Panera’s Autumn Squash Soup is one of the most anticipated seasonal menu items every fall. Velvety smooth butternut squash soup with warm cinnamon and nutmeg, a hint of apple sweetness, and a swirl of cream — it tastes like autumn in a bowl. This version is easy to make and freezes beautifully for enjoying all season long.
The Secret
Roasting the butternut squash instead of boiling it is the game-changer. Roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in the squash, creating a deeper, more complex sweetness that boiling simply cannot achieve. The apple is Panera’s secret ingredient — it adds natural sweetness and body without any detectable apple flavor in the finished soup.
Pro Tips
- Look for pre-cut butternut squash at the grocery store to save significant prep time.
- Roast the squash until the edges are starting to brown — those caramelized bits add the best flavor.
- For an even richer soup, substitute half of the vegetable broth with chicken broth.
- This soup freezes perfectly for up to 3 months. Add the cream after thawing and reheating for the best texture.
More Panera Bread Copycat Recipes
- Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup — the chain’s most iconic soup; creamy, rich, and studded with broccoli florets in a cheddar base.
- Panera Tomato Soup — the velvety roasted tomato version that pairs perfectly with a grilled cheese or a bread bowl.
- Panera Bread Bowl — a round sourdough loaf hollowed out for serving any of these soups; the most Panera way to eat them.
See all Panera Bread copycat recipes →
