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You’re going to fall in love with this healthy Pumpkin Smoothie that tastes just like a slice of pumpkin pie! It’s quick and easy to make with pumpkin puree, cauliflower, milk, protein powder, nut butter, and pumpkin pie spice. And blends up rich, creamy, and packed with flavor! Enjoy it as a breakfast, mid-day snack, or dessert.
Is it just me, or does it feel absolutely essential that something pumpkin-y enter your body at the first hint of fall? In my house, we love all things pumpkin; pumpkin donuts, pumpkin mac & cheese, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, and of course, this amazing Pumpkin Smoothie. It’s the perfect way to start an autumn morning!
We love making and trying out all sorts of pumpkin recipes. If you happen to have some pumpkin puree and you are not sure what to do with it, try this pumpkin pie smoothie! It’s made with nutritious ingredients, added protein, and turns out creamy and delicious.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Includes your favorite fall flavors! Creamy pumpkin puree and warming pumpkin pie spice come together to make one incredible fall shake!
- Packed with protein. Get a protein fix with a scoop protein powder! You can use any favorite brand of protein, make it plant-based for a vegan-friendly option!
- Quick & easy. All you need is a blender and you can whip this up in 5 minutes, with only a handful of ingredients needed.
Ingredients needed
This tasty pumpkin smoothie is all about flavor! Who doesn’t love pumpkin pie spice this time of year? This recipe is naturally sweetened, has an amazing boost of protein, fiber and healthy fats, and is the perfect breakfast or snack. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Pumpkin puree. For extra creaminess, I recommend using frozen pumpkin puree. Freeze it in ice cube trays the night before.
- Cauliflower florets. The perfect way to sneak in extra veggies and thicken your shake. You won’t taste it at all!
- Milk. You can use any milk you’d like (dairy free or regular) to thin the smoothie and help it blend up well.
- Sweetener. Use agave, maple syrup or honey to naturally sweeten your drink.
- Nut butter. A little almond, cashew or peanut butter adds healthy fats and extra creaminess.
- Protein powder. Ideally, opt for a good quality protein powder that is minimally processed and doesn’t have a lot of added sugar.
- Pinch of salt. To intensify all of the flavors.
- Pumpkin pie spice. For that classic pumpkin pie flavor! If you don’t happen to have pumpkin pie spice, substitute with ground cinnamon.
How to make this recipe
This recipe couldn’t be easier! Simply add all of your ingredients (and any optional mix-ins) to a high-powered blender and blend it until it’s smooth and creamy. You can add more liquid, a couple tablespoons at a time, as needed to get the blender going. Feel free to add some fun toppings, too, like whipped cream, granola and/or pepitas (pumpkin seeds).
Tips for recipe success
- Use frozen fruits & veggies. Using frozen pumpkin puree and cauliflower will help the smoothie blend up super cold and thick. Ice typically doesn’t blend very well and can make your smoothie watery, so it’s best to skip adding ice.
- Add more liquid. If your smoothie is too thick and you’re having trouble getting it fully blended, feel free to add more milk a couple of tablespoons at a time.
- Start on low speed. It works best to start your blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high to fully blend all of the ingredients. End with the blender back on low speed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Both fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin are packed with nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin A and iron.
Use 100% pure canned pumpkin here. Don’t grab pumpkin pie filling by mistake! It has added spices and sugar.
Yes, you can make this ahead of time! Once blended either add it to a mason jar with a lid, an ice cube tray, or freezer safe baggie. When you’re ready to drink it, add your frozen smoothie back to your blender with a little additional milk, blend, and enjoy. You may need to thaw it out a bit before blending.
Variations
Because there are plenty of simple ingredients in this pumpkin protein smoothie recipe, it’s easy to customize with your fav add-ins or swaps! Here’s some options:
- Swap your produce. If you don’t have any pumpkin, you could use roasted butternut squash or sweet potato instead!
- Add in extras. For a boost of nutrients, feel free to add a tablespoon of flaxseed meal, chia seeds or hemp seeds.
- Make it vegan. Use your favorite dairy free milk, plant-based protein and agave or maple syrup to keep this smoothie vegan-friendly!
Try our other favorite smoothie recipes
As usual, PLEASE let me know if you make this recipe and how you like it! You can come back here and leave a comment or tag me on instagram (@foodwithfeeling).
Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup of frozen pumpkin puree, I freeze it in ice cube trays the night before
- ½ cup of frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons of liquid sweetener, agave, maple syrup, honey, etc
- 1 tablespoon of nut butter, I love almond butter in this!
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Add more liquid, a couple tablespoons at a time, as needed to get the blender going.
- Top with some pepitas or granola and ENJOY!
Thanks for sharing! Does the protein powder taste come through much?
It honestly completely depends on the protein powder that you use but I don’t think it comes through
This looks so good! Do you use cauliflower in any other smoothie recipes?
Honestly, ANY smoothie of mine that calls for banana can be subbed with cauliflower. I do it all the time! :)
if i leave the protein powder out- will it change the final product much??
no! I actually make a variation of this smoothie with no protein powder quite often and it’s great!
Going to try this. Love the cauliflower idea and freezing the puree in ice cube trays.
I hope you like it! It’s been my go to lately!
This smoothie looks so good Brita! I’ve used cauliflower a couple times in smoothies before and loved it. So surprising how creamy it gets!
I know! I’ve been hooked since I first tried it last year!