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!
What can you do if not thick enough
You can add more pumpkin or squash!
I made and have enjoyed. Freezes well. Any idea how many weigh watcher weight watcherpoints in a serving
So glad you like it! I don’t know about the Weight Watcher’s points, sorry!
5 points per serving on the current (2017) system.
5 points per serving on the current (2017) system.
The soup is excellent.. I had no apple juice or cider so I chopped up a couple of peeled apples. Left out the pumpkin too. Making it again today. Thanks for the great recipe!
So glad you liked it!
I made this last night and loved it! My hubby did also! It was even better today! I used an acorn squash because that is what I had on hand, omitted the cream cheese and added sliced apple. It was delicious! Thank you so much!
So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Hi Rachel,
This looks delicious!
I am going to attempt this for dinner tonight. One question, I have never cooked with butternut squash (surprisingly as I am a vegetarian), do I leave the outer peal/skin on?
Thanks!
You actually just peel and chop the squash and it cooks in the soup. Enjoy!
Oh sorry just realized that might not be your question – yes, you want to remove the peeling on a butternut squash. :)
Excellent recipe. Thank you.
I just made this and it is fantastic! Can’t wait to share it with friends. Such a great cold-weather treat. Thanks for the great recipe!
So happy you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. :)
This came out horrible. All I tasted was the apple cider vibegar. Either scale back or don’t use it at all! It taste nothing like the soup from panera. I am trying tosalvage it so I don’t have to throw it away. Very disappointed with this recipe.
Hi, here’s the thing…this recipe does NOT contain apple cider vinegar, the recipe even states “(NOT vinegar)” after apple cider. I’m sorry you missed that on the recipe and I hope you’ll give it another go!
Give it another go. I used Apple Cider and it was amazing. No vinegar. Just cider. This was actually my favorite butternut squash recipe and I’ve tried several.
I audibly groan when people blame their mistake on Rachel and this recipe… >_>
You’re my new favorite person.
I agree. I wish people would step back and say, maybe I did something wrong. Instead of bashing the recipe, say Hi Rachel, could you help me figure out if I did something wrong? Something just doesn’t taste right.
I appreciate the support and I do love troubleshooting recipes with you guys. :)
Made this for Thanksgiving tomorrow! Delish! I did add 1/4 cup half and half and some pink sea salt. Also added a pinch more nutmeg and cinnamon at the end!! Keeper recipe! Thank you!!!
Love your additions, after all, it’s Thanksgiving! ;) So glad you like it! Happy Thanksgiving!
HI Rachel,
Love this recipe! I will definitely be making this again (and again!) I started with your version and had to use pumpkin pie spice because I didn’t have cinnamon on hand, and it still was great! Thanks for doing the research to copy the Panera version and putting it out there for us.
So glad you liked it! Pumpkin pie spice is a fun addition actually!