I am a proud card-carrying member of the Pumpkin Everything Fan Club and my membership activates every year in September and pretty much runs through December. Years ago I loved to get the famous PSLs, and I’ve always liked to bake (and eat!) pumpkin pie and breads. As I’ve grown older and it seems more sensitive to certain foods, I’ve tried to clean my eating habits a bit without sacrificing some of those flavors I really love. I’ve started experimenting at home with different blends and came up with my own pumpkin pie smoothie bowl which has been my go-to breakfast for the past few weeks. This recipe has been in the works as I’ve tried a few different renderings, and this one is the final result… the best version!
This is a great quick breakfast, easy to make and healthy. I simply mix in a breakfast bowl with a spoon pumpkin puree, no sugar added applesauce, greek yogurt, pumpkin pie spice, a dash of maple syrup and top it off with toasted pepitas. (The recipe with actual amounts is at the bottom of the post for your convenience).
You can also turn it into an actual smoothie if you are on the go by replacing the yogurt with almond milk and adding ice before blending and pouring in a to-go cup. I have done that as well, and find both methods to be just as tasty! I experimented with sweetening agents until I found what tasted best and had great texture. Natural fruit is always a great way to add a sweet touch, and I tested both bananas and applesauce, and I found the applesauce complemented the pumpkin better than the banana which could sometimes over power. (We keep a lot of homemade applesauce on hand because Emmy and I both enjoy eating it, and we like to bake with it). I also really like the texture of the applesauce in the smoothie bowl. And natural maple syrup seemed like a good choice as it suits the season and the flavor.
Clean Eating Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl
A healthy and easy solution for when you're craving pumpkin pie.
Ingredients
3/4 c. Plain greek yogurt
1/4 c. No sugar added applesauce
1/4 c. Pumpkin puree
1 tsp. Natural maple syrup
1/8 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice
1 Tsp. Toasted petitas (pumpkin seeds)
Directions
Mix first 5 ingredients together in an individual cereal bowl with a spoon until blended. The color should be a pale orange. On a sheet of aluminum foil, lay your tablespoon of pepitas flat, and toast in toaster oven or oven for about 5 minutes, until golden. Sprinkle them on top of your bowl and serve.
