Pumpkin Protein Shake

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This pumpkin protein shake is a filling breakfast option featuring some of your favorite fall flavors. Yet it is versatile and delicious enough to be used year round!

A glass filled with chocolate pumpkin protein shake with a sprinkle of granola on top.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Equipment You’ll Need
Step by Step Directions
Tips & Variations
FAQ
Pumpkin Protein Shake

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is an easy pumpkin smoothie recipe that comes together quickly for a busy morning. It makes for a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack!
It is a convenient and delicious way to get in carbs, protein, fat, and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied longer.
The main ingredients are likely ones you already have on hand—your preferred milk (we like almond milk for this), nut butter, protein powder, frozen banana, ice cubes, and of course pumpkin puree for the fall season! We also love to add cocoa powder, chia seed, and ground flax seed. Pumpkin pie spice is optional!
It is very easy to mix up the recipe to your specific preferences—if you aren't a fan of chocolate, leave out the cocoa powder and use a vanilla protein powder. If you aren't a big fan of the pumpkin spice flavor, leave out the optional spices. However, if you aren't a big fan of pumpkin puree, we recommend giving this shake a try before knocking it all together—the pumpkin flavor is very mild and is masked with the flavors from the cocoa and banana. There are a lot of great options to make this recipe your very own.
We are always looking for tasty pumpkin recipes and smoothie recipes to add to our arsenal—this is the perfect way to combine the two!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for pumpkin protein shake: almond milk, frozen banana, ice, chia seeds, ground flax seed, pumpkin puree, almond butter, cocoa powder, protein powder.

Almond milk - we prefer to use unsweetened almond milk in this recipe, but feel free to use your milk of choice—cow's milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, or soy milk would all work well. We recommend using cold milk as it helps to maintain the texture of the protein shake.
Pumpkin purée - if you're nervous about adding pumpkin puree to your protein shake, we promise that this shake does not have a strong pumpkin flavor. The pumpkin puree adds texture to the shake and also provides a boost of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is a recipe that we use year round! We prefer to use pure pumpkin puree such as Libby's Pumpkin Puree, but most grocery stores have their own version of canned pumpkin puree that typically costs less. You could also use a fresh pumpkin puree if you have that on hand. You can choose to use pumpkin pie filling instead, just note that this will have added sugar and spices that will affect the overall flavor of the shake. You may not need to add additional spices if you are a fan of the pumpkin spice flavor or pumpkin pie flavor.
Almond butter or peanut butter - we love the use of almond butter or peanut butter in this pumpkin protein smoothie, but any nut butter would work!
Cocoa powder - the cocoa powder adds a chocolate flavor but also prevents the pumpkin pie protein shake from tasting overly sweet.
Protein powder - feel free to use your favorite brand of protein powder for this recipe! We have used both vanilla and chocolate protein powder in this pumpkin smoothie recipe and we like both options. You can use a whey protein powder (such as the vanilla* or chocolate* flavors from Clean Simple Eats) or a plant-based protein powder (such as the vanilla* or chocolate* flavors from Truvani). Feel free to try out different flavors as well!
Flax seed and chia seeds - we love adding chia seeds and ground flax seeds to our smoothies whenever we can—it is a great way to add a nutritious boost! Both are rich with fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids which can help you to feel satisfied longer. They have also been shown to aid in digestive health, heart health, and cholesterol management. Hemp seeds would be another good option if you have them on hand.
Frozen banana - we highly recommend using frozen banana for this pumpkin pie protein smoothie! It helps result in a thick, creamy texture. You can use a banana that isn't frozen as well, just note that the consistency will be much runnier.
Ice cubes - again, we use ice to help maintain the great texture of the shake.
Optional - add a dash of ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice if desired. This addition will make your shake more of a pumpkin spice protein shake if you prefer the flavor that comes from these warm spices. (If you don't have pumpkin spice on hand, you can make your own with ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves—we have used this recipe before, but halved the amount.)

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Equipment You’ll Need

Powerful blender (a Blendtec* is a great option, but we know it is also expensive. We have really liked using this Ninja countertop blender* which is a more affordable option, but still a good quality blender.)
Measuring cups and spoons
Large glass or cup (we find that one serving fits well in a 22 oz blender bottle)
A straw (optional)

Step by Step Directions

The container of a counter top blender filled with the ingredients for the pumpkin protein shake.

Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Blend for 20 seconds until smooth.

Enjoy!

For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Tips & Variations

We recommend putting the almond milk in the blender before all of the other ingredients. With the liquid at the bottom, the blender is better able to incorporate all the ingredients together and blend more efficiently.
While this recipe is specifically tailored to the pumpkin season, one of the great things about it is that it is really versatile! It doesn't have to be a recipe that is seasonal. In fact, this is one of our go-to protein shakes throughout the year! We don't always continue to add the pumpkin spice or cinnamon, but we do continue to add the pumpkin puree—we find that the pumpkin flavor isn't too strong and it doesn't come off as a pumpkin-flavored shake. You can leave out the pumpkin puree if you aren't a fan, it will just be more of a chocolate banana protein shake instead.
If you aren't a fan of the chocolate flavor, you can leave out the cocoa powder and use your favorite vanilla protein powder instead. You could also use a pumpkin spice protein powder.
We've also added ½ cup frozen wild blueberries to this recipe and have loved it!

FAQ

What is the difference between pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie filling?

Pumpkin puree is cooked and mashed pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling will also include some type of sweetener and spices. If you use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree, you may not need to add any additional spices to the smoothie to give it a pumpkin pie flavor.

What should I do with the leftover pumpkin puree?

You definitely won't be using an entire can of pumpkin puree in one shake, so we recommend transferring the remainder to an airtight container, storing it in the fridge, and using it within 5-7 days. If you won't use the entire can in 5-7 days, you could also measure out tablespoons of pumpkin puree and store them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer or put them in ice tray containers. Then simply pop two of the pre-measured amounts into the blender and blend.

Can I make this pumpkin protein shake ahead of time?

We recommend making this protein shake fresh. However, you can make extra and freeze it if you prefer. Put it in the fridge the night before you plan to drink it. Note that the texture and the consistency of the shake will differ when thawed from frozen.

Is it (GF/DF/V/VG)?

Yes! This pumpkin pie smoothie recipe can easily be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. For dairy-free and vegan, make sure to use a plant-based milk and plant-based protein powder. Make sure the protein powder you use is also gluten-free if needed.

If you like this recipe, check out some of our other quick breakfast options:

If you make this pumpkin protein shake recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!