Swap your typical holiday potato side for this mashed butternut squash with bacon crumble.

This squash mash is so soft and airy we might dare to call it “whipped.”

And it’s the perfect base for all the savory crunchy toppings you could imagine.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash in a bowl ready to serve

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Place rosemary sprigs on a large rimmed baking sheet; place squash over rosemary, cut sides down.

Bake on upper rack until very tender, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating pan halfway through.

Remove from oven; let stand until squash are cool enough to handle, 15 minutes.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash ingredients

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Bake in preheated oven on lower rack until bacon is crisp, 12 to 15 minutes.

Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, and set aside.

Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until foamy, about 1 minute.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash preparing to roast the squash

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Reduce heat to low, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

Transfer 1/4 cup butter to a large heatproof bowl; set aside.

Stir almonds and chopped rosemary into remaining butter in saucepan.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash after roasting

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Cook over medium-low, stirring often, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.

Process squash until smooth:

Scoop out squash flesh; discard skins and rosemary sprigs.

Transfer to a large serving bowl.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash cooking the bacon

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Add topping:

Chop bacon into small pieces, and stir into almond mixture.

Sprinkle squash mixture with 2 tablespoons of the bacon topping.

Serve with remaining topping.

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash browning the butter

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Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash adding the nuts to the butter

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Julian Knox

Southern Living Butternut Squash scooping the squash out to puree

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Julian Knox

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash whipping the squash

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Julian Knox

Southern Living Mashed Butternut Squash adding the bacon to the nut mixture

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Julian Knox

Southern Living Butternut Squash adding the topping to the mashed squash

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Julian Knox