With autumn comes pumpkin, and you can’t escape it, even if you try. Good thing pumpkin is so delicious, you will have no problem incorporating it into your diet. In this recipe, pumpkin takes the main stage in a cool treat – a vegan pumpkin pie smoothie. It makes for a filling snack or replacement meal, and it offers you a boost of nutrition that will pick your energy right up and get you through a mid-afternoon slump or even earlier, through a tedious morning.

I love this smoothie just the way it is, especially the fact that there is a hidden zucchini in there. Sweetness comes naturally from the dates and the creaminess from the almond milk. There are many ways to alter this smoothie. If you don’t have pumpkin spice, replace it with ½ teaspoon nutmeg and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Instead of almond butter, you can add a banana for a lighter twist. Almond milk could also be replaced with any vegan nut milk, such as rice, soy or coconut.The key is to get the consistency thick enough to constitute a smoothie but not so thin that it feels like textured water. Above all else, it must satisfy you!

If you are looking for an even healthier version of this pumpkin pie smoothie, add a handful of spinach or kale leaves. The smoothie will bare a slightly green tint, but the texture will feel thicker and each and every sip will be that much better for your body.

However you enjoy it, it won’t disappoint you. Bottoms up!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients

½ cup pumpkin puree
1 small zucchini
1 tablespoon maca (optional)
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1 tablespoon almond butter
2 Medjool dates, pitted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup almond milk

Directions

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Related on EcoSalon

27 Cool Pumpkin Carvings That’ll Make All the Other Stoops Jealous

The Best Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe for All

5 Easy Homemade Face Mask Recipes with Pumpkin

Photo Credit: Pseph

The post Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe (With Real Pumpkin!): Sip the Season appeared first on EcoSalon.