How badly are you guys craving something with LEGIT pumpkin?! Tis the season! Oh and I’m not talking about PSLs here, people.
Can we talk about those little devils for a hot minute? The sad truth is that pumpkin spice lattes are rather tough on the waistline and the wallet. A grande PSL from Starbucks packs a whopping twelve teaspoons of sugar (fifty grams), equivalent to two Snickers bars. Or more than three cups of Frosted Flakes. Or eleven Oreos. Ya know, all my fave foods.
It’s not just the tablespoons upon tablespoons of added sugar that make me cringe. Did you know that this infamous drink has no actual pumpkin? Rather, it’s bursting at the seams with artificially flavored pumpkin syrup. How’s that for starting your morning off wrong? No thank yewww.
I get it. They taste good. I mean is there anything with fifty grams of sugar that doesn’t taste good? Just promise me sure not to make this seasonal sensation a daily habit!
Instead, try this smoothie on for size. It’s no pumpkin spice latte, but it legit tastes like pumpkin pie. It’s naturally sweetened with bananas and dates and gives that PSL a serious run for its money on the fiber front. A half cup of pumpkin rings it at four grams of filling fiber for a healthy digestive tract, not to mention a boatload of vitamin A (280% of your daily needs) for healthy eyes, skin, and tissue.
Tis the season for pumpkin flavored errthang. I’ve seen it all, from pumpkin flavored English muffins and pumpkin coffee creamer (ahem, trans fat) to pumpkin pop tarts and pumpkin marshmallows. I can assure you that those foods contain little to no pumpkin. There are, however, some fabulous ways to incorporate this bonafide superfood into your daily routine! Because let’s be real, it’s always SO annoying to not use the whole can.
—Mix a couple tablespoons into a cup of hot almond milk along with a big splash of coffee, pumpkin pie spice, and pure maple syrup to sweeten.
—Yogurt fan? Stir in a heaping spoonful along with chopped pecans, lots of cinnamon (which lowers your blood sugar!), and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.
—Make a batch of pumpkin quinoa muffins. They’re the shiz.
—For an easy pumpkin chia pudding, mix together 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp pure maple syrup. Let it all sit overnight and nosh away in the morning!
Or just make this smoothie like three days in a row and say goodbye to that annoying leftover pumpkin.
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PinDescription
A creamy pumpkin spice smoothie packed with fiber and antioxidants for the perfect breakfast
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 large over-ripe frozen banana, pre-sliced
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 2–3 Medjool dates, pitted (or pure maple syrup or stevia to taste)
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Ohh I haven’t had a pumpkin smoothie for ages but I think it’s going to need to happen asap! I love that you used Medjool dates for a sweetener too! I bet that’s perfect with the pumpkin!
I’m obsessed with dates in my smoothies, especially when I’m not feeling the banana flavor.
Sounds Yummy! Healthy and a good substitute for pie!
Eaxctly! And who doesn’t want pumpkin pie for breakfast?
Sounds Yummy! Healthy and a good substitute for pie!
Eaxctly! And who doesn’t want pumpkin pie for breakfast?
It is a pumpkin recipe kind of day, I’d say! I definitely need to start adding pumpkin to my smoothies… and maybe less greens when I do because I have a feeling that would be an awful color! 😉
Hahah I felt SO weird not adding greens to this one! I won’t tell anyone if you do 🙂
It is a pumpkin recipe kind of day, I’d say! I definitely need to start adding pumpkin to my smoothies… and maybe less greens when I do because I have a feeling that would be an awful color! 😉
Hahah I felt SO weird not adding greens to this one! I won’t tell anyone if you do 🙂
I’m a type 1 diabetic so the sugar in a pumpkin spice latte scares me…this seems like a much healthier and yummy option for me!
Definitely! Twelve teaspoons is a big no-no.
I’m a type 1 diabetic so the sugar in a pumpkin spice latte scares me…this seems like a much healthier and yummy option for me!
Definitely! Twelve teaspoons is a big no-no.
This looks amazing! I also like to add a spoonful or two to my oatmeal in the morning with a little pumpkin pie spice. Then it’s just like pumpkin pie oatmeal!
Mmmmm sounds fabulous! I love pumpkin in my oatmeal.
This looks amazing! I also like to add a spoonful or two to my oatmeal in the morning with a little pumpkin pie spice. Then it’s just like pumpkin pie oatmeal!
Mmmmm sounds fabulous! I love pumpkin in my oatmeal.
Or just make a huge batch for the whole fam. 🙂 Win.
Exxxxxxactly!!
Or just make a huge batch for the whole fam. 🙂 Win.
Exxxxxxactly!!
I’ll be honest, I’ve never even actually had a real pumpkin spice latte haha I’d much rather have this! 😉
I’ll be honest too…I haven’t either!!
I’ll be honest, I’ve never even actually had a real pumpkin spice latte haha I’d much rather have this! 😉
I’ll be honest too…I haven’t either!!
I really like your recipes but damn….you talk like a 3 year old.
No thank yewww.
Just kidding, Summer is coming and I need smoothie recipes.
Don’t make me cry. Wait—so weird that summer is coming for you!!
SO SCRUMMY. i did regular milk and added a bit of vanilla greek yogurt and did peanut butter instead of almond.
definitely will be making this again!?
Yayyy so glad you enjoyed it!
I really like your recipes but damn….you talk like a 3 year old.
No thank yewww.
Just kidding, Summer is coming and I need smoothie recipes.
Don’t make me cry. Wait—so weird that summer is coming for you!!