After hauling all of our furniture and hundreds of heavy boxes into our storage unit, my guy and I said good-bye to our tiny place and turned in the house keys to the rental agency. Because he immediately had to fly out for a business tripâand apartment hunting is no fun aloneâI drove south to visit my parents for a few days until he returned.
Once I lugged 17 more boxes of baking ingredients, cake pans, and photography equipment into my childhood bedroom (food bloggers never stop working!), I collapsed onto the soft mattress and slept soundly until morning.
When I awoke, my legs ached for a run, so I pulled on shorts, laced up my shoes, and headed out the front door⊠Where a crisp and chilly overcast morning greeted me. Nothing like the blazing hot 105° weather 80 miles north in our town! After rubbing my palms together to get blood flowing into my fingertips again, I took off down the street, constantly thinking about baking fall pumpkin-y treats while I pounded my way around half the town.
But by the time I spotted my parentsâ driveway over an hour later, the sun had started peeking out between the clouds. After I showered and snacked on a banana, warm summery weather had completely replaced the fall fog⊠And suddenly pumpkin muffins and cookies stopped sounding so appealing.
Yet since September marks the unofficial start to pumpkin season in my mind, I still wanted to make something with it! After a little bit of creative thinking and a tiny bit of tinkering, I came up with thisâŠ
A Skinny Pumpkin Pie Smoothie! Full of spices and sweet fall flavor, it literally tastes like the traditional Thanksgiving dessert in a glass. But with its cold and creamy texture, itâs much more refreshing than that heavy slice of pie! Made with just a few simple ingredients, this low-calorie smoothie is gluten free, vegan, and clean-eating tooâthe perfect guilt-free drink!
This easy smoothie starts with my favorite canned vegetable: pumpkin. We want the regular pumpkin purĂ©e, not the pie filling. The pie filling contains spices and lots of added sugar. Although itâs an easy shortcut when strapped for time on Thanksgiving, itâs not what we want for these healthy smoothies!
By using regular pumpkin purĂ©e, you get to decide how much sweetener and spice you add! I like to mix the pumpkin, milk, Truvia, and spices together in a bowl before pouring it into the blender. Some days Iâm on a huge cinnamon kick; others, not so much. Taste as you go, and remember⊠The ice will dilute the spices, so itâs better to err on the side of just barely too much!
Once you find the perfect balance, just add that mixture to the blender along with the ice, and pulse until itâs smooth. My parents own a blender from the Stone Age, so I looked like a clown making mine, constantly bending down to peer at the base where the blades were hidden and stopped it every 15 seconds to move around the ice with one of my 13 spatulas.
But when I eventually finished, I offered my mom a taste of this Skinny Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. As soon as she swallowed, she exclaimed, âThis is SO good!! It literally tastes like pumpkin pie!â before polishing off half of the smoothie.
It was totally worth sharing to see her so excited⊠Especially since Iâm positive weâll make lots more! â„
This refreshing smoothie tastes exactly like the traditional Thanksgiving dessert! Feel free to adjust the amount of spice to suit your tastes. The recipe is easily doubled to serve more!
- Add everything except the ice to a blender, and pulse until combined. Add the ice, and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
Notes: Any milk (1%, 2%, whole, almond, rice, etc.) may be used.
Substitute your favorite sweetener in place of the Truvia. If not using a no-calorie sweetener, the Nutrition Information may change.
Amy;
Hi,it has been quite a while since my mom and I made your skinny pumpkin smoothie and today mom and I made your smoothie for the seventh time,I made mom your smoothie using your recipe with recipe but I decided to add a scoop of vanilla protein powder and 2 scoops of chia seeds with stevia powder and it is in the frigerator chilling out and getting cold while the chia seeds swell up and then I will blend the smoothie again and drink it for dinner.I will let you know how I like and enjoy the smoothie ok any.
Kim
It’s so lovely to hear from you, Kim! I’m really glad you’re still enjoying this smoothie recipe. It means the world to me that you’ve already made it seven times! Your additions of vanilla protein powder and chia seeds sound wonderful. I hope you enjoyed this version of the smoothie just as much!
Amy;
Hi,good morning,I know that I am up really early but my arthritis symptions kept me up off and on due to my chronic pain even though I took my tylenol for arthritis pill before i went to bed.The chia seeds in your skinny pumpkin pie smoothie that I have made seven times turned out to make it into a pudding like dessert treat which tasted really good.
Kim
It’s wonderful to hear from you again, Kim! I’m so glad you’re still enjoying this pumpkin pie smoothie. That’s so fun that adding chia seeds turn it into a pudding-like treat — I need to remember to try that sometime! đ
Amy;
Hi,would it be ok if I give my penfriend from england your skinny pumpkin pie smoothie recipe?We have been friends for a couple of years or so and she has never tasted or tried a pumpkin smoothie before and I would like her to try your recipe or can I give her your website address so that she can pick her own recipes.
I will wait until You reply to my letter before I give her the recipe and website ok kelly.
Kelly is also my penfriend
Kim
Amy;
Oops I called you kelly,sorry about that,my penfriend kelly’s photo is on my phone.
Kim
Oh my goodness Kim, I would be SO honored if you sent my website and recipe to Kelly! That truly means the world to me that you’d like to share it with her. You just made my day — thank you!! đ I’d love to hear what Kelly thinks of this smoothie, if she decides to try making it!
Wow that hit the spot…and it’s April now, lol. I love Pumpkin! I’m on a mission to change my health, but I have been missing tasty treats. I’ll be returning to check out more of your recipes.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this smoothie, Shel! It means so much that you’re already considering trying more of my recipes. That’s the best kind of compliment there is! đ I can’t wait to hear which one you pick to try next!
Amy;
Hi,even though it is late spring here in edmonton alberta,warm and no more snow on the ground,I ham going to make your pumpkin pie smoothie asap,the 2 cups of pumpkin puree is frozen in the freezer.Can I use the frozen pumpkin slightly thawed with the rest of the ingredients?
Kim
Yes! When thawed, your frozen pumpkin purĂ©e should work to make this smoothie. If I’m remembering correctly, I think you’ve made it before… So I really hope you enjoy your next smoothie just as much as your previous ones, Kim! đ
Amy;
Hi,I will let you know when I make your pumpkin pie smoothie tomorrow and I am going to put some ground graham crackers on the top of the smoothie after I make two smoothies for mom and I.
Kim
I am also going to make some of your other smoothies soon as well.
Thank you for your reply to my later letter I really appreciate it a lot
It’s my pleasure, Kim! I absolutely LOVE your idea of adding ground graham crackers on top. That sounds like such a delicious treat!
I really hope you and your mom enjoyed your smoothies, and I’m excited to hear which smoothie recipe you pick to make next too!