Maine Creative Momma

We think Fall, we think squash.

And apples!

And Thanksgiving.

And I start to look ahead to soup season, which in my house is the absolute best time of year. One of the things I have learned to love making over the years is soups. There are so many ways to make a soup, but no matter what you do, you can guarantee that your home will smell amazing and the dinner will be beautiful.

For us here in New England, soup season can really start any time after Labor Day. It can snow in September or it could be in the teens in October. Some years we don’t see that cold start till November and a white Christmas may seem a dream. All that means for me is that I need to start being ready for soups at all times!

One thing I know for sure, however, is that when butternut squash and apples are on sale for Thanksgiving, I am buying in BULK! The reason, of course, my best homemade butternut squash soup.

The trick to any good soup is the broth, the delicious base. And that means a good bone broth here! I have a whole other post about bone broth, check that out here! For this soup, I recommend using either a turkey or a chicken bone broth. Both are delicious, and bring a great source of protein to the dish.

I personally love to make soups in my crockpot so they can cook low and slow and all day. Not only does my house smell delicious, it also allows the flavors to really meld together. You know how soup always tastes better next day? Well, with a slow cooker you can get that next day flavor while cooking. I strongly encourage you to get your soup on EARLY so you can have it cook as long as possible during the day.

My first crockpot was one we got shortly after moving in together, in 2014! It was a big purchase for us back then, I think it was $35 at Walmart. That little pot made us so many amazing meals and lasted until early 2020. I actually cried when it died and I had to throw it out. Since then I’ve had a few other crock pots, but have come back to my favorite brand now. And I’ll never leave again! Mine is the Hamilton Beach crockpot, linked here. I don’t get a commission if you buy, I just really love this brand!

However, if you do shop at Walmart often, try doing it online through Rakuten! You get lots of cash back on multiple items and the cash back percentages are amazing. Over Black Friday sales it was 12%! If you’ve never used Rakuten before, join now with my referral code and earn a bonus just for making your first purchase!

So, now for the recipe!

In your crockpot place 3-4 pealed and diced butternut squash with 8-10 Cortland (or other baking apple). You do not need to peal the apples, but can if you like.

Now add in enough of your bone broth to reach just the top of the veggies. If you didn’t season your broth during the cooking process, add any desired seasoning. I recommend using sage, thyme, oregano, parsley, and garlic powder.

Put the crockpot on low and cook for 6-8 hours. Stir occasionally so that everything cooks together.

Once the cook time is complete, drain out some of liquid (2-4 cups depending on how much extra came out of the veggies).

Add in 1 can of full fat coconut milk and stir.

Using an immersion blender (I love the KitchenAide one), blend the soup till creamy!

Serve with salad or a meat dish. We loved meatloaf or a full rack of ribs with ours!

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for later. This soup freezes beautifully and tastes just as amazing from frozen as it does fresh!

Full recipe here:

• 3-4 large butternut squash
• 8-10 cortland apples
• 2 tablespoons each of sage, oregano, parsley, thyme, and rosemary
• 1-2 tablespoons of garlic powder (adjust for your own taste)
• 6-8 cups of broth (recommend poultry, but beef broth is good too!)
• 1 can of full fat coconut milk

Cooking instructions:

• Peal and dice the butternut squash; rough chop is fine
• Chop and core the apples; you can leave on the peals
• Add the veggies, broth, and seasoning to the crockpot
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours
• Add the can of coconut cream and blend with an immersion blender

I look forward to your experience with this delicious soup!