Cheddar-apple Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large golden delicious apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup apple juice
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon apple juice concentrate
• 1 dash cinnamon
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 in a 4 quart dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat. add apple and onion. cook 12 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently until soft but not brown. add carrot and cook 5 minutes more.
• 2 increase heat to medium. add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. add 1/2 cup of the broth, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until incorporate. add additional broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until all broth is incorporated. add apple juice.
• 3 increase heat to high. heat soup to boiling, stirring occasionally. stir well and add half-and-half, whipping cream and bay leaf. reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 15 minutes. do not let boil or soup may curdle.
• 4 remove bay leaf. add apple juice condentrate, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. gradually stir in cheese until completely melted and smooth, about 8 minutes.