Simply Perfect Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

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5 from 35 votes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

A classic roasted butternut squash soup, flavoured with a little apple and maple syrup. Vegetarian and dairy-free options, as well. A perfect Fall soup!

I know there are dozens of versions of roasted butternut squash soup out there, but this is the one that I make and have made for years, so I though I'd share it. It's simply perfect and if you're craving a simple and satisfying squash soup this Fall, I promise you won't regret making this one.

This soup starts with roasted squash. Roasting the squash really brings a wonderful flavour to this soup. It also means you don't have to peel or cut the butternut squash into chunks, and if you've ever done that, you know that's a bonus! Added to this roasted squash soup is a bit of onion, apple and thyme and it is finished with bit of maple syrup and heavy cream.

This soup is truly Fall in a bowl and a perfect way to celebrate the season!

Ingredient Notes

Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this soup ...

• Butternut squash - you'll need about 2 medium whole butternut squash to yield the 6 cups of roasted squash that you'll need for the soup. Look for two equal-sized squash, as they will roast more evenly.
• Chicken Broth - use your favourite chicken broth. Alternately, substitute a vegetable broth for a vegetarian soup.
• Apple - any apple will do. There is just a small amount in the soup. It can be omitted if you don't happen to have an apple on hand, but it does offer a subtle acidic note to the soup that is very lovely. A bit of pear might work as well.
• Thyme - it's hard to beat fresh thyme in this soup, so it's well worth it if you have some. If not, use a lesser amount of dried, thyme leaves.
• Maple Syrup - again, it's hard to beat the flavour of the real thing, so real maple syrup is recommended here. In a pinch, a splash of pancake syrup will provide the flavour, at least. Use less to start, to avoid an overly-sweet soup.
• Cream - heavy whipping cream will provide the best results, as it will produce a lovely thick soup, without being overly rich. You can use a lighter cream, though it will produce a less thick soup. For a dairy-free alternative, substitute coconut milk (stirred) or omit entirely.
• Other Ingredients You Will Need - Butter (or substitute cooking oil), Onion, Salt and Pepper.

Step-by-Step Video

Here is a visual walk-through of the recipe steps. This is a summary only. Please refer to the complete instructions in the recipe card below.

Cook's Notes

The amounts for the maple syrup and the cream are flexible. Start with the lesser amount, taste and add a bit more if you feel it needs it. You should be able to detect a very subtle maple flavour.

Seasoning is the key to a great soup! Be sure to taste the soup at the end of cooking and add salt, as needed and some freshly ground pepper. If you feel "it needs a little something", it's probably more salt :)

When it came time to garnish my soup for photos, I kept it simple with just a few drops of heavy cream, that I ran a skewer through and a few fresh thyme leaves. For a heartier version, garnish with some simple homemade croutons (or maybe bacon-fat crisped croutons!).

FAQ

Can I make this soup ahead? Yes! I'll often roast the butternut squash off ahead, maybe the night before or the morning of the day I'll be making the soup. Simply roast, let cool a bit, then scoop the roasted flesh out in to a bowl and refrigerate. You can also make this entire soup ahead and re-heat, which is perfect for Thanksgiving. If the soup thickens while sitting in the fridge, simply thin with a little more chicken stock, if needed, but re-heat first, then add stock as necessary (it will thin a bit as it heats).

Can I make this soup vegetarian? Yes! Simply swap out vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

Can I make this soup dairy-free/vegan? Yes! Simply use coconut milk instead of the cream (or omit the cream altogether).

Can I freeze this soup? Yes! This soup freezes well. As with making ahead, if soup is too thick after re-heating, simply add a splash of broth to thin it.

Can I change up the flavours? Yes! This is my favourite version of this soup, but when I'm looking to change it up a bit, I'll omit the maple syrup and bring on the spice. Add a bit of curry powder or smoked paprika instead. Or add a little heat with some cayenne pepper. So many ways to make this soup your own :)

Recipe Card

Simply Perfect Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

A delicious, classic roasted butternut squash soup, flavoured with maple syrup and optionally, a bit of apple. A great Fall soup or perfect for your holiday table! Can be made ahead and re-heated.

5 from 35 votes

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

Course Appetizer, Soup

Servings 6 large servings

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 6 cups roasted butternut squash (from about 2 medium-large butternut squash)
• 3 Tbsp butter (salted or unsalted)
• 1/2 cup onion (diced)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 medium apple (peeled, cored and shredded)
• 1 sprig thyme (or about 1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves (less if powdered))
• 1/4 - 1/3 cup real maple syrup
• 1/2 - 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream (35% b.f.)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

ImperialMetric

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375° Cut squash in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds and dark orange stringy flesh. Place squash cut side down on to a baking sheet. Note that you want the squash to lay perfectly flat, so you can get some caramelization going for best flavour. If they won't all lay flat, use two baking sheets if necessary and rotate their position in the oven half way through roasting. Roast in pre-heated oven for 60-70 minutes or until very soft when you press on the top of the squash.
• Remove from oven and using a spatula, flip the squash halves over and allow to cool a few minutes. Using a spoon, scoop all the roasted squash flesh out and in to a bowl, being careful not to take any of the skin. Discard squash skins. If making the soup immediately, measure out the amount of cooked squash needed for the soup and set aside. Any extra squash can be refrigerated or frozen and used for another purpose. 
• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring, until onion has softened and is translucent, but not browned. Add the measured roasted squash. Add the chicken broth and shredded apple. Stir to combine well. Add the fresh thyme sprig. Bring to a light boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, then reduce heat to medium-low and allow soup to gently simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes to blend the flavours. 
• REMOVE THYME SPRIG and discard. Using an immersion blender (or alternately in small batches in a blender) puree the soup well until smooth. In the soup pot, add the maple syrup and the heavy cream to the pureed soup. Stir well to combine and allow to cook over medium-low heat a few minutes to warm through.
• Taste soup. Add salt as needed and some freshly ground pepper. You don't want to be skimpy with the salt! Salting well is the key to bringing out all the great flavours in this soup. Maple syrups vary in intensity. If you don't notice a subtle maple taste in the soup, add a bit more maple syrup, as needed. Serve warm garnished with drops of heavy cream and fresh thyme leaves. If you like, use a skewer to run through the drops of cream to make a pretty design. 

Video

Notes

Make-Ahead: Make this soup ahead and refrigerate for several days ahead. Rewarm on the stove-top over low heat. If soup has thickened, thin with a bit of additional chicken broth.

Makes 6 full size servings or would serve 8-10 as an appetizer-sized soup.

Be sure to read the Ingredient and Cook's Notes above the recipe card for more tips, options, substitutions and variations for this recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 125mgPotassium: 769mgFiber: 3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 15740IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 142mgIron: 1mg

Course Appetizer, Soup

Cuisine American, Canadian

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

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