Winter Squash Soup with Gruyere Croutons

• ¼ cup butter ** ½ stick
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 4 large garlic cloves chopped
• 3 14 ½- ounce cans low-salt chicken broth or vegetable stock
• 4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled butternut squash * about 1 ½ pounds
• 4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled acorn squash * about 1 ½ pounds
• 1 ¼ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• 1 ¼ teaspoons minced fresh sage
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ⅛ cup whipping cream **

Gruyere Croutons

• 2 tablespoons butter ¼ stick
• 24 ¼- inch -thick baguette bread slices
• 1 cup grated gruyere cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage