Low-Sugar (fruit-free) Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

A lot of people ask me for lower sugar, fruit-free smoothie recipes, because smoothies can be notoriously high in sugar. Don’t get me wrong - LOVE fruit, but there’s a time and place.

I crafted this recipe in response to a request for a pumpkin smoothie without banana, as it seems most other pumpkin smoothies out there use banana as the main sweetener. This recipe only uses 1 tsp raw honey (which has many health benefits due to its anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties) and 6 drops of liquid stevia totaling about 6g sugar total (+ natural sugar from the pumpkin.)

Recipe:

• 1 cup milk of choice (I use Bolthouse Farms Plant Milk - Unsweetened)

• 1/2 cup ice

• 1/2 can organic pumpkin purée

• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1 tsp raw honey, Manuka honey preferred (I use Wedderspoon Manuka Honey)

• 5-6 drops liquid stevia (adjust based on sweetness preference)

• OPTIONAL: Collagen peptides (I like Vital Proteins) or protein powder for an extra protein boost