A protein-packed, thick and creamy smoothie that tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass!
Happy 1st Day of Fall!! Like so many, fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. Now that I’m well into my eighth month of pregnancy, I am perfectly happy with cooler temps and crisp breezes. Bring on the stretchy pants!
The other great thing about the arrival of is that I no longer have to feel guilty about cooking with pumpkin. Truth is, at just 35 calories per half cup, we eat it all year round in pancakes, oatmeal, muffins, brownies and more.
Pure pumpkin is loaded in nutritional value. Be sure to grab the 100% Pure Pumpkin and not the sweetened pumpkin pie filling. Here are a few reasons why I love cooking with pumpkin:
–Low Calorie: A 1/2 c serving is only 40 calories
-Rich in Dietary Fiber.
-Loaded in Vitamin A which promotes healthy vision and improved immune function.
-Full of Beta-Carotene, a powerful antioxidant.
-Naturally low in sodium.
It’s a great way to add moisture, flavor and nutrients without adding to the waistline. Of course I haven’t seen my waist in a few months but that’s besides the point.
Do you love to bake? Use pure pumpkin in place of half of the required oil. Want an easy snack? Mix it with yogurt and use it as a fruit dip. Craving something creamy? Stir it into low fat ricotta cheese for a lighter alternative to ice cream. Or, try my Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie as a perfect mid-day or post-workout snack. Just one serving provides 5 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein for just 126 calories.
Your straw is waiting
Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pure pumpkin unsweetened
- 1/2 cup oats old fashioned or quick cooking
- 1 banana
- 1 apple
- 1 cup fat free milk
- 2 scoops scoop vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoons flax seed meal
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch salt
- vanilla stevia or natural sweetener of choice to taste
- ice
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients except the ice in a high speed blender and puree until smooth - about 45 seconds.
- Add ice and continue pureeing until you reach desired consistency.
Ari
Ok, I actually made this, and it was AMAZING! Thank you for such a great recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh good I’m so glad you liked it Ari!!!! One of my favorites!
Heather
I made this this morning and the oats were chewy and bitter! Had to toss it :-(
Liz DellaCroce
Oh no Heather!!! We enjoy oats in our smoothies all the time and they have never been chewy or bitter. Do you have a fairly good blender? I’m wondering if you let it go long enough? We seriously eat this all the time so I am truly sad to hear your oats weren’t fully blended and smooth!! My apologies regardless. I hope you try another smoothie!
Brandy Miller
Yummy! I love how versatile pumpkin is. I bake with it, cook with it, drink it, I think I even have abbody wash that’s pumpkin scented. And lots of different candles. LOL I’d say I have a pumpkin addiction but… clearly that’s obvious and I’m not the only one!
Liz DellaCroce
You are definitely not the only one!! I have so many pumpkin recipes coming up!!
Marie Greene
I have three ever-hungry teenaged sons who will appreciate this yummy pumpkin smoothie with breakfast this morning. :-)
Liz DellaCroce
Oh good!! I hope you enjoy Marie!
Natalie Gibbs
LOVE LOVE LOVE pumpkin! Thanks for the easy and clean recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
My pleasure – enjoy Natalie!
Karen
I love fall and pumpkin flavored foods! This sounds good. Thanks for sharing!
Liz DellaCroce
Same here!! Enjoy Karen!
Molly
I love all things pumpkin!
Liz DellaCroce
You and me both!!
Veronica Michalewicz
Today is my birthday and I would love to get my “wish items” on my amazon account ;) Thank you for the opportunity!!!
Nutmeg Nanny
Oh yay, pumpkin love :) I cannot wait to taste this!!
Liz DellaCroce
I just. can’t. quit. pumpkin.
Heather @TheSoulfulSpoon
Thanks for this giveaway! I love making pumpkin smoothies! They are my favorite way to bring in the falls season in a delicious, healthy way!:) Thanks again!
Liz DellaCroce
My pleasure – good luck!!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
This is so fun! I love that I can “drink” my pumpkin this season!
Liz DellaCroce
Me too!! I’m actually drinking a pumpkin smoothie as I type!! :)
Edie
This is perfect. Going to make it this Saturday before we head out to a harvest fair and go apple picking here in PA.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh you will love this one Edie!! Have fun apple picking!!
The Domestic Rebel
Ooooh, this looks like Jamba Juice’s pumpkin smash smoothie which is one of my seasonal FAVORITE things! Like pumpkin pie in a glass, and this is exactly that! I am in loooooove.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh my gosh I used to go to Jamba Juice in college in Boston! Great memories!!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
Love, love, love pumpkin smoothies! I need to stock up on Pumpkin – it’s finally cold here – I was in denial for a while ;)
Liz DellaCroce
haha the cold weather most certainly helps. :) Enjoy!!
Sally Tews
Wow~sure could use the Amazon gift card~keeping my fingers crossed. :-)
Thanx for the giveaway. :-)
Love for Pumpkins.
Liz DellaCroce
Good luck Sally!! You seem to have good luck! :)
Sally Tews
Really? I haven’t won yet :-( ~but still keeping my fingers crossed :-) and I
still love pumpkin <3
Liz DellaCroce
You won my Dreamfield’s Pasta giveaway!! Did you not hear from them??
Sally Tews
Oh Yes Liz,
I did not forget that~what wonderful pasta!
My family loves it,now just have to make some Mac&Cheese,seeing as
summer time pasta salads are passing and Comfort Food is taking the
lead.
Just think of all the Pumpkin that I can buy. :-)
Brenda
I cannot wait to try this smoothie!! My daughter and I have been doing breakfast smoothies for a while now — so this will be a nice “dessert” type smoothie! Thanks for sharing!! Love your website and all of your recipes! Wishing you all the best in the upcoming months for the birth of your precious baby!!
Liz DellaCroce
I am all about “dessert” smoothies – haha. Thank you so much for your nice words!!!
Sandy Coughlin
This looks so tasty! It would be great for a breakfast treat.
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Sandy!! I hope your travels have been going well!!
Susan
I love finding good smoothie recipes and this one sounds great. It sounds like the best pumpkin smoothie recipe I’ve seen to date. It is definitely on my list of things to try.
Liz DellaCroce
Wow thank you so much Susan! I hope you enjoy it!
Katie
Liz, stumbled across your blog last year and have been ADDICTED to your recipes! Chicken shawarma, check. All smoothies, check. KEEP THEM COMING!
Liz DellaCroce
You are so sweet – Thank you Katie! So glad you like it!!
Linda Coleman
I love everything pumpkin too. I have got to try that smoothie! Thanks.
Liz DellaCroce
I can’t seem to get enough pumpkin!! :)
Marie @ Not Enough Cinnamon
I’ve never tried using pumpkin in smoothies before but it sure sounds delicious! Oh and I wish this giveaway was opened worldwide, I’m sure I would have found a way to spend this money ;)
Liz DellaCroce
Oh man I’m sorry you can’t enter!!! I can’t either so we can commiserate together.
Kim M.
Very appealing to the senses for Fall.
Scarlett
Looks like a good smoothie! Last year I tried my own pumpkin smoothie, but it just wasn’t quite right. Will have to try this one! Your smoothies are always good!
Liz DellaCroce
THank you so much – I hope you enjoy!
Rachel VanHorn
Sounds delicious! Gotta pick some pumpkin up from the store! ;)
Liz DellaCroce
I love having it on hand!! It keeps well in the fridge all week too once you’ve opened a can.
EA-The Spicy RD
Yum!! I tried making a pumpkin smoothie once, but it wasn’t so good. I think there was too much pumpkin. Definitely trying your version next!
Liz DellaCroce
Too much pumpkin?? Is that possible?? Just teasing. :) Enjoy!!
nettie moore
Oh this smoothie looks tremendous, move over blueberries, pumpkin here we come!! Nettie
Liz DellaCroce
My thoughts exactly!!
Hannah
Yum! Love everything pumpkin!
Liz DellaCroce
You and me both. :)
Christina Gathright
Such a great smoothie for fall! Can’t wait to try it! My two year old loves any and all smoothies, so I know he’s going to love this one :)
Liz DellaCroce
My son loves them too!! Enjoy!
[email protected] pineapple and coconut
That pumpkin meme cracked me up!! The smoothie looks good – you know I am always making your smoothie creations so I will definitely be trying this one!
Liz DellaCroce
haha isn’t it the best?? I hope you like this one!!
The Candid RD
This smoothie sounds fantastic. I’ve only ever added oats to my smoothie once, and it was amazing, why not try it again?! And like you, fall is my favorite season. Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere!
Liz DellaCroce
I don’t always remember to do it myself but I’m always glad when I do!! Adds such great texture and flavor.