Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

So, basically, when I found this recipe, I nearly jumped for joy.  While I love drinking my green smoothies for breakfast (they seriously make me more alert than any cup of coffee), the thought of swapping them out for pumpkin that looks like a milkshake wasn't even worth pausing to consider.  Done.  Let's drink them every day through the end of the year, shall we?


The recipe below is a perfectly pumpkin version of a regular breakfast smoothie - and you can absolutely doctor it up with protein powder and/or chia seeds (I added both) - but if you're looking for a pumpkin milkshake instead, it's easy peasy.  Freeze your pumpkin along with the banana to make it thicker.  And add in a tablespoon or two of maple syrup to make it sweeter while you're at it.  Voila!  A pumpkin milkshake that requires zero guilt.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,

          

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
adapted from Healthful Pursuit

1 c. milk or nondairy milk
1/2 c. canned pumpkin
1 banana, frozen in chunks
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
dash ground cloves

Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and sprinkle with cinnamon to make it pretty! Makes one 16oz. smoothie.

         Click here for a printable version of this recipe