Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 lb. each)
- 2 Honeycrisp or Gala apples, sliced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for roasting)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (for sautéing)
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon raw organic honey (for soup)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup organic heavy cream
- 1-2 cups mild cheddar cheese, shredded or grated
Cinnamon Pecan Topping
- 1 cup raw pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup organic rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons raw organic honey
- 1 tablespoon organic all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
Instructions
- Roast the Apples and Sweet Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Rinse sweet potatoes and pat dry. Lightly coat each sweet potato with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and arrange them on one side of the baking sheet. Place the sliced apples on the other side, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over them. Bake for 25-30 minutes until tender, juices bubble outside the sweet potatoes, and apples are golden and wilted. Let cool 10-15 minutes, slice sweet potatoes in half, remove the flesh, and place it in a bowl.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Pecan Topping: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine chopped pecans, rolled oats, 2 tablespoons honey, flour, cinnamon, and softened butter. Mix until combined and moist. Spread mixture in clusters on baking sheet, leaving them intact to bake into clusters. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden. Do not stir or toss to maintain clusters.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium-sized Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and chopped red onion and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Blend Soup Base: Transfer sautéed garlic and onions to a high-powered blender. Add roasted apples, sweet potato flesh, and vegetable stock. Blend on high until smooth and fully pureed.
- Cook the Soup: Pour the blended mixture back into the Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Stir in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon honey, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, parsley, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until thoroughly combined.
- Add Cheese and Simmer: Stir in shredded mild cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt fully into the soup. Bring to a gentle boil for 1-2 minutes, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5-6 minutes until thickened.
- Serve: Remove soup from heat and ladle into bowls. Top each serving generously with the cinnamon pecan topping. Optionally, serve with bread on the side. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of cheddar cheese based on desired cheesiness between 1 to 2 cups.
- Do not stir the topping while baking to ensure cluster formation.
- This soup can be made vegetarian and gluten free if the flour used in the topping is gluten free.
- For a vegan version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use vegan cheddar alternatives.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat gently on stovetop.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian