The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup (Better-Than-Panera Copycat)

+ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

small/medium sweet yellow onion, diced small

garlic, peeled and minced finely

all-purpose flour

low-sodium vegetable stock (chicken stock may be substituted)

fat-free half-and-half (regular half-and-half may be substituted; whole milk or 2% milk will work but soup won’t be as creamy)

to 3 cups broccoli florets, diced into bite-size pieces + 1 cups stems, optional (I used 3 cups florets and 1 cup stems as not to waste them)

large carrots, trimmed, peeled, and sliced into very thin rounds, about 1/16th-inch

salt, or to taste

 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

smoked paprika or regular paprika, optional and to taste

dry mustard powder, optional and to taste

cayenne pepper, optional and to taste (doesn’t make soup spicy and serves to enhance flavor)

grated high quality extra-sharp cheddar cheese, with a small amount reserved for garnishing bowls