Get Festive with This Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake 

Ah, fall – the season of sweaters, apple orchards, and pumpkin-flavored lattes filled with tons of garbage ingredients. Sounds delicious, right? Yeah, I didn’t think so. However, if you still want to get into the festive pumpkin-everything season minus the sugar, this pumpkin pie protein shake is just what you need. Steal the recipe below: 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
• 1/2 medium ripe banana
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (whey or plant-based)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened milk of choice (adjust for desired thickness)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup ice cubes
• Optional toppings: whipped cream, crushed graham crackers, and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Note: you can substitute the spices for a pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice like this one to condense your ingredient list. 

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all the necessary ingredients and have them ready.
2. Blend the Base: In a blender, add the canned pumpkin puree, ripe banana, plain Greek yogurt, vanilla protein powder, unsweetened almond milk, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, honey or maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract.
3. Add Ice: Toss in the ice cubes to give your smoothie a creamy and chilled texture.
4. Blend Until Smooth: Blend all the ingredients together on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure everything is well incorporated.
5. Taste and Adjust: Taste the smoothie and adjust the sweetness or spice level to your liking. You can add more honey, spices, or vanilla extract if needed.
6. Serve: Pour the smoothie into a glass or bowl if you prefer a smoothie bowl over a shake. If you want to get creative, top your pumpkin pie protein smoothie with a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers, and a pinch of cinnamon.
7. Enjoy: Grab a straw or a spoon, and enjoy your Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie immediately! It's a perfect fall-inspired breakfast or snack.

Feel free to customize this recipe further by adding your own spices, or other fruits and greens. Whatever you do, you’ll be able to enjoy the flavors of pumpkin pie in a healthy, protein-packed smoothie!