This butternut squash soup is subtly sweet, ultra-creamy, and packed with flavor. Everyone who tries it asks for the recipe! A perfect dinner for a chilly night.
Why You'll Love it
This butternut squash soup recipe is inspired by Panera's Autumn Squash soup.
The addition of ginger adds another depth of flavor. There's something incredibly satisfying about soup when it's frigid outside.
For me, the snow amplifies the joy of being warm, sitting by the fire in a ginormous robe with a bowl of hot soup.
Eight years later, I still enjoy the snow most for the warmth of it.
It turns out this warm butternut squash bisque tastes even better when your fingers are frozen solid from creating a killer snowman
If you're like me and you enjoy the frigid weather best for the things that warm you up, this soup is for you. Bonus: the house smells like fall while the vegetables are roasting.
Key Ingredients
Don't let the long ingredient list scare you. This squash soup is worth it!
Butternut squash - You need one large butternut squash, or about 8 cups of diced squash. You can buy precut butternut squash in a plastic container in the produce section.
Carrots & onions - For extra depth of flavor! If you don't want to peel and chop carrots, you can use baby carrots instead.
Ginger paste - Freshly grated ginger pulp works fine too, but ginger paste is a cinch to use. It comes in a resealable tube and lasts for 30 days in the fridge. You can find it in the produce aisle near the herbs.
Apple juice - For extra sweetness! Apple and butternut squash complement each other well.
Pumpkin puree - Don't skip this ingredient! It gives the soup a smooth texture and more squash flavor.
Vegetable stock - This liquid base is made from simmered veggies, herbs, and water. It gives any soup an instant flavor boost. I buy reduced sodium broth to avoid an excess of sodium.
Cream - For that velvety consistency and rich flavor! If you can't have dairy, try swapping it with canned coconut milk.
Spices - Curry powder and cinnamon add spice without overpowering the soup.
How to Dice a Butternut Squash:
This recipe is a little involved. If involved recipes make you cringe (trust me, I feel you) and easy recipes make you sing, here's a few ways to simplify it:
- Buy precut squash. No peeling, no dicing, no problem!
- Buy baby carrots. No need to peel, and super easy to cut up.
How to Cut a Butternut Squash:
- Lay the butternut squash on its side and cut off the ends.
- Next cut off the neck. Now you can peel the bulb and the neck separately.
- Peel both sides of the butternut squash. I use a handheld peeler for the neck and a sharp knife for the bulb.
- I find it easier to place the bulb on its flat side and run my knife down the edge of the squash to remove the peel.
- Once both sides are peeled, cut the bulb in half vertically.
- Use a large spoon to scoop out the goop and seeds.
- Place the bulb on the cutting board, large hole facing down. Carefully cut it into strips.
- Cut the strips into large chunks.
- Repeat the same process with the neck.
- Cut it into strips, then cut it into large chunks.
When dicing up all your vegetables, perfection isn't the goal. They're all going to be whizzed up into soup anyhow.
How to Make Butternut Squash Soup:
Before you start, preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roast the Veggies:
- On a large sheet pan, combine the butternut squash, onion, carrots, and garlic cloves.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, olive oil, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, curry powder, lemon juice, and salt.
- Drizzle the butter mixture over the veggies and toss until everything is well coated.
- Roast the veggies for 25 minutes or until the veggies are soft and fork-tender.
Blend the Squash:
Once all the veggies are roasted, it's time to blend them.
- Scoop the roasted butternut squash into a high-speed blender. Try to get as much of the butter as you can.
- Pour ½ cup of apple juice and 1 cup of vegetable stock into the blender. .
- Start the blender on low speed, then increase the speed to high. Blend until smooth.
Finish the Butternut Squash Soup:
- Pour the butternut squash puree into a dutch oven or large pot.
- Add the pumpkin puree, 1 cup of vegetable stock, ½ cup of water, 2 tablespoons of ginger paste, and 6 ounces of heavy cream.
- Stir until incorporated.
- Bring the soup to a simmer, then remove from the heat and enjoy!
Storage:
- Store leftover squash soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To reheat individual portions, pour some soup into a heat-proof bowl and microwave until hot.
- To reheat an entire pot of soup, pour the soup into a pot and heat on medium until it comes to a gentle simmer. Stir, remove from the heat, and enjoy!
Butternut Squash Soup Variations:
- Consistency - The hubs and I like our soup a bit thick. If you prefer it on the soupier side, you can add more liquid. Just do it gradually, because just like an impulsive angry rant - you can't take it back.
- Vegan/dairy-free - Swap the heavy cream with canned coconut milk. Swap the honey with maple syrup and the butter with vegan butter or olive oil. Tastes just as delicious!
- Ginger - If you're not a ginger fan, just omit it. This soup is still the best.
Cozy Soup Recipes:
If you are constantly on the lookout for soup recipes once jacket weather comes, check out these:
- Cowboy Soup
- Panera Turkey Chili Recipe
- Easy Homestyle Chili
- Tomato Bisque [Easy & Creamy]
- Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Equipment
- blender
- Large pot or dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash approx. 8 cups
- 1 yellow onion cut into medium dice
- 2 large carrots peeled and cut into large dice
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 3 T. butter melted
- 1 T. Olive Oil
- 1 T. honey
- 1 T. brown sugar
- ½ t cinnamon
- 1 t. curry powder
- ¾ t. kosher salt
- 1 t. lemon juice
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- ½ cup water
- 6 oz cream
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 T. ginger paste or freshly grated pulp
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place butternut squash laying down on a cutting board. Cut both ends off and discard. Cut the neck off and set aside.
- Use a chef’s knife or peeler to peel the neck and the bulb of the squash.
- Place the round portion of the squash onto the cutting board and cut in half vertically.
- Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and goop. Dice the squash into 1 inch chunks. It needn’t be pretty or exact. If you prefer it, you can use the precut chunks from the grocery store, just make sure it's fresh not frozen.
- Place butternut squash, onion, carrots, and garlic on a sheet pan.
- Combine melted butter, olive oil, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, curry powder, kosher salt and lemon juice in a small bowl. Drizzle it over the butternut squash mixture and toss until everything is coated. Roast at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.
- Once cooked and cooled, spoon vegetables into blender and blend with ½ cup apple juice and 1 cup of the vegetable stock.
- Pour into large saucepan on medium heat. Add ½ cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup vegetable stock, ½ cup water, 2 T. ginger pulp and 6 oz. cream. Stir until well combined and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
The Nortmans
Made this soup it’s easy to make and delicious.
Beth
I made this soup with a slight adjustment. I cubed a sweet potatoes to roast with the other veggies and left out the pumpkin. It was delicious.
CW
I was just about to do this same thing! I’m glad I saw your comment and that it worked out well!!!
TroyAndRyansMom
I also skipped pumpkin and added sweet potato. I added a diced apple to the veggies as I didn't have juice. Then added extra broth. It turned out incredible!
Wendy Byer
Great idea
Ashley VonderBecke
It was soooo good. Loved the addition of ginger.
바카라
Love to eat some spicy soup ! !
Susan
This soup was delish. I subbed cream for almond milk. Was still creamy.
No oil, butter or cream.
Thanks for the recipe
Karissa Warkentin
This was delicious! I used half the ginger just because my family doesn't love ginger. I used my Ninja Blender to puree the soup in two batches. I froze half before adding cream. Served the other half with garlic croutons! Everyone complimented me and said it was so fancy!
Carolyn
I'm so glad everyone loved it! Croutons would be so great on top!
Lisa
Could you roast the squash then scoop it out instead of peeling &dicing raw?
Carolyn
Yes, that should be fine as long as it's cooked. The carrots and onions also need to be roasted though.
Kathy
Can you make this ahead? Would you add the cream and all if you’re going to cool and store in the fridge for a day? Or, should I follow the recipe but wait to add the cream when I warm it up? I’m not looking to freeze this soup…. Just want to make and bring to a friend to enjoy tomorrow.
Jenna
Hello,
I would like to make this recipe for thanksgiving. How many people does this recipe serve? I have 16 people. Just need to know if I should double this recipe. Thank you!
Lynn Beam
Such good suggestions. I like the idea of adding a sweet potato. We had lunch at Panera (sp) and had that soup. Yum! So we went to Pinterest for the recipe. Making it today.
Linda Ridder
This is the best butternut squash soup recipe! My Dad and I love this soup! Thank you for sharing.
Carolyn
It really depends on how much everyone will eat. If you have a ton of other food and everyone will only have a small bowl, you might not have to. For a full serving though, I would defenitely double it. You will need two sheet pans to roast the veggies and possible two pots, unless you have a large stockpot. Hope this helps!
Jenna
Ok great, thank you, that was helpful!
Patti
Making it today. The soup has a beautiful color. Can't wait to taste it.
Julie
This soup is amazing!!! I've made it twice so far and it's a keeper...the roasted vegetables with that drizzle, yummmmm!!! I'm making a double batch right now to freeze.
Trina
Heavenly, Aromatic, Delicious!!!!
Probably one of the most palatable and delectable soups I have ever made. All of those spices and ingredients… So yummy! Roasting the vegetables creates the most beautiful lingering aroma throughout the home. It truly is one of the most delicious comfort foods, ever! Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
PS it is a lot of work but worth every minute.
GuGu
This is a delicious soup. I had a hard time peeling the squash. Otherwise it went quickly! I modified by not adding the apple juice. Instead I used a apple ! This will be one of my fav soups!
Fe Follett
Saved as a favorite, I love your web site!
Kaitlyn
What do you do with the neck that you put aside?
Carolyn
You dice the entire squash except for the seeds. It's easier to cut the neck off first before you peel it.
Michelle
Amazing will make this again!
Kathy G.
I too didn’t have apple juice so I added an apple with 1/2 cup water. Flavorful and delicious!
Jenn
This is delicious! And as a side note, my very veggie-picky kids were devouring the extra curried roast veggies that I couldn’t jam into my blender. So not only do I have my fav soup on lock at home whenever I feel like it - rather than being at the mercy of seasonal restaurant soups - but we also have a new veggie side my kids love! Thank you for sharing this!
Renee
First time making and we loved it!
Janet
Very good. Took some time but worth it. We like chunky so I didn’t put it in the blender just mashed. Used apple sauce instead of juice. Loved it.
Lisa H
Are those chopped pecans on top? (First picture)
Carolyn
Those are candied butternut squash seeds!
Sue
Absolutely delicious! Makes you think twice about licking the bowl. Thanks for sharing. Certainly a keeper!!
Kari
Is this 8 cups of butternut squash cubed?
Cathy
This recipe is delicious. I shared it with a friend who she and I go Panera frequently, and it definitely compares to there soup. Thank you for sharing this recipe!