This Copycat Panera Squash Soup tastes just like the original, but I made it a bit healthier!
Remember last week when I was talking about my homemade mild curry powder and I said I really truly made it for this soup? Well, here it is!
We were at a church event not too long ago and my pastor’s wife asked me if I had a squash soup recipe on my site. I said yes I have a creamy butternut squash soup with smoked paprika, and a really old post about squash soup with sage. But she was looking specifically for a copycat Panera squash soup.
I don’t blame her – it is delicious!
I made efforts to reduce the calorie content a bit while still keeping the flavors rich and slightly indulgent. I think I found a good balance, but if you’re looking for an exact replica, feel free to add more butter, cream, and sugar.
If you read the recipe closely, you’ll see this squash soup also contains carrots and pumpkin. They give it extra sweetness and depth of flavor. If you don’t have pumpkin or don’t want to add pumpkin, just use a little less vegetable broth. Remember you can always add more at the end to make it thinner but it’s more difficult to make it thicker.
I’d recommend using carrots with the squash because they really do add great natural sweetness, and they help achieve the beautiful color of the soup. Plus, Panera squash soup also has carrots in it.
I garnished my Copycat Panera Squash Soup recipe with roasted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds). Their crunch and color add a nice contrast, don’t you think? You could also garnish it with chopped, fresh herbs like sage or parsley, or homemade croutons.
Important note: This soup calls for two cups of apple cider, NOT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. If you can’t find apple cider (sometimes it’s hard to find if it’s not fall), use a natural (100% juice) apple juice. If you use vinegar by accident, your soup will NOT turn out and will definitely NOT taste like Panera’s.
PS: This isn’t my first rodeo with making a Panera copycat – make sure to check out my Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese! People LOVE it!
Copycat Panera Squash Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (about ¾ cup)
- 2 pounds chopped butternut squash (about 6 heaping cups)
- 3 small carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3-4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups apple cider or apple juice (do NOT use apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 ounces low-fat (neufchatel) cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, more to taste
- salt to taste
- heavy cream, optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until translucent, stirring frequently.1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, diced
- Add squash, carrots, vegetable broth, apple cider, and spices.2 pounds chopped butternut squash , 3 small carrots, chopped, 3-4 cups vegetable broth, 2 cups apple cider or apple juice, 1/2 teaspoon curry powder, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, dash of nutmeg
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until squash and carrots are soft. Remove from heat and add pumpkin puree, butter, cream cheese and brown sugar. Puree with a hand (stick) blender or in batches in a normal blender. Blend until very smooth.1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 ounces low-fat (neufchatel) cream cheese, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, more to taste
- Taste soup and add salt as desired. You may also add extra brown sugar or honey to achieve a taste closer that of Panera’s. You can also add a little heavy cream if you want a more decadent soup. If desired, add more vegetable broth to thin soup.salt to taste, heavy cream, optional
- Return to burner over medium-low heat, if needed to heat the soup back up, and then serve immediately.
Notes
- If you want it to be just like Panera squash soup – add more brown sugar and/or honey to taste. Adding more cream will also give it a richer flavor.
- This soup calls for two cups of apple cider, NOT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. If you can’t find apple cider (sometimes it’s hard to find if it’s not fall), use a natural (100% juice) apple juice. If you use vinegar by accident, your soup will NOT turn out and will definitely NOT taste like Panera’s.
- To reduce sodium, use low sodium or no salt added vegetable broth.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
LOVED this recipe! I used my chicken stock and omitted the heavy cream but it was so flavorful and smooth! Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
So glad you liked it!
Rachel, can I just say, wow?! Having tried the original Panera’s a couple of times now, your soup was pretty darn close to it! I followed your recipe to a T and the result was a silky smooth, warming and a comforting fall soup. The gentle warming spices in the background were beautiful, but our Pakistani palates craved a bit more, so I added a little more of each of the spices and it was just *chef’s kiss*! The roasted pepitas are a MUST! I served this alongside some sourdough chicken sandwiches and everyone loved tonight’s dinner.
Overall, great fall recipe, and will definitely be making this again. Thank you for your hard work!
So happy you liked it! Sounds like a delicious fall meal. Really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
Absolutely delicious…better than Panera’s! I have made it 4x this fall alone.
Best compliment!
OMG❣️❣️❣️ I am not a cook by any means, but I made this recipe and it is OUTSTANDING … 10 STARS!!! I didn’t have nutmeg, so I subbed with a dash of ground cloves and a sprinkle of coriander and I put smoked paprika in everything … I used a hand mixer, but that was pretty messy at first til I figured out how to fit a paper plate over the 2 mixer things. The carrots could have used a few minutes, but I was impatient, but it actually gives it a nice texture. Thank you SO MUCH! Gonna be a new fave this winter next to my potato soup. Now, I’ve got to get a hack for the broccoli cheddar!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Really appreciate the review!
This turned out sooooooo good. Highly recommend
Thanks so much! Appreciate you leaving a review!
Can this be frozen?
Definitely!
OMG!! I made this tonight, and it took a little back and forth adjusting with brown sugar and cream, but by the time we sat down and ate it – all I was missing was Panera’s bread bowl!! It is amazing, plus the house now smells of the seasonings that went into it! I used Penzy’s sweet curry and it was perfect! I don’t want to try any other recipes for this – this is an A1 match! (but I forgot the pepitas). My immersion blender died right towards the end – I should have used my blender – I think it would have done better.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!! It’s going to be a warm, yummy winter! (Hubby really loved it – we had a grilled cheese with it and the pot is empty!!! Guess I’ll have to make some more!
I’m thrilled you liked it! Thank you so mcuh for taking the time to leave a review!
The best…I use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. Delicious..thank you so much for this wonderful copycat.
So glad you like it! Thank you for leaving a review!
I went to Panera today and had a cup of this soup $8.00!! It was good but…. I found the recipe made it. I didn’t have veg. Bullion I used chicken. I added butter. It was delicious. My husband loved it . Probably be even better to morrow
A cup for $8?! Yikes! So glad you liked this version!
I use chicken broth and coconut milk and boiled apples in 2 cups of water to make my apple juice and at the AppleS as well! I love this…. I keep getting requested to bring this to gatherings,…thank you
So happy you liked it! Thank you for leaving a review, it means so much to me!