Vegan Pumpkin Smoothie

A creamy vegan pumpkin smoothie made with real pumpkin that you can whip up in just a few minutes and all you need is five ingredients (no yogurt!). Serve it for breakfast, with lunch, or have it as a filling afternoon snack.

It’s packed with delicious pumpkin pie spice flavour and is dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and has no added sugar. It can also be customized! Keep reading for all of the details.

If you're looking for a way to use up some leftover pumpkin from Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday celebrations, the perfect way to make good use of it is by making this vegan pumpkin smoothie (especially if you're a pumpkin fan!).

Now, if you had hopes that this recipe was a pumpkin smoothie with no banana, it does call for a banana, BUT, I've got you covered because I know banana flavours in smoothies are a love-it-or-leave-it kind of thing! See the "Variations" section below for some ideas on how to replace the banana.

Before you head down, have a look through and bookmark some of these other refreshing vegan smoothie recipes:

• Strawberry Blackberry Banana Smoothie
• Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie
• Cranberry Apple Smoothie
• Cherry Berry Coconut Limeade Smoothie
• Berry Beet Ginger Smoothie

Ingredients You'll Need

This recipe calls for minimal ingredients. I've listed info about each of them and info about substitutions below.

Ingredient and Substitution Notes

Pumpkin Purée – Either canned or homemade pumpkin purée can be used. Make sure you are using plain, unsweetened pumpkin, and NOT pumpkin pie filling. If you don't have pumpkin, or you don't have access to it, butternut squash is a great substitute since these two types of squash taste very similar. You can also use sweet potato purée to make it a sweet potato smoothie (with pumpkin spice flavour!).

Dairy-Free Milk - I usually make my pumpkin smoothie with almond milk but you can also use oat milk, soy milk, or any plant milk you like and have on hand. Use milk that has no added sweetener so you have full control over the level of sweetness. I usually advise to not use milk that has added flavour when making recipes, but in this case, unsweetened vanilla almond milk would work, just omit the vanilla extract.

If you use non-dairy milk that has a naturally strong flavour (like coconut milk), that flavour will come through in the finished smoothie.

Vanilla Extract - A small amount is needed to enhance the flavour of the smoothie.

Pumpkin Pie Spice - This is what gives the smoothie its pumpkin pie flavour. If you don't have a pre-mixed blend, you can use separate spices to make your own. See the recipe notes below for details. If you don't have pumpkin pie spice or the separate spices to make it, just use cinnamon. Your smoothie will not have the pumpkin pie flavour, but it will still be delicious.

Banana (Fresh or Frozen) - This smoothie is made without yogurt so the banana, along with the pumpkin and the milk, work together to make a creamy smoothie. It also helps to thicken it. Make sure to use a ripe banana so it can contribute as much sweetness as possible. Using a frozen banana will make your smoothie thicker and creamier than if a fresh banana is used.

NOTE: This smoothie has no added sugar, the sweetness comes naturally from the banana, so make sure you are using one that is ripe and sweet. If you want a little more sweetness to the smoothie, see the "Variations" section below for suggestions.

Variations

There are a few ways you can customize this smoothie based on your personal preference:

• If you prefer a pumpkin smoothie with no banana, you can replace the banana with ⅓ cup of rolled oats (gluten-free if needed), OR ⅓ cup of silken tofu, OR ½ of an avocado, OR ⅓ cup of vegan yogurt as a replacement.
• For a sweeter smoothie, add 1-2 fresh dates or a little maple syrup to taste. If using dates, make sure they are fresh and soft or they will not blend properly and your smoothie will not be smooth. If your dates are not fresh and soft, place them in a bowl of hot water and let them soak until they have softened. Drain the water, then add the dates with the other ingredients.
• If you like adding greens to your smoothies, you can easily make it a green pumpkin smoothie. Do this by adding a handful of baby spinach to the ingredients and remember that the colour of the smoothie will no longer be orange!
• To add protein, add hemp seeds or hemp hearts, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, or a good-tasting vegan vanilla protein powder or unflavoured vegan protein powder. You can also add a seed or nut butter like almond or sunflower seed but I don't recommend peanut butter since its flavour will overpower the smoothie.
• If you want something with coffee flavour, I recommend making my vegan pumpkin spice latte instead! It can be made hot or cold.

IMPORTANT: Some of these variations will make your smoothie thicker than intended. If after blending you see that it is too thick, simply add a little more dairy-free milk to thin it out and get to a consistency you prefer.

How to Make It

(Note: I’ve outlined the step-by-step on how to make this vegan pumpkin pie smoothie recipe here, but find the full recipe, ingredients, and directions in the recipe card at the end of this post.)

I recommend using a high-speed blender (like a Vitamix, Blendtec, or a NutriBullet) to make this smoothie.

If you don't have a high-speed blender, a regular blender will work, just blend for a little longer so everything breaks down properly.

1. Start by slicing the banana and measuring the ingredients.

2. Add all of them to your blender.

3. Blend for roughly 45 seconds or until everything has blended and the mixture is smooth and creamy.

4. Pour into a glass or cup and enjoy your perfect smoothie! If you want to make it look fancy, add a sprinkle of cinnamon, pumpkin spice, or pumpkin seeds on top.

Tips for Success

• Measure and have all your ingredients ready to go before starting. This will make the process run smoothly, quickly, and easily.
• Measure your ingredients correctly. I highly recommend using a scale (this is the one I have) and my weight measurements when making this recipe.
• Use a good high-powered blender, if you have one. A powerful blender will make sure everything is blended down and that your smoothie is smooth and has a creamy texture. If you don't have a high-speed blender, the next best way is to use a regular blender and blend for slightly longer.
• Make sure to use pumpkin purée and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains added spices and sugar. Using plain homemade or canned purée will give you 100% control over the flavour of your smoothie.
• If you prefer an extra thick smoothie, use a frozen banana instead of a fresh one.
• If you make any of the variations listed above, depending on which one you use, your smoothie will be thicker than intended. Just add a little more milk to thin it out.
• Read this post from top to bottom before you start. I’ve included a lot of tips and tricks so you get things right. Also, read through the actual recipe before getting started.
• Follow the recipe exactly as it’s written for the very best and intended results. (The small, optional variations and adjustments mentioned above are okay to make!)

If You Make This Recipe...

I hope you love this delicious smoothie as much as I do! Please let me know how things went by leaving a star rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram and tag me so I can see it! (I’m @delightfuladventures on Instagram!).

If You Like This Recipe...

Then you may also like these other vegan pumpkin recipes you can enjoy at breakfast.

• Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
• Easy Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats