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Panera Autumn Squash Soup

Panera Autumn Squash Soup is a creamy copycat made with butternut squash, pumpkin, apple juice, and warm spices. Simmer the vegetables until fork-tender, then puree for a smooth, cozy soup finished with cream and honey.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 39 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion medium, chopped
  • 2 carrots medium, peeled and chopped
  • 2.5 lb butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp honey

Equipment

  • 1 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven
  • 1 immersion blender
  • 1 countertop blender

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
  2. Stir in the butternut squash, pumpkin puree, curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
  3. Add the vegetable broth and apple juice and stir to combine.
  4. Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat.
  5. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer until the squash is very tender when pierced with a fork, 25 to 30 minutes.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat and puree the soup until smooth with an immersion blender, or blend in batches in a countertop blender, filling it no more than halfway each time.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and honey.
  8. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot, 3 to 5 minutes; do not let the soup boil.

Notes

For the smoothest texture, puree carefully in batches and fill the countertop blender no more than halfway each time. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; freezing is possible, though the cream may separate when thawed. For a dairy-free option, replace the heavy cream with coconut cream.