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If you find yourself wanting to serve up a delicious pumpkin treat that packs serious nutrition, try this Pumpkin Smoothie. It’s creamy, indulgent, and is a nice way to serve up a veggie for breakfast! And it’s a perfect way to finish up leftover pumpkin puree you may have from baking.
Pumpkin Smoothie
The beauty of this smoothie recipe is that it’s easy to blend up and it’s a yummy way to introduce your toddler to pumpkin… outside of pie-form! This smoothie has just a few simple ingredients so you can pull them out of your fridge and pantry and get a healthy breakfast or snack on the table quickly.
I love it because the pumpkin flavor is subtle, but there.
This is an easy recipe to make without dairy if you need it to be vegan, especially since I find that plant-milks lend a better overall consistency to smoothies than dairy milk.
I like plain unsweetened nondairy milks like soy milk or plant milk with pea protein from brands like Silk and Ripple.
TIP: This smoothie has a balanced mix of protein, fiber, and Vitamin A.
Ingredients You Need
To make this pumpkin smoothie, you’ll need:
- Milk: Dairy or nondairy work here, though I prefer nondairy.
- Pumpkin puree: Look for puree, not pie filling here.
- Small frozen banana
- Cocoa powder: This adds some flavor but you can skip it if you prefer.
- Almond or peanut butter
- Hemp seeds: This is an easy way to add protein, fiber, and healthy fats. You can taste them as they blend right in.
Ingredient Substitutions
- You can leave out the hemp seeds and use peanut butter or Sunbutter if desired. Or just skip the nut butter all together.
- To make this smoothie without banana, you can try adding a 2 tablespoons of avocado and a few ice cubes. Or use half milk and half Greek yogurt to add creaminess.
- You can omit the cocoa powder and/or sweeten to taste with maple syrup.
- You can blend in a date if you’d like some natural sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
To make this smoothie for kids, simply add the ingredients to the blender and blend until very smooth. Start the blender on low and slowly work up to high and blend on high. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full information.
How to Serve Smoothies to Toddlers
We drink our smoothies in a Squeasy Gear pouch (just remove the lid before handing it over to your toddler otherwise it can be tricky to use), in a small open cup, or in a regular cup with a silicone lid cover and straw.
See what your toddler likes best.
Best Tips for Success
I’d love to hear what you think if you make this recipe so please share a comment below!
This post was first published November 2018.
Chocolate Pumpkin Smoothie
This smoothie makes two toddler-size servings, or a smoothie to share for a parent and toddler. You can freeze any leftovers into a freezer pop!
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (dairy or nondairy)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 small banana (sliced and frozen)
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds (optional)
Notes
- To make this smoothie without banana, you can try adding a 2 tablespoons of avocado and a few ice cubes. Or use half milk and half Greek yogurt to add creaminess.
- Vegan: Use nondairy milk.
- Nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter instead of almond butter.
- To add extra pumpkin flavor, try adding a dash of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon to the mix.
- Serve to kids in a small open cup, in a reusable pouch, or in a straw cup.
- Serve immediately for the best texture, or store in the fridge for 2-4 hours and serve in a reusable pouch. Shake it before serving to make sure it’s not separated.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 554mgFiber: 5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 6629IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 193mgIron: 2mg
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