Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Five Spice
4.58 from 38 votes

This vegan butternut squash soup is seasoned with five spice powder, which compliments its sweet and savory flavors. Cashew cream gives it an especially creamy texture. The soup is simple and easy to make, and it’s perfect for fall.

A bowl of orange hued soup has been topped with dark brown, crispy croutons.

As I was writing this post, I realized that I actually have very few butternut squash soups on the blog. It’s a strange oversight, because I love butternut squash recipes.

And butternut soup is probably my most reliable “go-to” when it comes to an easy fall or winter appetizer.

This creamy vegan butternut squash soup with five spice features a unique flavor addition of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel seeds–the characteristic blend known as Chinese five-spice powder.

My best friend and her husband recently brought vibrant peppercorns back after a trip to China. They inspired me to start cooking with five spice more often.

I’ve found that it’s wonderful with roasted vegetables, in stock, and in stir fry dishes.

Here, it is a perfect compliment to the sweet and savory notes of the vegan butternut squash soup. And sweet and savory flavor combinations are my favorite kind!

An asymmetrical white bowl holds a creamy vegan butternut squash soup that is seasoned with five spice powder. It's topped with croutons.

The silky smooth texture of this soup will be easier to come by if you have a powerful blender. I’ve used a Blendtec in the past. Nowadays, my go-to blender is the Breville SuperQ.

Otherwise, it’s so easy to prepare this soup. Sauté, blend, and enjoy.

The creamy quality of the soup is of course thanks to my beloved cashew cream. However, you could use full-fat, canned coconut milk instead. Here’s the recipe.

An asymmetrical white bowl holds a creamy vegan butternut squash soup that is seasoned with five spice powder. It's topped with croutons.
4.58 from 38 votes

Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup with Five Spice

Author – Gena Hamshaw
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

For the creamy butternut squash and five-spice soup:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery sticks chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese 5-Spice powder
  • Dash crushed red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds peeled and cubed butternut squash
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup optional
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose cashew cream (substitute full-fat, canned coconut milk)

Instructions

  • To make the soup, heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large soup pot. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the onions appear soft and clear. Stir in the garlic and ginger. Saute for another 2-3 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of water as needed to prevent the veggies from sticking or burning.
  • Stir in the five spice powder, red pepper, and salt, and give everything a good stir. Add the butternut squash, syrup, broth, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the squash is very tender.
  • Transfer the soup to a blender in two batches and blend on high speed until it's completely smooth, being very careful to keep the lid on tight (hot liquids will spatter). Alternately, you can use an immersion blender to puree the soup. Transfer the blended soup back to your pot and stir in the cashew cream. Check the soup for seasoning and adjust spices to taste.

Now that I’ve tried this squash and five-spice combination, I have a lot of other ideas for ways that I might pair them!

It’s easy to make this soup as part of a meal prep routine, and it can be frozen for up to six weeks.

The soup is perfect for fall—nourishing, creamy, warming—and I’m happy to have discovered it.

An asymmetrical, round bowl is resting on a light linen cloth. The bowl contains a creamy vegan butternut squash soup.

I hope you can all cozy up to a warm, vibrant bowl very soon. Enjoy!

xo

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Categories: Recipes, Soups
Method: Stovetop
Ingredients: Butternut Squash
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, Soy Free, Vegan

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Recipe Rating




    270 Comments
  1. Have been in love with that twisty jar since I first laid eyes on it. What an amazing invention. Want, want, want! I would probably finally make my own nut butter since I loathe cleaning out the mess from the vitamix or even the food processor. But I am a soup gal so no doubt the first thing I’d make with a new Blendtec would be some kick ass soup.

  2. I would definitely be making cashew cream with this! I always forget to soak in advance.

  3. This soup looks amazing! It would probably be the first recipe I tried in a blendtec.

  4. I would try making cashew cream with unsoaked nuts, just to see if it really works and gets smooth and creamy! I usually soak them for hours first (or sometimes boil) before blending in my trusty KitchenAid.

  5. What a fun giveaway, Gena! I’m glad to hear your thoughts about the Blendtec versus a Vitamix. If I won, I’d make this soup, of course. It’s been so cold where I live, and my soup consumption has gone way up.

  6. I’d make soup, for sure.

    My last blender died in fantastic smoky manner, so I’d love to replace it with this!

  7. I’ll probably try my hand at making soup in the Blendtec. I’ve never owned a Vitamix or Blendtec before but have always been curious with all the things they can do.

  8. What a fabulous soup. I love the plating, too!

    The first recipe I’d make with this baby would likely be almond milk. I’d also love to try my hand at making chocolate and hazelnut butter with that fabulous twister jar!

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway, Gena!

  9. I’d love to try out the twist canister for maple almond chia seed butter – my favorite!

  10. I love really thick smoothies I can eat with a spoon so that would be the first thing I would make.

  11. 5 stars
    Lovely give away. I love your blog. I especially look forward to the Weekend Reading blog post. The first thing I would make would be banana nice cream. I haven’t eaten dairy ice cream in 15 years and like the idea of creamy cold nice cream in my mouth. Thanks!

  12. I know this is basic, but I’d love to finally make a kale smoothie that I don’t have to chew!

  13. 5 stars
    Looks wonderful so I just would make it easy on myself … I would make this gorgeous soup! Thank you for sharing all you do Gena <3 xo

  14. 5 stars
    Sounds delicious. Would also be good with pumpkin.

    Would love the Blendtec. Have a Nutribullet but not butters and very thick mixtures are always an issue

  15. Gena, this is beautiful! What stunning photos! I love the “yin yang” presentation of the orange soup and the black rice. You really outdid yourself. And the flavor combination looks delicious! Thanks. xo

  16. 5 stars
    WOWEE YOWZA!!! I’d first make a super delicious, mega-smooth banana green smoothie for the entire family with that humongous blending jar! Then I’d make some frozen banana ice cream in the twister jar! Thank you so much!!!

  17. I’m not big on squash soups as they are usually too sweet for my tastes. But with enough seasoning, they can be good.

  18. This soup sounds SO good! Soup would definitely be the first thing I would try. Thanks for the great recipe and giveaway!

  19. I’ve been curious about the blendtec as well! The twister jar sounds like a great solution to a common problem! My first recipe would probably be a green smoothie immediately followed by a cashew Alfredo sauce served over steamed broccoli and brown rice pasta. 🙂

  20. This soup sounds so delicious Gena! I’d definitely whip this up in the BlendTec, along with a host of smoothies and nut butters, should I win this amazing giveaway! Thank you for hosting!!

  21. So both my blender and smoothie maker have decided they deserve the death sentence and have hung themselves (I don’t think they want to make any more green smoothies or soups or oat flours). I have been craving a green smoothie for breakfast every morning now for the past week and what do I do to relieve myself? I go and visit your smoothie recipe page to salivate over al the wonderful concoctions there, especially the black and blue smoothie and the green kingdom avocado and banana ice cream. And now after the photos of your butternut squash soup (which I have a soft spot for and its my one soup weakness), I really feel as if I will go mad. The yummiest is just too much to keep only in my day and night dreams.

  22. I love these pureed vegetable soups, and will make a beet, coconut, and ginger version.

  23. Probably the first thing I would make would be the cashew cheeze sauce for my mac ‘n cheeze. My current blender does ok, but the sauce could definitely be smoother and thicker.
    Thanks for having many ways of entering. I don’t have instagram or a pinterest account and so it’s nice that you offer plenty of other options. 🙂

  24. 5 stars
    I just started trying to make raw vegan desserts but its hard with a cheap blender. This would be amazing to win!!!

  25. Hmm difficult to decide, but after reading about the yam, kale, peanut stew – maybe that!

  26. I’ve been using a hand-blender to make a sunflower seed-miso-white bean sauce-ish concoction; I bet it would be even tastier (and less grainy) with a high-powered blender!

  27. 5 stars
    Wow, Gena, thank you! That soup just glows. I love the use of the rice with the five spice blend. That’s one of my favorite combos right now too. This giveaway is truly stellar. I’d have to say that the first thing I’d make in this gorgeous blender and the Twister jar would be a new smoothie recipe and my first homemade hummus recipe which I’ve yet to do! Thank you for hosting it!!

  28. My first recipe to make with the blender would probably be this soup, actually! Love this giveaway!

  29. 5 stars
    With the new blender I will do the best raw smoothies in New Zealand ….. with many greens and fruits like bananas, apricots, plums and nectarines, Chia seeds, nuts, raisins and ginger!

  30. I was wondering what to do with that butternut squash I have on the kitchen counter. All I need is the Blendtec to make it in!!!

  31. I love making smoothies and milkshakes, but I’d be super excited to try some things my cheap blender can’t do, like hummus and soups.

  32. My first recipe, statistically, would likely be an old favourite – some kind of smoothie featuring oats, banana, nut milks, and either cocoa or chai spices!

  33. I have been struggling with some challenging digestive issues and also need extra nutrition at this time. Those supermarket nutritional shakes get old fast and it is so hard to find vegan ones! Plus, they only come in one flavor: sweet! I can wait to whip up some hearty soups, hummus, dips, dahls, purees, pesto, pureed rice dishes (they are good, trust me!), guacamole, tapenade, chutneys, nut butters of all kinds (and nut butter blends!), tahini, cashew nooch “cheese” sauce, cashew cream, nut milks, and more!

  34. I would love to try this blender! I’ve been holding back on getting a vitamix because of the weight and storage issues. I would definitely try this soup first if I won!

  35. This looks so yummy. I love a warm soup, so comforting. I’d make my very own almond butter or cashew butter first.

  36. Sweet giveaway! I’ve been dying to recreate this smooth soup I had in Thailand — lots of pumpkin, coconut milk, lime, garlic, and chiles, among MANY other things. Sounds like a cousin to this Chinese-inspired squash soup! I don’t own a heavy-duty blender yet, though…this would be awesome!

  37. That soup looks delicious! Now I just need to get some butternut squash so I make it myself

  38. Hi Gena,

    What a great recipe and a great giveaway!!

    I would love to win this Blendtec blender and, although I do love a good soup, I think I’d first make a stack of Blender Pancakes!

    Thanks for the opportunity!
    Susan

  39. 5 stars
    The single serve icecream sounds great for my 8 year old. …and my diet! Plus I can make spa water in the summer with ginger and turmeric!

  40. I think I’d give hummus a try — I’ve never had good luck making it at home, but you make it sound like it might finally be possible!

  41. Does any body else pretend they are presenting a cooking show when doing anything in the blender? I know I’d sing come on let’s twist tonight when I read the words twisty jar

  42. My first recipe in the blender would be creamy smooth raw nut butter. I hear it can be done, but I’m skeptical … Can’t wait to be proven wrong!

  43. 5 stars
    The first recipe that I will make, using my new Blendtec Designer 625, is a Chocolate Almond Butter smoothie. Might sound boring, but it will be perfect and nourishing.

  44. For some reason, I always order butternut squash soup in restaurants but have never made it. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway!

  45. Soups are amazing when pureed in hihj speed blenders. Excited to enter for a chance to win this updated Blendtec!!

  46. Going to have make a smoothie. Mainly so I can tell the difference between my current (10+ year old) blender that I have to stop and start 20 times to stir everything by hand so it gets mixed up.

  47. I would definitely make some soup. I love the idea that you can just put the ingredients in the bowl and have it blend and heat it up at the same time! Hummus, too, for sure.

  48. I will definitely be trying out this soup recipe first! I love that you can make soup in a blender

  49. I’ve always wanted to try to make Baba Ganoush, so that would be my first recipe to attempt with the Blendtec Designer 625. Great, now I’m hungry…

  50. I’ve been so disappointed with my Ninja, which never manages to get pureed soups super smooth. I’d make this, and every other pureed soup in my arsenal, for every meal for months on end with the Blendtec! 🙂

  51. Nut butter!! Love making nut butters, and the Blendtec with twister jar would be AWESOME!!