Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkin and apple are the perfect pairing in this pumpkin smoothie. This healthy pumpkin smoothie with apple is great for breakfast. It’s made with a pinch of pumpkin pie spice and will keep you full for hours!
This time of year, pumpkin this and pumpkin that are everywhere. One of my favorites is Pumpkin Bread. The same goes for apple treats. I decided the natural next step was to put the two seasonal favorites pumpkin and apple together! (And this isn’t the only time. See also my Slow Cooker Pumpkin Apple Crisp. It’s so yummy!)
This pumpkin smoothie. It is good. It tastes like dessert, even though it’s full of healthy ingredients. It will keep you full for hours, making it the perfect breakfast for yourself and your kids. My three absolutely love this pumpkin smoothie, and I can blend it up in less than 5 minutes – a must for busy school mornings.
Canned pumpkin gives the smoothie its lovely orange color, and I added a whole apple, skin and all. If you look closely you can see the pretty red flecks of apple in the photos. Both the apple and some oats add lots of fiber. Greek yogurt provides filling protein for even more staying power.
I love my Vitamix blender for making smoothies, but don’t worry if you don’t have a Vitamix or other high-powered blender. When I first made this pumpkin smoothie I didn’t, and my regular blender created a smooth consistency just the same, even with the apple in this smoothie. Try my other great smoothies, Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Chocolate Protein Shake.
So I have a question for those of you reading who are also food bloggers. Do you ever get to the end of a photo shoot and realize that you totally forgot to add in something that you really wanted as a prop in your photo? When I first started taking the photos of this pumpkin smoothie I forgot to sprinkle the oats around the smoothie. I had even brought the container of oats into the living/dining room (where I take my photos) and set them next to me. I do things like this all.the.time and it is SO frustrating. I really should write down my plan for my photo set-ups and checking my list before I start, but I’m always in a hurry and just want to get it done!
Go ahead, try this Pumpkin Apple Breakfast Smoothie this week! Whether it’s warm or cool where you are, this smoothie is a great way to start your day. It will leave you feeling ready for fall! 🙂
Why is pumpkin good for you?
- Pumpkin is rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant which your body can convert into vitamin A.
- One cup of pumpkin has about 500mg of potassium, which is more potassium than a banana.
- A quarter cup of pumpkin in this recipe has only 20-25 calories and is low in fat.
Tips for making this pumpkin smoothie:
- Be sure to use canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling is sweetened and has added spices.
- Blending the oats first and then adding the other ingredients will produce a smoother smoothie.
- My quick pumpkin pie spice recipe is a great alternative to store bought pumpkin pie spice.
- Try substituting pear in place of the apple for another delicious pumpkin smoothie.
- While a high powered blender is not required for this smoothie, I’m so glad I invested in mine. I use it almost every day!
Pumpkin Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium apple, cut into pieces (I used honeycrisp and left the skin on)
- ½ small banana, sliced and frozen
- ½ cup milk, almond, soy, dairy, etc. – whatever you prefer
- 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Place oats in blender and blend for about 30 seconds until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
Oh, yes! This is a brilliant way to combine the two TOTALLY fall flavors of apple and pumpkin! Amazing! And you know I just love that it’s jam-crammed with nutrition and all that keep-you-full staying power from the oats and Greek yogurt! Definitely pinning this! Oh – and yes, my friend, I totally feel your I-forgot-to-include-it-in-my-photo-shoot pain! Just a couple of weeks ago, Gretchen and I forgot to include a really important key garnish after spending a lot of time getting great shots all afternoon. Gahhhhh! 😀
The best flavors of fall all wrapped into 1! I bet this tastes amazing. I just bought SO many honeycrisp apples while they’re in season, and don’t know how I’m going to go thru them all. This smoothie will be perfect! Can’t wait to try it.
This smoothie sounds incredible, Kristine! I love that you combined both apple and pumpkin flavors. So perfect for the fall! And gorgeous pictures, too!
Ugh, all the time! I’m glad you caught it before you drank the smoothie (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything … 🙂 ) Or when I’m editing, I’ll be like, a sprinkle of chocolate chips would look really nice right there! I think your photos are gorgeous. The lighting, the props, the oats 🙂 it all looks amazing. And I love how you combined the two iconic fall flavors into one healthy breakfast smoothie! Pinning!
Yum!Two of my favorite fall flavors combined. Pinned 🙂
What a pretty smoothie! It looks delicious. What a perfect fall breakfast.
This is basically fall in a smoothie! Great recipe.. my morning breakfasts usually consist of a smoothie so this recipe is perfect for me. Thanks for sharing it!
Fall flavor and it will keep me full? Sign me up! And yes, I have definitely forgotten props before. It’s so frustrating!
Fall-ish! That is definitely how I feel…why is it not cool yet in Atlanta. I want to shake the weather man until he produces cooler temperatures. {yes, I am aware this is ridiculous and illogical!} This smoothie looks delicious and perfect for the still warm temperatures down here!
While you’re at it, can you talk to my weather man too? We haven’t had much fall weather, and it’s supposed to be in the 90’s the end of this week/this weekend. I’m ready for soup and chili weather! At least this smoothie is a great solution for the meantime!
Yummy!
Ha! I forget the props all the time. It’s such a problem! Because I’m often too lazy to go back and reshoot. Or I’ve eaten whatever I’m photographing.
Love the smoothie! No wonder your kids are into it. Perfect for fall!
I’m usually too lazy to reshoot, too. I always remember right when I’m going to clean up – so frustrating! Yes, we really love this smoothie around here!
You could leave out the canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice and instead add a scoop of pumpkin spice protein powder. It would seriously amp up the protein factor of the smoothie and it could be used almost as a meal replacement. GNC used to carry it on a seasonal basis. But I’d think there are other brands out there.
Tasty – I didn’t have greek yogurt, so I used cottage cheese, added vanilla protein powder and it turned out decently. Looking forward to trying the real thing! Definitely a keeper!
How many calories is in this smoothie?
I don’t count calories or calculate them for my recipes, but there are many online calorie calculators that can give you the count if you are interested.
Mmmm sounds like autumn in a glass. I live in Arizona, where it’s still a bit on the warm side, so I’ve been diving into every fall-like smoothie that I can find. This one sounds amazing! 🙂
It’s been so hot here in California too. We’re supposed to get some cooler weather later this week and I can’t wait. In the meantime, smoothies like this one are a great way to enjoy fall flavors!
A smoothie that tastes like dessert…I’m in!
Tastes like dessert but it’s healthy! Double win!
This looks amazing!!!! I am definitely making this!!!
Thanks, Stacey! I hope you love it!
I love the pumpkin smoothie remains
Me of fall. Yummmmmy!
Thanks, Agnes! This is the perfect fall smoothie!
Hi..I will give this try real soon…As soon as I get some canned pumpkin..Sounds great….
Hi Rebecca, I hope you enjoy this smoothie! Thank you!
What to use instead if Greek yogurt? I can’t use dairy…
Can you use a dairy-free yogurt alternative, such as the one made by Silk? I haven’t tested this recipe without the yogurt, but it would probably work if you added a little extra frozen banana and non-dairy milk. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Kristine this smoothie looks amazing! I struggle to think outside of the box and this recipe just game some great inspiration. I bet it tastes out of this world !!!
Thank you, Silvia! It’s hard to keep the creativity going, isn’t it? 😉
this will probably be my first smoothie attempt after buying a new blender – but
how do you store the pumpkin and do you buy yogurt in small containers? It sounds great!!
If I have leftover canned pumpkin after making a recipe, I store it in a sealed container in my refrigerator for up to 3 days. I buy a big container of plain Greek yogurt every week. We go through a lot of it in my house! I hope you enjoy the smoothie!
Hi Kristine,
Thanks for the recipe inspiration 🙂
Pls know that your pumpkin pie spice link in the ingredients list , isn’t working.
Warm regards,
Stef
Thanks for letting me know, Stef! I think it’s fixed now. 🙂
I just made this and it was sooo good!
I’m so glad you like it, Nicole! Have a nice day!
This Pumpkin-Apple Breakfast Smoothie looks increadible! Seriously so inspired right now, Kristine! I’ve never tried anything like that before! Thx for sharing!
Thank you, Jill! I hope you like it!
Can I use a spiced pumpkin yogurt instead of the plain greek yogurt and pumpkin puree?
I haven’t tried it but I think that would work fine. Enjoy!
Okay,go ahead and laugh. Get it out of the way. This is my very first soothie ever and I’m 55 years old.
I just had an appt. with my Dr. and, although I’m just a little overweight, tests results show me on the edge of Diabetes and my Triglycerides are off the chart. She suggested smoothies to get my fruit, veggies, protein and fiber knowing that I live alone and it’s against the law for a man to cook for himself.
I made this smoothie but added flaxseed for the Omega 3’s. I cannot stop drinking this. I want to down it but I am sipping it, feeling good as I know there is another cup of it in the fridge. All I can say is thank you. I believe this will help me shed those few pounds and lower my Triglycerides.
P.S. I read a comment about adding protein powder instead of pumpkin. I bodybuilt for five straight years in my 30’s. Very close to competition form. I have read tons of books on the subject. Unless something has changed in the last 20 years, our kidneys can only process 30 mg of protein every three hours. Anything over that puts a lot of strain on our kidneys as they are overworked. I used to eat a can of tuna by itself every three hours. One can is exactly 30 mg’s.
Hi..Kristine,
thanks for the amazing smoothie recipe. I’m sure it would be yummy. I’ve never used oats in my smoothie before. But I will definitely try at this time. It seems to me a versatile smoothie. So I think it would be great also if I add frozen mango or berries. What do you think?
Thanks, Donna! I think frozen mango would be a nice addition. I’m not sure about the berries and how their flavor would go with the pumpkin. If you try it, let us know how it is.
Wow, looks so beautiful and on top of that it’s extremely healthy and my guess is.. also very tasty! Thanks a lot 🙂
This pumpkin-apple breakfast smoothie looks so zesty and tasty! Absolutely love your creative idea! Thanks, Kristine for sharing!
Can you use something as replacement for the banana? I have an allergy.
You can replace the banana with ice cubes or frozen cauliflower florets.