The Best Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
The creamiest and most delicious pumpkin smoothie that’s loaded with spices and absolutely screams fall! Naturally-sweetened with banana and dates, this smoothie packs in 7 different plants for maximum nutrition, but tastes so indulgent that you wouldn’t know it!
I don’t throw around the word “best” lightly, so when I say that this is the best pumpkin smoothie, I mean it. This smoothie seriously tastes so good that even when I have one in the morning, I’m usually dreaming of making another by the time the afternoon rolls around. 🤤 It’s the ultimate fall-spiced pumpkin smoothie - insanely creamy, indulgent, nutritious, and ultra pumpkin-y!
Why You’ll Love this Pumpkin Smoothie
The perfect texture. This smoothie is insanely creamy, with a perfectly-balanced thickness, thanks to frozen bananas, pumpkin puree, almond butter, flax, and ice!
Max fall flavors. It’s super pumpkin-y and perfectly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to maximize those fall flavors! Adding in almond butter, vanilla extract, and Medjool dates layers in deeper flavors that perfectly complement the pumpkin and take the smoothie to peak autumn. I’m talking visions of cool breezes, crispy leaves crunching beneath your feet… you know the feeling.
Naturally sweetened. Creamy frozen ripe bananas and Medjool dates balance out the savory pumpkin flavor to sweeten the smoothie to perfection! The naturally sweet dates and bananas help add extra fiber and nutrients while also enhancing the smoothie’s flavor without the need for extra sweeteners!
Loaded with plants. This smoothie packs in 7 different plants (banana, pumpkin, flax, almonds, dates, fresh ginger, and plant milk (I used soy)) - and that’s without counting the spices! More plants = healthier gut. (The diversity of plants in your diet is the most important predictor to fuel a healthy gut. The recommended target is to eat 30-40+ different plants in a week!)
Sneaks in extra nutrients. Adding a tablespoon of ground flax boosts fiber and packs in lots of healthy omega-3 fatty acids - and don’t worry, you can’t even taste it!
Insanely delicious. Despite packing in tons of nutrients, this smoothie tastes insanely indulgent. Creamy, pumpkin-y, spicy, perfectly sweetened, and nutritious - 100% fall bliss.
Ingredient Overview
Frozen bananas. For that super creamy texture and to add sweetness! If you freeze your own, make sure to use very ripe bananas for max creaminess and sweetness.
Pumpkin puree. Obviously why we’re all here. 😉 Not only is pumpkin delicious, but did you know it’s also very rich in vitamin A and fiber (it adds 4 grams of fiber to each smoothie!)? Just in case you needed another reason to eat more pumpkin!
Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and fresh ginger. Flavor enhancers that make the smoothie (is pumpkin without the spice even a thing?)! Be sure to use fresh ginger as it adds a bit of brightness and just tastes so much better in a smoothie.
Medjool dates. Not only do dates help sweeten the smoothie, they also add caramel-y notes that perfectly complement the pumpkin flavor. Plus they contain antioxidants, fiber, and potassium!
Ground flax. Helps thicken the smoothie while adding a big boost of omega-3 fatty acids (which are essential in maintaining healthy bodily functions) and some extra fiber and protein!
Almond butter. Helps thicken the smoothie even more and add some protein! Be sure to use a single ingredient almond butter (i.e. just almonds!) that’s not spiced to avoid throwing off the balanced flavor of the smoothie.
Plant milk. Liquid for blending! I love soy milk (extra protein!) or oat milk, but any thinner milk like almond, cashew, hemp, etc. works.
Ice. For texture and to cool the smoothie.
Optional toppings. I love topping smoothies with some textured ingredients! My pumpkin spice granola is the absolute perfect topping for this smoothie (shameless plug), and I also love chopped toasted pecans, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.
The Best Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
Makes 2
Vegan, naturally-sweetened
Ingredients
1 cup frozen banana chunks (~1 large or ~1½ medium bananas)
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup plant milk (I like soy or oat)
~4 large ice cubes
2 tablespoons ground flax
1 tablespoon almond butter
2 pitted Medjool dates
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and roughly minced
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Optional topping suggestions: pumpkin spice granola, toasted pecans, chia seeds, and/or hemp seeds
Directions
Add all the smoothie ingredients to a blender and blend on medium speed for a few seconds, then blend on high until creamy smooth.
Pour into two glasses and top with granola, chia seeds, hemp seeds, chopped pecans, and/or other toppings, if desired.
Notes:
*Recipe originally published 10/22/2020; last updated 10/17/2022.
Try the smoothie? Leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram (@teostinykitchen) so I can see! If you love it, share it with a friend who loves pumpkin or needs the flavor equivalent of stepping on crunchy leaves right now (you know the feeling)!