Homemade Croutons:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Cut French bread into 1″ cubes. In a small dish, melt butter and add minced garlic. Drizzle garlic butter over bread cubes, sprinkle with basil and salt, and toss to coat. Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden and crispy. Set aside.

Grlic Bread Soup:

• In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper, and cook for 7-8 minutes until the onions are golden. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
• Whisk in cubed French bread and heavy whipping cream. Allow the bread to absorb the liquid for about 5 minutes at a simmer. Blend the soup using an immersion blender (or transfer in batches to a blender or food processor) until smooth. Whisk in grated parmesan until fully incorporated. Serve warm, topped with homemade croutons.