Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (2024)

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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.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (1)

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 Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (2)

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:

  1. Buy precut squash. No peeling, no dicing, no problem!
  2. 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.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (3)
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (4)
  • 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.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (5)
  • Once both sides are peeled, cut the bulb in half vertically.
  • Use a large spoon to scoop out the goop and seeds.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (6)
  • Place the bulb on the cutting board, large hole facing down. Carefully cut it into strips.
  • Cut the strips into large chunks.
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (8)
  • Repeat the same process with the neck.
  • Cut it into strips, then cut it into large chunks.
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (10)

When dicing up all your vegetables, perfection isn't the goal. They're all going to be whizzed up into soup anyhow.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (11)

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.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (12)
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (13)
  • 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.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (14)
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (15)

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. .
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (17)
  • Start the blender on low speed, then increase the speed to high. Blend until smooth.
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Finish the Butternut Squash Soup:

  • Pour the butternut squash puree into a dutch oven or large pot.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (19)
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (20)
  • Add the pumpkin puree, 1 cup of vegetable stock, ½ cup of water, 2 tablespoons of ginger paste, and 6 ounces of heavy cream.
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (22)
  • Stir until incorporated.
  • Bring the soup to a simmer, then remove from the heat and enjoy!
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Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (24)

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 Recipe - caramel and cashews (25)

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
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (26)

Butternut Squash Soup

Carolyn

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.

5 from 11 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 284 kcal

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

Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 682mgPotassium: 639mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 20625IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 1mg

Keyword butternut squash bisque, butternut squash soup

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - caramel and cashews (2024)

FAQs

Can you put cashew nuts in soup? ›

This dairy-free recipe makes a deliciously creamy soup. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion and celery until the onion is transparent (about 5-10 minutes). Add the potatoes and stir round a little. Add the stock and the cashews, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

How can I thicken up butternut squash soup? ›

How do I thicken butternut squash soup? If you find the soup is too thin, try adding pureed white beans to the soup. You can also use a small amount of cornstarch or arrowroot powder mixed with water (called a slurry) to thicken it up. Use a 1-to-2 ratio (for example, 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to 2 teaspoons of water).

How do you make butternut squash soup less bland? ›

I use ground sage and nutmeg which both enhance the flavors of butternut squash and bring out its natural sweetness. Stir in full-fat coconut milk to make this soup extra-creamy, and don't forget the salt and pepper!

How to fix butternut squash soup that is too sweet? ›

You might want to blanch or par-cook the squash in a little bit of water before sauteeing; that would diminish the sweetness somewhat but allow you to finish the dish in the prescribed fashion.

Do you need to soak cashews before cooking? ›

But even when you are going to roast your cashews, soaking can make them much more flavorful. Soaked cashews can better absorb spices and seasonings that you use to roast them, and this process can lead to a texture that is simultaneously crunchier and easier to chew.

Why do you soak cashews in boiling water? ›

Why Soak Cashews? Any recipe that calls for cashew cream or cashew puree requires you to soak the nuts first. Soaking in water makes the cashews softer, which results in a smoother cream. The longer you soak the cashews, the softer they become, the smoother your cashew paste is going to be.

What to pair with butternut squash soup? ›

What to Serve with Butternut Squash Soup. Enjoy this soup as a starter, side, or main dish. When I'm making it the center of a meal, I serve it with good crusty bread, homemade focaccia, avocado toast, or corn muffins and a simple veggie side or fall salad.

Why does my butternut squash soup taste sour? ›

What happened? It's no coincidence that the butternut squash soup had fermented, alcoholic notes. Indeed, fermented rice turns out to be the culprit here. Rice is high in starch, which is relatively easy to ferment.

Why is my butternut squash soup so bitter? ›

Why does my butternut squash soup taste bitter? The growing conditions of the gourd can impact the taste of the flesh. This may cause an elevated production of cucurbitacin in the squash, resulting in a slightly bitter taste. You can balance it with a little bit of salt and sweetener like honey or pure maple syrup.

What flavors go well with butternut squash? ›

Cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper bring warmth and spice to this simple, tender roasted squash dish.

Why is my butternut squash tasteless? ›

If you pick too early, the flesh will not be fully developed and the squash will lack flavor and not be that wonderfully vegetal sweet that is the wonder of butternut, honeynut, delicata, acorn, pumpkin and kabocha, among dozens of other winter squash.

How to spice up bland butternut squash soup? ›

Season soup with cayenne pepper, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and pepper. Stir in half-and-half cream and sherry. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through; do not boil. Ladle into soup bowls and top each with a dollop of sour cream to serve.

Why does my butternut squash taste sour? ›

Extreme cold, heat, drought or too much irrigation, or even a lack of plant nutrients, excessive pest infestation or disease can all create these elevated levels of cucurbitacin in the squash resulting in a bitter flavor.

What does butternut squash soup taste like? ›

It's perfectly sweet, a bit nutty, just the right amount of spicy, and so so smooth. It's the perfect meal when served with some crispy bread or even a grilled cheese top dip with! The creamiest and coziest soup you can make in fall is butternut squash soup!

Do cashews thicken soup? ›

When you grind cashews up, their dryness sops up some of the surrounding liquid, making a thicker soup. Cashews are also relatively mild in taste compared to other nuts so won't affect the flavor profile of your soup. One thing to keep in mind: It's best to use raw, unsalted cashews.

Can I put nuts in soup? ›

Here are some simple and exotic ways to jazz up your soups with nuts: Nothing adds creamy, richness as well as a beautiful thick texture to pumpkin or winter squash soup like macadamia nuts. But hazelnuts work wonderfully too adding a new kind of nutty richness.

Does boiling cashews soften them? ›

Boiling Cashews

It only takes about 15 minutes for them to soften in boiling water. Add the cashews to a pot and fill it with enough water to fully submerge them. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Is it OK to cook cashews? ›

The Benefits of Roasted Cashews

Some chefs prefer to use roasted cashews when they want to prevent the cashew flavor from being overpowered by other ingredients. And snackers with certain tastes and cravings will choose roasted cashews over raw cashews.

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