Too Gourd to Be True: 7 Perfect Fall Desserts Made with Winter Squash

Many of my pumpkin dessert recipes have a little secret -- most of them are made with squash! In fact, even your canned pumpkin may be harboring squash in the mix. Why the squash switcheroo? Well, for one thing, sugar pie pumpkins can be hard to track down. They show up at farmer's and specialty markets this time of year, but are hardly widely available. Winter squash, on the other hand, are easy to find, small and easy to work with, and impart great flavor to all kinds of fall desserts. Flavor-wise, I find kabocha squash to be closest to pumpkin, but I also enjoy the lighter flavor of butternut or the meatiness of a hubbard. If your interest has been piqued, head below for 7 favorite fall desserts featuring winter squash instead of pumpkin! - By Elizabeth Stark and Brian Campbell

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