1. Place a large pot on the stove and add the olive oil and diced onion. Turn on medium heat and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
2. Add in your minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes. While that is cooking peel, de-seed, and dice the butternut squash and dice the apple.
3. Next, add in your chicken broth, squash, and apple. Place the lid on the pot and cook for 30 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender.
4. Once the squash is tender, carefully scoop out the squash and apples with some broth and add to a blender. Be careful since this will be very hot. Blend on high for 60- seconds to puree the liquid until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender if you have one.
5. Add back into the pot and add your spices and a splash of cream if desired.
6. Spoon out into bowls and top with croutons, olive oil, freshly chopped chives, salt, and pepper if desired. 

How to Make in the Instant Pot

1. Turn on the saute function and add the olive oil and diced onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
2. Add in your minced garlic, stir, and turn the saute function off.
3. Peel, de-seed, and dice the butternut squash and dice the apple.
4. Next, add in your chicken broth, squash, and apple. Place the lid on the pot and set the custom pressure on the soup function for 10 minutes.
5. Manually release the steam valve to release the pressure.
6. Open the lid, and carefully scoop out the squash and apples with some broth and add to a blender. Be careful since this will be very hot. Blend on high for 60- seconds to puree the liquid until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender if you have one.
7. Add back into the pot and add your spices and a splash of cream if desired.

How to Make in a Slow Cooker

1. Add in the olive oil, onion, garlic, chicken stock, butternut squash, and apple to a slow cooker.
2. Cover with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 (or until the squash is tender).
3. Once the squash is tender, carefully scoop out the squash and apples with some broth and add to a blender. Be careful since this will be very hot. Blend on high for 60- seconds to puree the liquid until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender if you have one.
4. Add back into the pot and add your spices and a splash of cream if desired.