This pumpkin pie smoothie tastes like liquid pumpkin pie. Rich and smooth with coconut milk, creamy from a little banana, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, a touch of vanilla and of course, pumpkin. Puree it all in a blender and you have a nutritious smoothie for a healthy fall breakfast. Dessert for breakfast? Why not.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
It might be meltingly hot in Southern California, but my brain is in fall mode. Tired of the heat, I am ready for cooler weather, sweaters, a flickering fireplace, fall foods and ingredients. Fall mode means pumpkin and comfort food again. Anyone else mentally in fall mode? Please tell me I am not the only one. Drinking one of these pumpkin pie smoothies helps.
Nutritious Pumpkin
If you say “pumpkin” most people say “pie”. Pie (and jack o’lanterns) aside, you might not realize how nutritious pumpkin is. The power behind pumpkin’s bright orange flesh is beta-carotene. Beta-carotene, a provitamin that converts to vitamin A in our bodies, provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s good for our eyes, bones, teeth, immune systems, and may help prevent cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Sign me up.
Pumpkin also provides vitamins C, B1, B3, B5, B6, K and the minerals potassium (more than a banana), magnesium, iron, calcium, copper and phosphorous. And don’t forget fiber. Just 1/2 cup of pumpkin provides 4 grams of fiber, something we all need to get more of. I’ve even fed pumpkin puree to my dog to settle his tummy and digestive system (at the advice of my vet). Tate loves pumpkin. So enough about pumpkin.
Spice is Very Nice
One of the oldest known spices, cinnamon was once more prized than gold. Cinnamon has been linked to potential health benefits including controlling blood sugar, helping with nausea, colds, and is thought to increase energy, vitality, and circulation. Cinnamon is said to have been once used in love potions and as perfume, so love on yourself and your family by enjoying cinnamon for more than its warm and lovely taste.
Try this pumpkin pie smoothie and ease into fall, no matter the weather. And up the spices for your personal taste like more cinnamon, nutmeg, clove or vanilla. Maybe a little allspice?
How Sweet It Is, or Isn’t
While this has a teaspoon of real maple syrup in it to flavor and sweeten, another sugar-free options for sweetening is liquid stevia drops in Pumpkin Spice, made by Sweet Leaf. You can order them here on Amazon.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup canned coconut milk 6 ounces
- 1/2 cup water 4 ounces
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
- 1/2 banana
- 1 teaspoon real maple syrup SEE NOTE BELOW
- 3/4 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 pinch ground clove
- 1-2 scoops protein powder of choice
Instructions
Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth and creamy.
Recipe Notes
You can up the spices and vanilla in this smoothie for your personal taste. For vanilla, alcohol-free vanilla works best in smoothies. If you buy coconut milk stabilized with guar gum, it will be thicker and creamier than a brand without guar gum. Guar gum is only an issue for people with digestive issues. If you are sensitive to gums, choose a brand without guar gum, such as Native Forest Simple. For help on how to buy protein powder, read this post how to buy a protein powder.
A sugar-free option for sweetening is Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops in pumpkin spice.
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