Get Your Fall Flavor Fix With This Coconut-Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl
Cozy up your breakfast or snack routine with a seasonal take on the smoothie bowl. The base of this vibrant smoothie is a dance of pumpkin and coconut flavors by way of pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, coconut milk, and coconut yogurt. And you won't believe how well they go together. Yes, tropical coconut and fall-ready pumpkin are a match made in heaven.
Blend up this festive treat during pumpkin season, when most of us have a can or two of pumpkin puree kicking around our pantry. You only need a cup of it to make four smoothie-bowl servings, so it's a perfect recipe to use up your leftover canned pumpkin puree, from, say, making pumpkin pie bars, a healthy pumpkin cheesecake, or even pumpkin ravioli. Consider serving these the morning after Halloween, when everyone needs a soothing layer of yogurt in their belly to recover from the Halloween candy free-for-all.
Pro tip: Freeze your smoothie fruit in batches and save time in the mornings. Spread the cut-up fruit pieces (in this case, banana slices) in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze for about two hours or until the slices are solid. Transfer to a resealable plastic freezer bag and use for up to 6 months. Now you'll be prepared to have the necessary ingredients the next time a seasonal pumpkin craving sneaks up on you.
Nutrition: 244 calories, 9 g fat (4 g saturated), 47 mg sodium, 23 g sugar, 5 g fiber, 8 g protein
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup light canned coconut milk
1 5- to 6-oz container coconut-flavor low-fat Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 bananas, sliced, half the slices frozen
1 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup raw pepita seeds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 Tbsp toasted coconut chips
2 tsp chia seeds
How to Make It
- In a blender, combine pumpkin, coconut milk, yogurt, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, frozen banana slices, and ice cubes. Cover and blend until smooth.
- Pour smoothie into four bowls. Top with the remaining banana slices, the pepitas, cranberries, coconut chips, and chia seeds.