While the pumpkin spice latte is synonymous with the fall, we’ve remixed this fall favorite as a smoothie recipe that you can quickly make for a delicious and nutritious drink. In addition, this recipe also includes healthy ingredients like rice milk, pumpkin, oats and coffee for busy mornings or mid-afternoon slumps to give you the energy you need to power through your day.

The recipe’s first ingredient, coffee, is daily staple for many of us. I am a big fan for both its taste as well as the nice boost of energy from caffeine. This recipe calls for an four ounce cup of coffee, which contains about 50mg of caffeine. Now before you begin wondering if that’s too much or too little caffeine, the FDA recommends up to 400mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults. An extra added perk? Moderate caffeine consumption has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and has been associated with a lower risk of stroke and type II diabetes.

In addition, this recipe includes rice milk, so it’s a great option for those with food allergies. The Food and Drug Administration has identified eight major allergens, which include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy. These eight major allergens account for 90 percent of the food allergic reactions in the United States. Swapping out milk or soymilk for rice milk in this recipe allows for those with these specific allergies to be able to enjoy this seasonal smoothie.

This smoothie wouldn’t live up to its name without pumpkin, the star ingredient and functional fall food pumpkin. Canned pumpkin is a great option for ease and convenience, but you can use freshly cooked pumpkin if you are feeling adventurous! Either option will provide a hearty amount of fiber, which supports gut health, as well as micronutrients like vitamin A and beta-carotene, which promote eye health, and immunity. This recipe also includes whole grains from oats as well as some extra fall flavors from maple syrup, vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice.   

And there you have it, just a few ingredients can come together to make a delicious seasonal smoothie. Check out our how-to recipe video below and try it out for yourself. Happy fall!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, cooled
• 1 cup rice milk
• 1 canned cup pumpkin puree
• 1/8 cup oats
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a blender
• Blend and enjoy!