Wrapped in flaky pie dough, nutty butternut squash, caramelized shallots, cremini mushrooms lay on a smear of ricotta and smoked gouda cheese. Mini Butternut Squash Galettes are a savory galette appetizer perfect for holiday get-togethers.
Add a drizzle of hot honey!
This rustic squash galette features a flaky crust that shatters when you take a bite. Then a drizzle of hot honey adds a touch of heat.
Difference between a tart and a galette
Tarts and galettes have many common characteristics. Both showcase a filling in a pastry shell. It is the form of that pastry shell that is the defining attribute. Tarts are baked in a shallow pan, generally with a fluted edge, and a removable bottom. This gives a tart a refined look with structure. A shortcrust pastry such as pate sucree or sablee is generally the dough of choice.
Galettes are free-form and have a rustic appearance. A circle of dough has the ingredients in the center with the edges folded toward the center thereby encasing the filling. The advantage of preparing a galette is you do not need a special pan.


What dough to use for a galette?
Typically, pie dough is dough choice for preparing galettes. The flaky and delicate nature of pie dough gives a lot of texture to galettes. If you are making a sweet dessert, add sugar to the preparation of the dough.
How to make buttery, flaky pie dough
Use this recipe to prepare these mini galettes - https://tenpoundcakecompany.com/buttery-flaky-pie-dough/
I use a food processor to make pie dough but you can use your hands just as easily.
- Cut 12 tablespoons (6 ounces/168 grams) of butter into cubes. Make sure to keep the butter cold.
- Combine 2 cups of flour (240 grams) with a healthy pinch of kosher salt.


- Cut the cold butter into the flour. If you are using a food processor, pulse about 10 times. You should see visible pea-sized pieces of butter.
- Add ½ cup (118 ml.) of ice water to the flour/butter mix. If you are using a food processor, pulse the machine while adding the water. If you are using your hands, add the water and gently toss the flour/butter mix to hydrate it. The key to flaky pie dough is to not overwork the flour. You want to see the chunks of butter. Hold back about 2 tablespoons of water. Give the dough s squeeze with your hand. Does it hold together? If so, the dough does not need any more water. If the flour is still loose and dry, add the remaining water.
Assembling the dough
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Have two pieces of plastic wrap on the counter in an intersecting pattern. Pour the contents of the food processor onto the middle section of the plastic. Using the ends of the plastic start to press on the flour to make a cohesive dough. Do this for all 4 ends of the plastic. Fold the dough onto itself and wrap it up with the plastic.


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Take a rolling pin and press on the plastic-wrapped dough. This helps to make the dough one flat cohesive piece.
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the dough to rest.
Mini Butternut Squash Galette ingredients


- 3 cups of sliced shallots
- 3 cups of sliced cremini mushrooms
- 3 cups of peeled and sliced butternut squash
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of marsala wine
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves
- 1 ½ cups of whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup of shredded smoked gouda
- ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest
- 1 egg
- ½ cup of chopped pecans
- ¼ cup of honey
- ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
How to prepare rustic Mini Butternut Squash Galettes
Prepare the dough
- Prepare 1 recipe of pie dough and let it chill while you prepare the other ingredients.
Prepare the galette filling
Peel and clean the squash
- Peel a butternut squash. It is helpful to use a Y peeler to remove the rind. Cut both ends off of the squash. Laying the squash on its side, remove the peel, rotating as you work.
- Since the squash can be slippery once peeled, I find it is easier to cut it in half, the long end removed from the bulb end. If you are using the bulb end, cut it in half revealing the center of the squash. You will need to remove the stringy fibers and seeds. I find using a large spoon helpful.
- Once the interior of each squash half is cleaned, cut them in half. Cut each quarter into ¼-inch thick slices until you have 3 cups.
- Slice the shallots and cremini mushrooms.


- Mince 2 cloves of garlic.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat. Add the shallots to the pan, stirring to mix with the olive oil. Saute the shallots for 6-7 minutes until they start to wilt and caramelize.
- At this point add the cremini mushroom slices to the pan. Mix the shallots and mushrooms.
- Continue cooking for 5 minutes, letting the mushrooms brown. Add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the pan. Combine the garlic with the vegetables.


- When the garlic becomes fragrant (about 1 minute), deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of marsala wine.
- Add 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper to the pan. Combine all ingredients.
- Let the filling cool as you prepare the other ingredients.
Mix the ricotta spread
- Combine 1½ cups of whole milk ricotta with 1 cup of shredded smoked gouda cheese, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest, ½teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.


Roll out the galette dough
- Divide cold pie dough into separate 1.5-ounce balls.
- Sprinkle your rolling surface with some flour. Flatten the pie dough ball into a small circle of dough.
- With a rolling pin, increase the size of the dough circle. Make sure the thickness of the dough is consistent throughout the circle.


- Roll the dough out into 6.5 - 7 -inch circles. Continue with the other 11 balls of dough.
Assemble Mini Galettes
- Add 2 tablespoons of the cheese spread to a dough circle. Leaving an inch border, spread the cheese onto the dough.


- Add 2 tablespoons of the mushroom/shallot filling on top of the cheese spread.
- Layer the butternut squash pieces on top of the mushroom/shallot filling. Use about 7-8 pieces per galette.


- Layer all the fillings and vegetables on the pie dough then fold the edges of the dough over. You will be almost ruffling the dough as you fold.
- Repeat with the remaining dough until you have 12 galettes.
- Crack an egg into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water to the egg and lightly beat together. Place 6 galettes on each parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Brush the edges of the galette dough with the egg wash.


- Place the sheet pans in the oven. Bake the galettes for 30 minutes. Rotate the pans in the oven.
- Bake for 15 more minutes. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the filling in each galette. Bake for 5 more minutes and remove from the oven.
- The galettes should be golden brown. Drizzle the hot honey across the top of each galette.


Substitutions
- If you are not a butternut squash lover, prepare the recipe with sweet potatoes.
- Other cheeses you can combine with the ricotta include Havarti, brie, or goat cheese.
- A drizzle of maple syrup or reduced balsamic vinegar can be a substitution for hot honey.
- You can make one large galette and cut into slices.
How to serve Mini Butternut Squash Galettes
These Mini Butternut Squash Galettes are a delicious Thanksgiving dinner appetizer. You can stave off the hungry crowd waiting for the big meal with this flaky and buttery galette. It is a great option for any vegetarian friends.


To make this a more substantial meal, add a green salad as a side. This rustic beauty is a tasty addition to any holiday meal.
Recipe
Mini Butternut Squash Galettes
Equipment
- 1 Saute pan
- 2 sheet pans
- 1 cutting board
- 1 knife
- 1 vegetable peeler Y peelers can remove the butternut squash rind.
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 2 sheets of parchment paper Cut to fit the sheet pans.
Ingredients
- 18 ounces pie dough (https://tenpoundcakecompany.com/buttery-flaky-pie-dough)
- 3 cups shallots, sliced ( approximately 12 large shallots/16 ounces/453 grams)
- 3 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced (8 ounces/221 grams)
- 3 cups butternut squash, sliced (15 ounces/423 grams)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons marsala wine
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1½ cups whole milk ricotta cheese (10 ounces/285 grams)
- 1 cup smoked gouda, grated (4.3 ounces/121 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 egg
- ½ cup pecans, chopped (2.3 ounces/64 grams)
- ¼ cup honey (4 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare 1 recipe of pie dough and let it chill while you prepare the other ingredients. There is a link to a recipe in the notes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mini Galette Filling
- Peel a butternut squash. It is helpful to use a Y peeler to remove the rind. Cut both ends off of the squash. Laying the squash on its side, remove the peel, rotating as you work.
- Since the squash can be slippery once peeled, I find it is easier to cut it in half, the long end removed from the bulb end. If you are using the bulb end, cut it in half revealing the center of the squash. You will need to remove the stringy fibers and seeds. I find using a large spoon helpful.
- Once the interior of each squash half is cleaned, cut them in half. Cut each quarter into ¼-inch thick slices until you have 3 cups.
- Slice the shallots and cremini mushrooms.
- Mince 2 cloves of garlic.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat.
- Add the shallots to the pan, stirring to mix with the olive oil.
- Saute the shallots for 6-7 minutes until they start to wilt and caramelize.
- At this point add the cremini mushroom slices to the pan. Mix the shallots and mushrooms together.
- Continue cooking for 5 minutes, letting the mushrooms brown. Add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the pan. Combine the garlic with the vegetables.
- When the garlic becomes fragrant (about 1 minute), deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of marsala wine.
- Add 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper to the pan. Combine all ingredients.
- Let the filling cool as you prepare the other ingredients.
Ricotta Cheese Spread
- Combine 1½ cups of whole milk ricotta with 1 cup of shredded smoked gouda cheese, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon of lemon zest, ½teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
Galette Dough
- Divide cold pie dough into separate 1.5-ounce balls.
- Sprinkle your rolling surface with some flour. Flatten the pie dough ball into a small circle of dough.
- With a rolling pin, increase the size of the dough circle. Make sure the thickness of the dough is consistent throughout the circle.
- Roll the dough out into 6.5 - 7 -inch circles. Continue with the other 11 balls of dough.
Assemble Mini Galettes
- Add 2 tablespoons of the cheese spread to a dough circle. Leaving an inch border, spread the cheese onto the dough.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the mushroom/shallot filling on top of the cheese spread.
- Layer the butternut squash pieces on top of the mushroom/shallot filling. Use about 7-8 pieces per galette.
- Once all the fillings and vegetables have been layered on the pie dough, fold the edges of the dough over. You will be almost ruffling the dough as you fold.
- Repeat with the remaining dough until you have 12 galettes.
- Crack an egg into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water to the egg. Lightly beat together until combined.
- Place 6 galettes on each parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Brush the edges of the galette dough with the egg wash.
- Place the sheet pans in the oven. Bake the galettes for 30 minutes. Rotate the pans in the oven.
- Bake for 15 more minutes. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the filling in each galette.
- Bake for 5 more minutes and remove from the oven.
- The galettes should be golden brown. Drizzle the hot honey across the top of each galette.
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