Bright Pumpkin Banana Smoothie (Printable Version)

Creamy blend of pumpkin, banana, and spices for a nourishing, autumn-inspired drink.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (unsweetened)

02 - 1 large ripe banana (fresh or frozen)

03 - 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened almond, soy, or oat milk)

04 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt

05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, to taste

06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

09 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

10 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flaxseed

11 - Handful of ice cubes

01 - Place pumpkin, banana, milk, yogurt, sweetener, spices, vanilla extract, and any optional add-ins into the blender.

02 - Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

03 - Taste and modify sweetness or spice levels as preferred.

04 - Pour into serving glasses and enjoy immediately; optionally garnish with cinnamon or a dollop of yogurt.

01 -

It tastes like pumpkin pie but feels virtuous enough for breakfast without any guilt.
You can blend it in under five minutes, even with one hand holding your coffee mug.
The texture is so thick and smooth it feels more like dessert than a healthy snack.

02 -

Canned pumpkin pie filling is not the same as pure pumpkin, and using it will make this taste like a spice bomb instead of a balanced smoothie.
If your banana is underripe and firm, the smoothie will taste starchy and flat, so wait until its spotty and sweet.
Blending for too long can warm it up from friction, so stop as soon as its smooth.

03 -

Use frozen banana instead of ice for a thicker, creamier texture without watering down the flavor.
Warm your spices in a dry pan for ten seconds before adding them to unlock a deeper, toastier flavor.
If you like it really thick, add a tablespoon of oats and let the blender run an extra ten seconds.