Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Christin Gillespie

A collision of two traditional desserts transformed into a protein smoothie. This Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie embodies all the flavors of the classic holiday treats, but made with wholesome ingredients. Created with pumpkin puree, raw almond butter, vanilla plant protein, frozen banana, medjool date, gingerbread spice, and non-dairy milk. It’s full of festive flavors and good-for-you ingredients, making it the perfect post workout drink.

A clear glass filled pumpkin gingerbread smoothie, topped with coconut whipped cream and has a straw in it. Sitting on a cutting board.

Pumpkin pie meets gingerbread cookie. I bet you’ve never put those two together before. I know it seems kind of strange, but it’s so delicious.

Unlike traditional holiday desserts, this protein smoothie is nutrient-rich, so you can enjoy your pie + cookie, without the sugar crash. Besides, you don’t have to fuss with the whole baking process with this holiday smoothie recipe. All you need to do is grab your high-speed blender and blend away. Don’t forget the homemade coconut whipped cream for topping!

Although this is a protein smoothie recipe, it’s loaded with cozy spices, which means it doesn’t freeze the body too much. If you would like to have your dessert smoothie not as cold, you can winter-enize it by using a fresh organic ripe banana, as opposed to frozen.

Either way, this delicious holiday smoothie recipe will spice up your mood at first sip.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

Tastes like a Dessert: The flavor is that of traditional pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies, but in a smoothie form.
Loaded with Nutrition: This protein smoothie features over 25 grams of plant based protein, is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, & is full superfoods.
Easy to Make: Unlike the traditional desserts, this holiday smoothie takes minutes vs. hours to make.

Pumpkin & Ginger Health Benefits

Pumpkin Health Benefits

Let’s talk about pumpkin for a brief moment. Did you know it’s actually a superfood? Meaning, it’s full of powerful health benefits. Pumpkin is incredibly healthy, as it is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The few out of many advantages of consuming pumpkin include:

High Antioxidant Content to Protect from Disease
Packed with Potassium to Help Lower Blood Pressure
Bursting with Vitamin C for Immunity & Collagen Production
Full of Vitamin A for Immunity & Eye Health
Aids Digestive System to Keep Things Moving

Ginger Health Benefits

To make any gingerbread recipe, it requires ginger. So let’s get into the details. The root of ginger consists of hundreds of chemical compounds including minerals and vitamins. Ginger has been used for thousands of years all over the world, being used as a food additive, as well as medicine. This warming spice offers a number of health benefits.

Boosts Immunity
Reduces Muscle Pain
Improve Digestive Health
Decreases Inflammation
Promotes Healthy Blood Circulation

Ingredients

Organic Unsweetened Oat Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie recipe, but I love oat milk! I also think organic unsweetened almond milk would be delicious. Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
Organic Pumpkin Puree: You can’t make this pumpkin protein smoothie without it. Make sure it’s pumpkin puree & NOT pumpkin pie filling (which is loaded with lots of sugar & other unhealthy ingredients you can’t pronounce). Organic pumpkin puree is simply pureed pumpkin!
Organic Vanilla Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Truvani Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder for this recipe. It’s made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Truvani’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder you’re missing out, but you can add your favorite vanilla plant protein.
Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals to this smoothie.
Organic Raw Almond Butter: For some additional healthy fats + a hint of nutty sweetness, I love adding raw almond butter.
Organic Gingerbread Spice: It wouldn’t be a gingerbread smoothie without it. Using a combination of ceylon cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves, to achieve that authentic gingerbread spice.
Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this protein smoothie.
Organic Medjool Date: Adding just one date to this holiday smoothie adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
Organic Frozen Banana: To make the smoothie extra thick & creamy, it’s best to use a frozen banana.

How To Make

Blend Liquids & Powders: First, add the non-dairy milk, pumpkin puree, protein powder, seeds, nut butter, and spices, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
Blend the Medjool Date: Add the soft pitted medjool date to the blender and blend until smooth.
Blend Frozen Banana: Next, add in the frozen banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
Serve: Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Organic Chia Seeds: Add a scoop of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this smoothie.
Organic Hemp Seeds: Add a tablespoon of hemp seeds to boost healthy fats, protein, omegas, & minerals, to this smoothie.
Organic Cacao Powder: Wanting a chocolate gingerbread pumpkin smoothie? Add a tablespoon of organic cacao powder!
Organic Cold Brew: If you’re in need of a boost, replace the organic oat milk with organic cold brew to create a pumpkin gingerbread latte smoothie.
Organic Greens: You can get your greens in too in this protein smoothie. They blend easily & you can’t taste them. Plus, greens are packed with so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Spinach, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, or mixed greens all work. WARNING: it will change the color of the smoothie!

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect smoothie? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips for creating the perfect smoothies:

Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
Soak Medjool Date: If your dates aren’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted dates in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help them soften up, so that they can blend nicely.
Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, then the medjool date, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a pumpkin gingerbread milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip!

Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the smoothie a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods for a post workout breakfast is great because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option.

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular protein smoothie, I love using Truvani’s Organic Vanilla Plant Based Protein Powder. It’s made with no preservatives, no artificial colors, & no artificial sweeteners. If you don’t have Truvani’s Protein on hand, you can use your favorite vanilla protein powder. However, when selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients.

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add another tablespoon of organic raw almond butter, a tablespoon of organic chia seeds, and/or a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this holiday smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make the smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

More Pumpkin Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.