Velvety Acorn Squash Soup (Printable)

Velvety acorn squash blended with aromatic spices, cream, and vegetable broth for a silky-smooth comfort dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium acorn squash (about 2 lbs total), halved and seeded
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable broth
06 - 1 cup water
07 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut milk

→ Seasonings

08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Garnish

13 - Toasted pumpkin seeds
14 - Fresh chives, chopped
15 - Drizzle of cream

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush the cut sides of the acorn squash with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and place cut side down on the prepared baking sheet.
02 - Roast for 30 to 35 minutes until the flesh is tender. Allow to cool slightly, then scoop out the flesh and discard the skins.
03 - In a large pot, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and garlic. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
04 - Add the roasted acorn squash flesh, vegetable broth, water, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth, or transfer in batches to a countertop blender.
06 - Stir in the cream or coconut milk. Adjust seasoning to taste. Reheat gently if needed.
07 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds, chopped chives, and a drizzle of cream if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The natural sweetness of roasted squash means you barely need any added sugar, just those warm spices that make everything feel cozy.
  • One pot, minimal cleanup, and it comes together faster than you'd expect for something this velvety and restaurant-quality.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without any fussy substitutions or weird texture compromises.
02 -
  • Don't skip roasting the squash—cooking it this way concentrates the sweetness and makes blending infinitely easier than wrestling with raw squash.
  • Taste and season at the very end, because the cream dilutes the seasoning slightly and you want it tasting like autumn, not like salt.
03 -
  • Toast your pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for just a few minutes before garnishing—it wakes them up and makes them taste like they actually belong there instead of just being scattered on top.
  • If your soup ever breaks or looks grainy after blending, just strain it through a fine mesh sieve and it'll come back smooth and silky.
Go Back