A pumpkin smoothie is a frozen drink made with pumpkin puree, milk, sweeteners, and spices. It can be made vegan and healthier by adding seeds and omitting sweeteners. It is typically served chilled and can be garnished with whipped cream and spices.
A pumpkin smoothie is a frozen drink similar to a smoothie but made with pumpkin puree rather than ice cream. Creamier than slushies with ice and syrup, smoothies are usually a healthier frozen drink choice than many alternatives. A pumpkin smoothie is easy to make at home and usually uses canned pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie filling as the main ingredient. Vegetarian, this smoothie can easily be made vegan too.
Although canned pumpkin is normally used, homemade pumpkin puree can also be used. A sweetening agent, usually honey, brown sugar, or an artificial sweetener, is usually included in the smoothie when the puree is used, but molasses may be included instead. When the pumpkin pie filling is chosen, however, the sweetening agent is omitted.
Whole milk, soy milk, or almond milk are also commonly added to aid in the creamy texture of the drink. Alternatively, you can add vanilla, plain, or Greek yogurt. Spices, such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, can be included to add flavor. Less spices are normally included when using the pie filling versus the puree. Bananas are also sometimes added to tone down the strong pumpkin flavor, and orange juice may also be included.
Other ingredients may include vanilla extract, pumpkin seeds and cottage cheese. To increase the health benefits of the drink, flax seeds or chia seeds can be added. Spicier variations of this smoothie usually add additional spices, such as ginger and allspice.
A pumpkin smoothie should be chilled when serving but is not chilled in a refrigerator or freezer, nor is it typically served over ice. The frozen effect of the drink is most often achieved by freezing the pumpkin puree before it is mixed with the other ingredients. The puree can be measured out and stored in a plastic bag or freezer-proof container, or it can be placed in ice cube trays to freeze. Alternatively, ice cubes or crushed ice can be blended with the other ingredients to chill the drink. If bananas are included, they can also be cut up and frozen to serve as a cold item.
To make a pumpkin smoothie, all the ingredients are simply placed in a blender and blended until smooth. After that, the drink can be poured into glasses and garnished. Vanilla yogurt or whipped cream can complement a pumpkin smoothie. Also this cinnamon can be ground with ground cinnamon, nutmeg or even colored. Cinnamon sticks or crushed graham crackers can also add a nice visual appeal to the drink.
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