This creamy pumpkin smoothie tastes like pie filling, but it’s a healthy snack or breakfast! Pumpkin, yogurt, banana, apple and spices blend up in 5 minutes.
Ready for pumpkin season? I’m here for it! Many of the season’s recipes are sugar loaded: pumpkin cookies, cake, and of course good old pumpkin pie. But why not enjoy all the flavors in a healthy and delicious way?
Enter my pumpkin smoothie recipe: it’s creamy and full of pumpkin-spiced flavor and made with Greek yogurt and fruit! It’s a deliciously cozy way to usher in the season without the sugar high. It’s also packed with protein from the yogurt. My son is specifically very into this one (especially sipping it out of a pumpkin mug!).
5 Star Reader Review
“I just made this for my husband and me for breakfast this morning. What a pleasant meal that was! I like the combination of flavors in the smoothie, none standing out, but together yielding an enjoyable experience.” -Alexandra
Ingredients In This Pumpkin Smoothie
This pumpkin smoothie is full of good-for-you ingredients. It’s also got a drizzle of added maple syrup to make it just sweet enough that it feels like a treat. Here are the ingredients in this tasty smoothie:
- Pumpkin puree: Make sure not to use pumpkin pie filling! You’ll just need plain unsweetened pumpkin puree. If you do have pumpkin pie filling, omit the spices and maple syrup, then add to taste.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a creamy body and loads on the protein. It also provides probiotics for gut-health. You can also use any type of plain yogurt.
- Banana: No need to freeze your banana! Use it room temperature, and it helps to add creaminess.
- Apple: Apple also adds texture and body.
- Pumpkin pie spice: This brings in the magic! Use store-bought or our homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice blend.
- Maple syrup: Adds the final sweetness: you’ll need this to combat the bitterness of the pumpkin.
Pro Tips For The Right Texture
This pumpkin smoothie has just the right texture using Greek yogurt and pumpkin puree as the main liquid components. But here’s a note if your smoothie doesn’t start to blend right away:
- Place all the liquid items into your blender first. This helps the blades not get stuck when you start to blend.
- If necessary, add a splash or milk or water to your smoothie to help it blend. Whether you’ll need it depends on the consistency of your yogurt and how powerful your blender is.
Add-Ins And Variations
This pumpkin smoothie tastes pretty great as is. But you can mix it up if you like! Here are a few ideas for other add ins for this smoothie:
- Oats: Add whole grains by throwing in ½ cup rolled oats.
- Pecans, cashews or almonds: Throw in ¼ cup nuts for even more plant-based protein.
- Nut butter: Or add 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter or cashew butter.
- Chai spices: Replace the pumpkin spice with chai spices.
Fun Topping Ideas
Want to take this pumpkin smoothie over the top? If you’re serving it for guests for a fall brunch, it could be fun to step it up a bit. Here are some ideas for toppings: let us know what other ideas you have!
- Granola: Add healthy maple pecan granola for a tasty treat!
- Chopped pecans or walnuts: A few chopped nuts look like lovely confetti.
- Pumpkin seeds: Pepitas would be perfect! Or even pumpkin seed granola.
Make It Vegan Or Dairy-Free
Want to make this into a vegan smoothie? You can substitute oat milk or almond milk for the Greek yogurt! You can also use your favorite brand of vegan yogurt. It will have a slightly thinner texture than with yogurt, but it will taste just as good. (Here are more of my dairy free smoothies.)
Storage And Make-Ahead Notes
Smoothies are best right away, but this one lasts refrigerated up to 1 day in a sealed jar. It may separate, so shake the jar before enjoying.
Dietary Notes
This pumpkin smoothie recipe is vegetarian and gluten free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the variation in the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
It tastes like less sweet, liquid pumpkin pie filling. It’s warm from the cinnamon and ginger in the pumpkin pie spice, and a little tangy from the yogurt.
Yes, I like using it here along with pumpkin pie spice. Make sure to use canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling (though it would also work, it will just taste sweeter!).
Banana and apple work great: pear could also be a stand in. You can also use Medjool dates instead of maple syrup if you like.
Milk or yogurt makes it creamy, but you can use oat milk or coconut milk if you like. You can even use water but the texture will not be as creamy.
Pumpkin Smoothie
Pin RecipeThis creamy pumpkin smoothie tastes like pie filling, but it’s a healthy snack or breakfast! Pumpkin, yogurt, banana, apple and spices blend up in 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 small smoothies or 1 large 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or plain yogurt (or oat milk for vegan)
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 ½ cups fresh apple chunks (skin on, about 1 medium apple)
- 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 cup ice cubes
- For the topping: pumpkin pie spice, maple pecan granola, etc.
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in the blender in the order indicated, breaking the banana into pieces as you add it.
- Blend on high until fully pureed and smooth, stopping and scraping as necessary. Depending on your blender and the consistency of your yogurt, you may need to add a splash of milk or water to get it to start. Eat immediately or refrigerate up to 1 day.
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/fyCmBoO
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