This pumpkin smoothie was my first experiment with pumpkin puree ten years ago. I had some leftover pumpkin from another recipe, so I thought, “Hey Beth, this is possible.” It will taste just like a pumpkin pie milkshake. This is the pumpkin drink I want to drink, not the PSL. This is especially true if you live south, where it’s still 80 degrees in October. š
WHAT’S IN A PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE?
This smoothie is made with just five ingredients: pumpkin puree (frozen banana), ground flaxseed and pumpkin pie spice. TheĀ frozen bananaĀ gives this smoothie an almost ice cream-like texture, and the ground flaxseed makes it taste almost like a graham cracker cookie crust. It’s magical!
Use the MILK OF YOUR CHOICE
Whole milk was used because it’s the creamiest and richest, but you can substitute any other non-dairy dairy milk. You can reduce the sweetness or eliminate the vanilla flavour if your non-dairy dairy milk is already sweetened.
SWEAR TO TASTE
Making your smoothies is the best thing about them. You can add as much sugar or substitute sugar as you wish to customize it to suit your taste. Brown sugar is rich and makes the smoothie more pie-like. However, honey, white sugar or agave can all be used. Although the frozen banana is sweet enough on its own, I found that a little sweetness was helpful.
PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
You can make your pumpkin pie spice if you don’t have any store-bought. Or, substitute 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon for it if you need it. The amount of pumpkin pie spice you use in your smoothie is so small that it doesn’t matter if the smoothie tastes good.
PUMPKIN SMOOTHIE
This pumpkin smoothie should be October’s official drink. It’s quick, easy, and tastes like a pumpkin pie milkshake.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 16oz.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree ($0.18)
- 1 frozen banana ($0.20)
- 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed ($0.03)
- 1/4 tspĀ pumpkin spiceĀ ($0.02)
- 1 cup milk* ($0.42)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract ($0.07)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar* ($0.02)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Blend the pumpkin, frozen bananas, flaxseeds, pumpkin pie spice and milk in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Blend again. Adjust the sweetness to your taste. Enjoy cold.
NOTES
*You can use any milk or sweetener you like.
NUTRITION
Serving Size: 1 smoothie Calories: 339 Kcal Carbohydrates: 52 g Protein: 11 g Fat: 12 g Sodium: 114 mg Fiber: 7 g
Tips for making this healthy pumpkin smoothie recipe
Here are a few of my favourite tips for making this pumpkin pie smoothie creamy and delicious:
- Using a frozen banana as it helps keep the smoothie cold and thick. Sometimes ice doesn’t blend as well, so it’s best to skip it unless necessary.
- Make sure to use a ripe, frozen banana for peak natural sweetness.
- Don’t be afraid to add more liquid if your smoothie is too thick or won’t fully blend. High powered blenders tend to blend frozen ingredients much better, so if you have a regular or personal-size blender, you may need to add more milk.
- Start the blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high to help blend all ingredients. End with the blender on low speed.