This thick and creamy Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake is the best post-workout treat during fall. It’s naturally vegan and made with easy, seasonal ingredients to help you stay full and feel comforted throughout the season.
Who says you can’t enjoy pumpkin spice for every meal? This Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake is the perfect post-workout snack or filling breakfast! Packed with the comforting flavors of fall and winter, it’ll quickly become your new favorite cold-weather treat.
It’s a naturally vegan protein shake, made with coconut milk, banana, pumpkin, protein powder, and warm spices. The ingredients are flexible, so add what you love! Experiment with healthy seeds, more spices, and fun toppings. Besides, a little whipped cream on top never hurt anyone.
And when you’re done sipping on your shake, whip up my Pumpkin Spice Roasted Cauliflower for dinner and Easy Pumpkin Donuts for dessert. The more pumpkin, the better.
What’s in a protein pumpkin shake?
It may look like a pumpkin smoothie, but it actually tastes like a pumpkin pie! The smooth, creamy, and comforting flavors come from a small list of common ingredients:
- Pumpkin purée - Make sure you buy canned pumpkin purée, as it’s made from plain cooked pumpkin. You don’t want pumpkin pie filling because it has added sugar and spices that are much better suited in a pumpkin pie.
- Coconut milk - Or you can use any type of milk you like. Regular dairy milk or another dairy free alternative are both great options. For a thicker consistency, substitute regular or dairy free yogurt for the milk.
- Banana - Use a frozen banana for a thick and creamy, ice cream-like texture.
- Pumpkin pie spice - Pumpkin spice is a mix of warm spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. You can make it yourself or buy a pre-mixed blend.
- Cinnamon - For extra warmth.
- Ginger - Dried or fresh.
- Protein powder - If you’re using pumpkin spice protein powder, use only ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Otherwise, plain or vanilla-flavored whey or vegan protein powder work just fine and make the smoothie extra filling.
How to make a pumpkin spice protein shake
The process is foolproof:
Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to a blender.
Step 2: Blend until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the smoothie into one or two glasses, add the toppings of your choice, and enjoy!
More ways to use leftover pumpkin purée
There’s nothing worse than wasting pumpkin during pumpkin spice season. Put the leftover canned pumpkin purée to use in these recipes:
Check out these 8 Mouthwatering Pumpkin Recipes for more ideas.
Tips and variations
- Storing frozen bananas - Frozen bananas in smoothies are supreme because they thicken the texture. Keep peeled and sliced bananas in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- No frozen bananas? Add ice - Throw a handful of ice into the blender if you didn’t have time to freeze the fruit. This should help it thicken up and make it ice-cold.
- Vegan pumpkin shake - The recipe is naturally vegan but you can give it a nutritional boost by adding chia seeds or ground flaxseed. Also, use any plant milk you love. Soy, oat, and cashew milk are all great options.
- Finish it with toppings - If you want to enjoy this pumpkin protein shake recipe for dessert, finish each serving with whipped cream, coconut whip, a sprinkle of cinnamon, salted caramel pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, grain free granola, maple syrup, or caramel sauce on top.
Make ahead and storing
As with most smoothie recipes, this pumpkin protein shake is best enjoyed as soon as it’s blended. However, there are a few ways to prepare it early:
Make ahead: Blend the smoothie as normal and keep the batch in the fridge overnight. It may separate, so blend it quickly before serving to help it come together again.
Storing: The leftovers can be frozen in an ice cube tray until solid, then transferred to an airtight container or ziplock bag. When you’re ready to serve, simply blend the frozen cubes until smooth.
Looking for more healthy smoothie recipes?
Enjoy any of these smoothies for a refreshing and filling snack at any time of day:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Soursop Coconut Smoothie
- Spinach Chia Green Smoothie
- Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- Green Machine Smoothie
Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake
Ingredients
- ½ cup pumpkin purée
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 banana
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- 1 scoop protein powder
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender cup and run until creamy and smooth.
Notes
Tips and variations
- Storing frozen bananas - Frozen bananas in smoothies are supreme because they thicken the texture. Keep peeled and sliced bananas in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- No frozen bananas? Add ice - Throw a handful of ice into the blender if you didn’t have time to freeze the fruit. This should help it thicken up and make it ice-cold.
- Vegan pumpkin shake - The recipe is naturally vegan but you can give it a nutritional boost by adding chia seeds or ground flaxseed. Also, use any plant milk you love. Soy, oat, and cashew milk are all great options.
- Finish it with toppings - If you want to enjoy this pumpkin protein shake recipe for dessert, finish each serving with whipped cream, coconut whip, a sprinkle of cinnamon, salted caramel pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, grain free granola, maple syrup, or caramel sauce on top.
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