How to Make Cinnamon Chayote Squash

Chayote Squash Replaces Apples In This Healthy Sweet Treat

This 5-ingredient dessert recipe is delicious but also great for the low-carb lifestyle. Chayote is a low-calorie vegetable with less sugar than an apple. Apples are great, too—don’t get me wrong—but it’s nice to switch it up occasionally.

What is Chayote Squash?

Chayote (scientifically known as Sechium edule) features a bright green exterior skin with a delicate but firm pear/apple-like texture. It is technically considered a fruit because of its large pit in the center (like avocados). Once peeled, the white interior is great for savory and sweet meals.

The Health Benefits of Chayote Squash

This bright green gourd is packed full of essential vitamins and minerals, including dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, polyphenols, zinc, amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170402/nutrients/).

Other antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it excellent for digestion, cardiovascular health, weight loss, bone health, and many other benefits.

Cinnamon Chayote Squash Ingredients

• 2 Chayote
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Apple Pie Spice or Ginger
• 4 packets of Sweetener of choice (Splenda, Truvia) OR 1-2 Tbsp of agave or pure maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice

How to Make Cinnamon Chayote Squash

Once you give the chayote a good rinse, you’ll want to peel it using a vegetable peeler. As it is peeled, the chayote secretes a sort of clear “slime,” similar to how a cucumber sweats as you trim its skin. Don’t worry. You can simply rinse the slime off and pat it dry.

Although minimal, peeling chayote can cause some irritation for some; for others, it can feel numbing. To be on the safe side, you can also use disposable gloves.

1. Cut the chayote in half and remove the pit – it is easiest to do using a spoon.
2. Slice them into apple-sized slices or cubed chunks, whichever small shape you prefer.
3. Place them in a baking dish and add the lemon juice, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and sweetener. Mix everything to evenly coat the chayote—at this stage, it should look like cinnamon apples. For an extra-apple-y flavor, you can add Sugar-free torani cinnamon syrup.
4. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. You’ll know they are ready when you can easily pierce them. [Editor’s note: They also cook well in a crockpot.]
5. After you taste-test that they’re to your liking, take them out, let them cool just slightly, and then enjoy!

So yummy!

To Serve

• Add to yogurt with a drizzle of agave or keto maple syrup.
• Add the cinnamon chayote squash to your oatmeal with a drizzle of PB2 peanut butter for a veggie-twist on breakfast.
• Top it with a handful of low-carb granola.
• Plop a dollop of whipped cream on top.