clears sides of bowl, 8 to 12 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl and dough hook; add up to remaining ¼ cup (31 grams) flour, 1 tablespoon (8 grams) at a time, if dough is too sticky. (Dough should pass the windowpane test; see Notes.) Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and shape into a ball.
- Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until doubled in size, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- In a small saucepan, heat remaining 6 tablespoons (84 grams) butter over medium heat until bubbling. Add sage leaves; cook, stirring occasionally, until leaves are slightly crisp and butter solids are light amber in color and nutty in aroma, 3 to 6 minutes. Transfer butter mixture to a small heatproof bowl; let cool for 15 minutes. (Butter should be just warm to the touch.) Remove and discard sage. Stir in remaining ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) salt and remaining ½ teaspoon (1 gram) onion powder.
- Spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray with flour.
- Punch down dough; let stand for 10 minutes. On a clean surface, divide dough into 30 portions (26 to 28 grams each); gently shape each portion into a ball, pinching closed any seams, if needed. (Keep dough portions covered with a sheet of plastic wrap while working.) Dip dough balls in butter mixture, turning until well coated and letting excess drip off; arrange evenly in prepared pan, firmly pressing dough balls into each other and grooves of pan. Pour and spread remaining butter mixture over top of dough; firmly press dough balls in an even layer in pan. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until puffed and dough holds an indentation when pressed, 25 to 35 minutes.
- Bake until top of dough starts to turn golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted near center registers at least 195°F (88°C) to 210°F (98°C), 17 to 22 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes; invert onto a serving plate. Garnish with cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
*We used Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, which has a different grain shape and a lighter, less salty flavor than coarser kosher salts. If measuring by volume, use half the amount of coarse kosher salt (such as Morton’s). Especially for breads, though, it’s often safest to measure salt by weight for the most consistent results.
Notes: To make butternut squash purée, halve and seed a medium butternut squash and then coat it on all sides with 1 tablespoon (14 grams) vegetable oil. Bake, cut side down, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) until very fork-tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool completely on pan. For best color, trim and discard any browned spots. Scoop squash into the work bowl of a food processor and pulse until mostly smooth, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. (Alternately, mash using a potato masher.) Reserve any extra squash purée for another use.
Test the dough for proper gluten development using the windowpane test. Pinch off (don’t tear) a small piece of dough, lightly flouring hands if necessary. Slowly pull the dough out from the center. If the dough is ready, you will be able to stretch it until it’s thin and translucent like a windowpane. If the dough tears, it’s not quite ready. Beat for 1 minute, and test again.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Convert This Recipe Into Bundtlettes
These savory Bundtlettes are the answer to all your single-serving needs, perfect for sharing with family and friends at your next fall feast. Follow the recipe below for Mini Squash-Sage Pull-Apart Breads.
Mini Squash-Sage Pull-Apart Breads
Makes 6 Bundtlettes
Ingredients
- 1 to 1¼ cups (126 to 157 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
- 4 teaspoons (16 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt*, divided
- ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon onion powder , divided
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) water
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) whole milk
- 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter, softened and divided
- ¼ cup (58 grams) butternut squash purée (see Notes)
- ¾ teaspoon (1 gram) chopped fresh sage
- 2 (2½- to 2¾-inch-long) fresh sage leaves
- Garnish: freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (see Notes) fitted with the paddle attachment, beat ½ cup (63 grams) flour, sugar, ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) salt, yeast, and ¼ teaspoon onion powder at low speed until combined.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine 3 tablespoons (45 grams) water, milk, and 1 tablespoon (14 grams) butter; heat on high in 10-second intervals, stirring between each, until butter is melted and an instant-read thermometer registers 120°F (49°C) to 130°F (54°C). Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture; beat at medium speed for 1 minute, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add squash; beat just until combined, about 30 seconds. With mixer on low speed, gradually add ½ cup (63 grams) flour and chopped sage, beating just until combined.
- Turn out dough onto a very lightly floured surface, and knead by hand until dough passes the windowpane test (see Notes), 10 to 16 minutes; add up to remaining ¼ cup (31 grams) flour, 1 tablespoon (8 grams) at a time, if dough is too wet or sticky. (Dough should be soft and somewhat sticky; re-flour surface only if needed.)
- Spray a medium bowl with cooking spray. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until doubled in size, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
- In a small saucepan, heat remaining 4 tablespoons (56 grams) butter over medium heat until bubbling. Add sage leaves; cook, stirring occasionally, until leaves are slightly crisp and butter solids are light amber in color and nutty in aroma, 3 to 6 minutes. Transfer butter mixture to a small heatproof bowl; let cool for 15 minutes. (Butter should be just warm to the touch.) Discard sage leaves. Stir in remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and remaining ¼ teaspoon onion powder.
- Spray a 4- to 5-cup Bundtlette pan with baking spray with flour.
- Punch down dough; let stand for 10 minutes. On a clean surface, divide dough into 54 portions (about 4 grams each). Roll each portion into a smooth ball, pinching any seams to seal. (Keep dough portions covered with a sheet of plastic wrap while working.) Dip dough balls in butter mixture, turning until well coated and letting excess drip off; arrange 9 dough balls, side by side, in an even layer in each well. Pour any remaining butter mixture over top of dough and firmly press balls in an even layer in wells. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until puffed and dough holds an indentation when pressed, 25 to 35 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Bake until tops are lightly golden, and an instant-read thermometer inserted near center registers 195°F (90°C) to 210°F (98°C), 10 to 14 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes; invert onto a serving plate. Garnish with cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
*We used Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, which has a different grain shape and a lighter, less salty flavor than coarser kosher salts. If measuring by volume, use half the amount of coarse kosher salt (such as Morton’s). Especially for breads, though, it’s often safest to measure salt by weight for the most consistent results.
Notes: To make butternut squash purée, halve and seed a medium butternut squash and then coat it on all sides with 1 tablespoon (14 grams) vegetable oil. Bake, cut side down, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) until very fork-tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool completely on pan. For best color, trim and discard any browned spots. Scoop squash into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse until mostly smooth, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. (Alternatively, mash using a potato masher.) Reserve any extra squash purée for another use. We developed this Bundlette recipe using a 5-quart-capacity stand mixer. If your mixer capacity is too large for this small quantity of dough, you may need to bring this Bundtlette dough together completely by hand. Test the dough for proper gluten development using the windowpane test. Pinch off (don’t tear) a small piece of dough, lightly flouring hands if necessary. Slowly pull the dough out from the center. If the dough is ready, you will be able to stretch it until it’s thin and translucent like a windowpane. If the dough tears, it’s not quite ready. Beat for 1 minute, and test again.
Notes: To make butternut squash purée, halve and seed a medium butternut squash and then coat it on all sides with 1 tablespoon (14 grams) vegetable oil. Bake, cut side down, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) until very fork-tender, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool completely on pan. For best color, trim and discard any browned spots. Scoop squash into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse until mostly smooth, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. (Alternatively, mash using a potato masher.) Reserve any extra squash purée for another use. We developed this Bundlette recipe using a 5-quart-capacity stand mixer. If your mixer capacity is too large for this small quantity of dough, you may need to bring this Bundtlette dough together completely by hand. Test the dough for proper gluten development using the windowpane test. Pinch off (don’t tear) a small piece of dough, lightly flouring hands if necessary. Slowly pull the dough out from the center. If the dough is ready, you will be able to stretch it until it’s thin and translucent like a windowpane. If the dough tears, it’s not quite ready. Beat for 1 minute, and test again.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Bundtology
Our Bundtologists share their expert tips to help master our November Bundt. Click the image to enlarge. Note that each of these tips is specific to this recipe and the 75th Anniversary Braided Bundt® Pan. Results may vary for other recipes and other pans.
Addicting! Easy to make and comes out perfect. Thank you!
Can I make this in advance and put in refrigerator overnight and bake in morning?
Hi Nancy! You could let it do its first rise, punch it down and refrigerate. Then the next day, shape the dough cold (always easier anyways). Let the dough rise to match the indicators in the recipe. It might take 15 to 30 minutes longer to get there than the recipe calls for. Then bake!