Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

The real problem with pumpkin pie from a Paleo perspective isn’t the inside – there’s nothing wrong with the pumpkin. It’s the crust that makes things tricky. So why not get rid of the crust altogether and get straight to the good stuff? That’s what this smoothie recipe does: it’s almost like drinking a dessert, only it’s a dessert that’s actually good for you. As the star of the show, pumpkin is full of Vitamins A, C, E, and K, and it also delivers substantial amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. The other ingredients add even more nutrients, plus a hefty dose of good fats. So this is one treat you can honestly feel good about loving.

For the Paleo cooks who live in year-round warm climates, this is a wonderful way to enjoy the seasonal flavors in style. South Florida, your Thanksgiving treat has arrived! But even for the temperate zones, playing with the pumpkin flavor in a smoothie is a fun way to mix it up, not to mention cutting down on cooking and baking time.

If you tolerate dairy well (not everyone does), homemade yogurt gives this recipe a great texture. Otherwise, simply substitute with coconut milk instead. You’ll also notice that you have a choice of apple juice or water for the main liquid – this allows you to adjust the recipe to your favorite level of sweetness.

One last ingredient that you might not have on hand is the pumpkin pie spice. Pumpkin pie spice isn’t actually a spice; it’s a spice blend, and fortunately it’s a blend of spices most of us already have handy. And that means that if you don’t have any to hand, you can probably just mix it up yourself. Most commercial “pumpkin pie spice” mixes are just combinations of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg (a little more cinnamon than the other two), with optional cloves, allspice, and/or mace. It’s handy to have all that in one bottle, but you do also pay a premium for the convenience, so if you’re watching the grocery budget or just don’t want to run out to the store, you can easily mix up your own.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe

Serves 4

Prep Time: 10 min.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of pumpkin puree;
• 1 cup yogurt or coconut milk;
• ½ cup apple juice or water;
• 1 banana;
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice;
• ¼ tsp. vanilla extract;
• 1 cup of ice;
• Pecans, crushed; (optional)

Preparation

1. In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients except for the pecans and blend until smooth.
2. Top with crushed pecans, and serve in a large glass.