This is like dessert in a cup. Don’t let the name ‘smoothie’ make you think otherwise.
I like my smoothies sweet, rich, and thick.
If you’re looking for a way to make something that tastes like drinkable pumpkin pie filling, then this is the hot ticket.
It incorporates what I think are the “good parts” of pumpkin pie: the filling and the whipped topping
Minus the boring part: the pie crust
I find pumpkin pie crusts tend to be so lackluster and bland unless they happen to be made with graham cracker crumbs (or almond flour + lots of agave which is how I make my Pumpkin Pie (no-bake, Vegan, GF) but I digress.
Back to this smoothie…
Note the darker part near the top of the smoothie underneath the Cool Whip, that’s caramel sauce. Crazy good.
For those who don’t like pumpkin pie, then make this smoothie instead. Rum optional but encouraged on that one. You could probably put rum in today’s smoothie, too. Hmmm.
For the pumpkin lovers and hoarders, this smoothie is for you.
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Caramel Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
1/2 c pumpkin puree (ideally freeze 1/2 c pumpkin puree either in a container or if you want to get fancy in an ice cube tray, but previously frozen pumpkin puree is encouraged)
1 medium banana (previously frozen, in 1-2 inch chunks)
1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup, or to taste (optional)
1 to 2 tbsp, caramel sauce, or to taste (optional, and you can add it to the mixture or drizzle over the top of the finished smoothie)
1 to 2 tbsp brown sugar, or to taste (optional)
1/8 tsp pinch pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp cinnamon (to taste, optional)
pinch of other seasonings such as nutmeg, ginger, allspice, cloves, etc. (to taste, optional)
1/8 tsp vanilla extract (to taste, optional)
splash of milk, cream, nut milk, water (optional and only use as needed if you need something to help get the blending process going if your mixture is too thick otherwise)
Directions: Combine all ingredients into a Vita-Mix or blender of your choice and blend. Serve immediately. Optional: Garnish with Cool Whip, caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon; add a handful of granola to the top, or drizzle the top with nut butter like almond, sunflower seed butter, or peanut butter.
Notes:
I didn’t use all of the sweeteners but am providing options/suggestions, i.e. maple, caramel sauce, brown sugar, and Cool Whip. Do as your taste palate dictates.
You will notice lots of “to taste, optional” in this recipe because all spices, seasonings, and amounts are to taste and pumpkin pie and the spices and sweetness levels associated with it vary widely. Do as your taste palate and preferences dictate. I am sharing the recipe based on what I did and liked.
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This smoothie will keep you full for a good, long while
And you can convince yourself this is “healthy” because it has the name ‘smoothie’ in the recipe title.
All kidding aside, if you hold or reduce the sweeteners, the caramel sauce, and the whipped topping (below), it’s actually pretty healthy. Pumpkin puree and bananas are a healthy starting place. It’s what you do with them next. Ahem.
It’s everything else you pile on that takes things into dessert-like territory, which I happen to enjoy.
And if you’d prefer a hot dessert a hot pumpkin beverage, try a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte (vegan, GF)
Want to eat your pumpkin dessert rather than drink it?
I gotcha.
Try Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (vegan, GF)
Clearly, I’ve jumped on the pumpkin bandwagon in all forms this year. I even have a Pumpkin Board on Pinterest.
Christmas baking season better hurry up and come so I can phase out pumpkin and phase in peppermint.
Questions:
1. Do you like pumpkin pie/pumpkin? Caramel Sauce? Cool Whip?
Yeppers. I like them all.
I didn’t used to be the biggest pumpkin lover but these Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oat Bars (Vegan, GF) were the nail in the coffin that sealed the pumpkin’ lovin’ for me.
Those, or the homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte (Vegan, GF), did the trick.
And caramel, hello. Love it. Caramel Apple Bars
or Homemade Dark Rum Caramel Sauce. Get drunk and get your sweet tooth handled all in one
And Cool Whip. Oh, I love you so. I actually have a recipe up my sleeve with it to be posted soon.
2. Are you sick of pumpkin yet?
Sorry if you are or were never that big of a fan to begin with.
It is everywhere, that’s for sure. But hey, it’s only 6 weeks or so of the year and then peppermint starts. <– Ready for that?
Thanks for the Not Nuts! Giveaway entries
Okay, so this comment is like a year after your post, but what the heck. “Caramel Maple Pumpkin” reached out and grabbed me by the throat – bigtime maple junkie here, and I’m tired of the same-old-same-old smoothies. (I’m on a low-fat pureed diet, dr’s orders.) I make pumpkin pie about once a week all winter long, but I haven’t wasted the calories/fat on piecrust in at least a decade and probably quite a lot more. Much better uses for piecrust elsewhere! I just pour the filling mixture (not that canned “pumpkin pie filling” stuff) in a heavy, round Pyrex or ceramic casserole dish, chuck it in the oven and bake ‘er up. Serve in a bowl with a spoon. Or a handful of graham crackers for scooping! More often than not this stuff is BREAKFAST, not dessert, especially if I decide to get all virtuous and top it with maple-spiked Greek yogurt instead of whipped cream. Now I just have to wait for the dadratted pumpkin puree to freeze to make a luscious smoothie for this perfect blue-skied, breezy, just-getting-chilly September day…
Fall might be long gone for now, but I’m craving pumpkin anyway. I can’t wait to try this.
How delish! Hope you will consider submitting this to Healthy Aperture. Our fans would love this.
I love my smoothie thick too, i love when I can feel it going down my throat. Happy fall is here, with all the pumpkins around, I think I might get meself one spicy pumpkin smoothie
Thanks so much for your kind words on my blog! Your blog is also lovely and I’ve been stalking it for the last half hour :)
Thanks for saying hi & the sweet words…and I just went back to your blog and saw those muffins…NICE
Hi Averie, I just recently come across your blog and I love it! Your recipes are awesome and so creative not to mention the photography, I could browse on your site forever…I already found so many things I want to try. This smoothie looks amazing and I’m going to have to try that too along with your Pumpkin Spice Latte, I love fall! Thanks for the great ideas!
Thanks for saying hi and the sweet comment. Enjoy the browsing :)
I keep THINKING I’m over pumpkin, but somehow it always ends up in my shopping cart :)
But I also can’t wait for peppermint!! I’ve already started to put it in my smoothies and it’s making me crave candy canes and the holiday season… and Starbucks peppermint mochas!
I love how customizable this is, and that it’s made of pumpkin. I can’t wait to make one. Maybe I’ll throw in some spinach for “health”? And I love that you have a glass straw. I use mine for all my smoothies!
yes pretty much everything I make is pretty customizeable. Nothing is going to change in most of my recipes by using some agave rather than 1/4 c white sugar, so to speak :)
and yes, glass straws are great for smoothies!
Haha – only a few weeks and “then the peppermint starts”. Lol!
I’m going to be making a healthy pumpkin pie soon. It’s my mission to make it as tasty as possible. Our Canadian Thanksgiving was last week but I was too busy, so I figure I’ll just make it and eat it as a tribute to my US friends – why not, right?? :) :)
Oh wow, caramel sauce. You really shouldn’t have put that idea in my head :)
Sigh.
I see pumpkin all over blogland and it just makes me so happy. Pumpkin is one of the very best parts about autumn. Can’t wait to test this out! :D
I was fisrt dissapointed to see the smoothies because I was hopping to find something comforting since it has been raining in here for the last 3 days, so then I rolled down and I was excited to see the pumpkin latte recipe and the peanut butter bars! I can’t wait to make them, seat on my couch, watch a movie and enjoy my hot latte and a bar :) thanks for the recipes!
I like pumpkin, but not in the huge way that most people do. Although I do love pumpkin recipes because it gets me all excited for the holidays!
Yum on all counts! I’m excited to try this. I may have skipped a holiday, because I’ve already entered Peppermint territory. Tried my hand last night at some homemade peppermint patties and I’ve had “Silver Bells” playing in my head ever since…
I’m running out to the store right now to grab pumpkin puree!
I have been obsessed with making pumpkin smoothies in the morning. Actually I am obsessed with anything pumpkin right now, this morning I made some homemade pumpkin spice granola. The house smelled amazing! Every fall, I buy as many pie pumpkins as I can, to bake, puree and freeze so I can have fresh pumpkin puree (instead of canned) all winter long.
it is funny how ingredients explode in the blogosphere! I will not be over pumpkin until I’ve had my giant slice of traditional pumpkin pie {with lots of fresh whipped cream} on Thanksgiving. I look forward to it all year :) Your smoothie looks wonderful!
Love pumpkin! Last night I made pudding using canned sweet potatoes and coconut milk–cinnamon, p. pie spice, vanilla and agave….mmmmmmm Not a fan of Cool Whip…..gotta have real whipped cream. If there’s isn’t time to whip it, there’s RediWhip–sometimes I am a Philistine and squirt it right in my pie hole….sometimes I am more civilized and squirt it on a spoon first :) Carmel….oh yeah….Rum- oh yes! Must try your pumpkin peanut butter bars.
your pudding sounds great. enjoy the pumpkin peanut butter bars if you make them!
I loooooove all the pumpkin smoothies that pop up this time of year– your version looks great!!
for a split second I thought the cinnamon in the picture was a bottle of olive oil :D
I love how you always give options!
There are a couple of your recipes I want to try… which one to start with??
well just LMK if you make anything & your thoughts!
I will never tire of pumpkin… well, at least not until November rolls around and my obsession becomes sweet potatoes ;). This smoothie looks delicious, and it’s going straight to the top of my “to-make” list!
The addition of caramel is brilliant! Makes it even better!
Love!
Ok, I think carmel sauce is the key ingredient here! Yum!!
glad you enjoyed your pumpkin creation, averie!
i have yet to have any pumpkin this fall. we do an unconventional thanksgiving celebration, and pumpkin pie is not a part of it! i love pie crust the best! but only my mom’s whole wheat homemade pie crust – others are too dry. i can take or leave pumpkin, caramel, whipped cream…what can i say, i am a chocolate chip girl!
great photos!
my grandma was the only one who could pull off non-dry pie crust in our family
The smoothie sounds amazing!
And just what I was looking for to use up the leftover pumpkin from the Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal bars!
I am new to liking pumpkin, was never a fan until a few years ago.
Thanks for the great recipes!
your blog is fantastic, btw! I was poking around it and so glad you made the Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal bars!
Smoothies are way more fun once you get in on the game, Averie. Are you going to the Foodbuzz Festival? I’ll email you. ;)
doubtful because I have other plans. havent ruled it out 100%, but not likely…
The smoothie looks great, and I am definitely NOT sick of pumpkin – I haven’t had enough this season.
I love pumpkin pie/pumpkin. AND caramel sauce. AND whipped cream…but not cool whip. Homemade whipped cream makes me weak in the knees!
I know homemade is the BEST. I am with you on that!
This looks amazing and i’m so envious! I’ve never seen any kind of pumpkin dessert in australia :(
Oh my! The title of your blog post made me stop mid-sentence with a “wow, that sounds good.” The pics don’t disappoint. Hope to be trying soon in a high-speed blender!
report back if you make it :)
Everything about this post made my insides giddy. And my face giddy. So, I smiled. Like any normal giddy person would do.
Giddy!
Now you’re talking! I bought caramel sauce from Trader Joe’s the other day and now I think I have a reason to use it immediately!
that caramel sauce is amazing
unless this happens
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/03/it-just-shattered-kitchen-disasters.html
Girl, you are over the top! And that is why I love you. I am not a huge pumpkin fan, but I AM a fan of the pumpkin pie spices! Ginger, cinnamon, orange zest. Yum.
orange zest…is awesome!
I make this nightly. Only I use stevia instead of brown sugar and triple the pumpkin (no banana). I LOVE it with the caramel extract I just found. Yep. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. This is like my version of your nightly popcorn addiction. I usually go for seconds too. :D
We are psychic and seriously must have been separated at birth. Glad you’re enjoying (just not blogging about it)…I almost wasnt going to but figured..what the heck :)
This looks like the PERFECT fall smoothie <3 yuuummmy!
ohh this reminds me of the pumpkin mudslides I made this weekend (and blogged about).. they were crazy delicious but made me sick! Probably because half it was vodka/ bailey’s, the other half was caramel sauce, and there was a touch of pumpkin thrown in there haha.
so yes I’m literally “sick” of pumpkin. (but no not really).
I want one of your creations, pronto. We can trade :)
Another awesome pumpkin creation, you’re on a roll! Great pics, love the colors.
1. Yes, yes, and eh. :-)
2. Nope, I need more time to work with it!
Thanks for the compliments :)
oh yum! this smoothie sounds amazing, love caramel with apples!
Not sick of pumpkin at all. I had a pumpkin smoothie for breakfast this morning in fact. :-) I think they are perfectly sweet with just the banana. I’ll bet the caramel sauce adds a nice flavor, though.
There is no part of that smoothie that I would not LOVE! I could bathe in it!
Hello yum! I love pumpkin but I do think you can get similar flavors in dishes using sweet potatoes or butternut squash. Last winter I made a pumpkin pie martini….must do that again soon…..
pumpkin pie martini sounds delish and intriguing!