Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cinnamon Croutons recipe

3 tablespoons margarine, softened
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices whole wheat bread
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread butter mixture evenly over one side of each bread slice. Place bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until bread is crisp and topping is bubbly. Cut each slice of bread into 8 small triangles or squares.

Sauté onion in butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 can chicken broth; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.

Transfer broth mixture into the container of a blender or processor. Process until smooth.

Return mixture to saucepan. Add remaining can of broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground pepper; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in whipping cream and heat through. Do not boil. Ladle into individual soup bowls.

Top each serving with Cinnamon Croutons.

Makes 6 servings.

Cinnamon Croutons
3 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices whole grain bread

Blend butter with brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread on the 4 slices of bread. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until toast is crisp and topping is bubbly. Cut into small squares or triangles.