- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 pounds butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and chopped
- 2 small onions, chopped
- 2 small carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add butternut squash, onions, carrots, and celery; cook, stirring often, until onions are tender, about 12 minutes.
- Pour broth into the pot; stir in 2 teaspoons cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover and simmer until carrots are soft, about 40 minutes. Stir maple syrup, salt, and pepper into the soup.
- Cool soup slightly, about 10 minutes. Puree in a food processor or blender in small batches until smooth. Transfer to another pot; stir in heavy cream.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Mix apples, white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together and spread on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake apple mixture in the preheated oven until softened, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Serve soup garnished with baked apples.