Slices of Peter Sidwell's Prune + Squash Gingerbread

A Healthier Gingerbread Recipe

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Celebrate the holiday season with a healthier gingerbread recipe! Ginger and California Prunes are a super delicious pairing. The spicy, earthy notes from the ginger go well with the sweetness and texture of California Prunes. This California Prune and Squash Gingerbread by Chef Peter Sidwell is moist, subtly spiced, cozy, and delicious!

Why would you put squash in a gingerbread recipe?

If the idea of squash in a gingerbread recipe weirds you out, keep calm. We’re talking mashed butternut squash here, folks. It’s basically akin to adding pumpkin to a recipe – it simply helps to add moisture while naturally reducing the fat content of the recipe. In fact, if you’re short on time, you can simply use a can of pumpkin purée instead. You’ll still want to mix the pumpkin in with the brown sugar, honey and molasses.

Slices of Peter Sidwell's Prune + Squash Gingerbread

A healthier gingerbread recipe

We’ve already established that the butternut squash (or pumpkin) adds moisture and reduces the amount of oil or butter necessary in this recipe – but squash isn’t the only healthy swap Peter made in this recipe. He also adds chopped prunes to this classic holiday treat. They add a lovely rich flavor, accentuating the ginger without over powering it. In addition, prunes are a healthy powerhouse and provide many essential vitamins and minerals that will level up the nutritional value of any recipe! Prunes are low glycemic and loaded with fiber, polyphenols, boron, potassium, and Vitamin K which collectively can contribute to gut health, reduced inflammation, cancer prevention, blood sugar control, bone health, and reduced cholesterol!

Slices of Peter Sidwell's Prune + Squash Gingerbread

Prune and Squash Gingerbread

Peter Sidwell
Ginger and California Prunes are a super delicious pairing. The spicy, earthy notes from the ginger go well with the sweetness and texture of California Prunes. This California Prune and Squash Gingerbread by Chef Peter Sidwell is moist, subtly spiced, cozy, and delicious!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Holiday
Servings 10
Calories 303 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup cooked butternut squash diced (or use canned pumpkin puree)
  • ½ cup brown sugar packed
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • ¾ cup chopped California Prunes
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 TBSP ground ginger
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 8 TBSP butter room temperature
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180C).
  • Place the cooked squash, brown sugar, honey, and molasses into a medium saucepan and melt gently on medium heat.
  • As the ingredients begin to melt, stir in the chopped California Prunes.
  • Carefully mash the ingredients with a fork or masher until the squash is broken down into small pieces. Leave to cool slightly while you mix the dry ingredients.
  • Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, and pumpkin pie spice into a mixing bowl.
  • Add the butter and, using your hands or a mixer, rub or mix into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs, then add the beaten eggs.
  • Pour the squash mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk together until evenly combined.
  • Pour into a greased 9×5 inch (22×12 cm) loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Video

Notes

Looking for more ginger and prune recipes? Check out this Ginger Prune Kombucha Mule Mocktail!

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 333mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 1919IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 2mg
Keyword gingerbread, Holiday, Peter Sidwell
Tried this recipe? Want to save it for later?Share it on social and tag @CAPrunes or #CAPrunes!

More incredible gingerbread recipes

hand grabbing a piece of vegan gingerbread

Nigella’s Gingerbread

If you have any doubts that Nigella Lawson is an actual domestic goddess, just take a bite of her vegan gingerbread. She calls it “squidgy” – we’re pretty sure that’s British for “mind-blowingly awesome”.

a gingerbread house decorated with dried fruit and nuts

Deliciously Awesome Ideas For Gingerbread House Decorating

Need deliciously fun ideas for gingerbread house decorating? You’ve come to the right place! These incredibly awesome gingerbread house decorating ideas come from a newspaper article featuring Lorena Mariani decades ago, and they are fabulous!  We think you’ll enjoy creating this fun holiday house too. Plus, you can do some snacking while you build!

Healthy Holiday Treats

traditional sugar plums on a wooden board and a bowl of sugar with two sugar plums

Traditional Sugar Plum Candy

Are you wondering if sugar plums are real? Our friend KC of  G-Free Foodie shared her recipe for Traditional Sugar Plum Candy.  For the record – all authentic sugar plum recipes contain prunes, or dried plums. Hence the name.

a bowl of Christmas granola with striped ribbon and greenery

Holiday Granola

Usher in the holidays with this delightful combination of cinnamon, ginger, and honey wafting from your oven. This Christmas granola is perfect for gifting.

The Delicious Life Dessert Charcuterie Board with fruits and chocolate prune dip

Dessert Charcuterie Board

Our friend Sarah from The Delicious Life is known around here as “the cheeseboard queen”. She shared step-by-step instructions for creating a stunning Dessert Charcuterie Board that’s sure to “wow” any holiday crowd.

Did you try this recipe? Maybe you’ve got a favorite recipe using California Prunes that you’d like to share with us? Snap a pic and share it on social using #caprunes.

Like what you see? Be sure to follow California Prunes on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for more delicious recipes!