Heavenly Pumpkin Soup with Whole Wheat Croutons

Heavenly Pumpkin Soup with Whole Wheat Croutons

3 tablespoons softened butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 slices whole wheat bread
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Spread on slices of bread and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until crunchy and bubbly. Cool and cut into 8 triangles. Sauté onion in butter until softened. Add 1 can of chicken broth. Bring to a boil and let simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, puree soup until smooth in a blender (or with an immersion blender). Return the mixture to the saucepan. Add remaining broth, pumpkin, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in whipping cream and top with croutons.