This delicious and brilliantly coloured pumpkin spice smoothie with cranberries is perfect as a Christmassy treat.
A Squash and a Squeeze!
As autumn blends into the Christmas season, I love the way the contents of my supermarket trolley reflects the colours of the trees outside. As pumpkins, squash and gourds have come into season, rich shades of orange abound. Time for pumpkin and squash with everything!
Butternut squash is one of my favourite ingredients; once peeled, chopped (with the aid of a good heavy sharp knife) and roasted, the flavours become concentrated and the flesh caramelised and sweet. It is the perfect addition to salads, wraps, dips, bakes, omelettes and pasta sauces.
Once cooked you can freeze it, but it loses some texture so once defrosted it is better reheated, or puréed with other ingredients. I also like it raw; the trick is to grate it which makes it easier to chew, or you can juice it.
Pumpkin Spice and Cranberry Breakfast Boost
This pumpkin (or butternut) spiced smoothie has a glorious cheerful colour which will brighten up a dull morning, with the sweetness of the roasted butternut tempered by the tartness of gloriously red berries. Bright cranberries are one of the delights of Christmas, and it’s such a shame to only see them on our plates once a year next to the turkey.
For this recipe I roasted the squash with a sprinkling of Biscoff or speculoos mixed spice blend. If you have one, use your favourite spice blend; they vary massively. I’m not a fan of either too much cinnamon or nutmeg, which some people love.
I find you can use squash and pumpkin interchangeably. I prefer the flavour of butternut squash. Ed and I get through them faster, and crucially before they go off!
If you are not used to green, or other veggie smoothies, this pumpkin spiced smoothie with cranberries is a really good one to try. It could be the first step in establishing the habit of adding vegetables to your glass and eating them for breakfast. My mantra for a healthy diet is to concentrate on the good stuff – namely veggies – and the less good stuff will look after itself. The flavour here is all about the spice, rather than the pumpkin, which does not stand out. It may seem strange at breakfast time, but its sweetness is necessary to offset the cranberries’ acidity.
Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie with Cranberries
Ingredients
- ½ cup roasted butternut squash (or pumpkin)
- ½ cup cranberries
- 1 cup grapes
- 1 tbs ground linseeds or chia seeds
- 200 ml small glass orange juice
Instructions
- Chill all the ingredients overnight, or freeze the grapes
- Place all the ingredients into a blender and whizz until smooth.
- Add a little water if needed to get the desired consistency.
Recipe originally published Nov 2011 – old image for reference!
If you get a taste for smoothies, keep a box of ingredients in the freezer. With a good blender, chunks of all sorts of fruit can all be whizzed up from frozen for your breakfast. Whizzed frozen banana is especially thick and creamy. I find it makes excellent ice cream. A stick blender should be enough to whizz up soft fruit with a few frozen additions.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
I suspect this is something that if you told me what it was I’d run a mile but actually really like if I just drank it! Not sure my husband would cope with it!
Helen
It was quite delicious. I’m having another tomorrow.
Krithi
Simple and colorful smoothie..
Krithi’s Kitchen
Event: Serve It – Savory Baked
Katie
That looks lovely Helen – Waitrose put pumpkin in one of their smoothies and it’s really delicious.
Dan Toombs - The Curry Guy
That smoothie looks delicious. It reminds me a lot of the smoothies I had growing up in California.
I’m currently on a one year quest to eat and cook nothing but quality Indian food. I have what is called a lassie every morning. Lassies are yogurt drinks usually missed with fruit.
I love the idea of the pumpkin and will be trying your recipe with a bit of yogurt blended in.
Thanks for sharing.
Michelle
Manic morning here with the kids – one wanting to go on a date with her male friend (you just don’t, do you?) and one complaining of sparkling at the top of her nose (no, you’re not staying off school just because your nose sparkles) This piece was just what I needed. Photogenic and smoothie in the same sentence. Brilliant! I’ll have to try it. I can’t stand pumpkin but I’ll trust you on not being able to taste it because you’re a nice lady and I don’t think you’d trick me!
Helen
Do try it Michelle! if you are being extra sneaky you can make a banana one and add spinach, you cannot taste it either.
Michelle
Ha ha – how did you know I can’t stand spinach either?! I’ll be sure to try it though. Oh, and I made a birthday cake yesterday – the Neapolitan Bucket Cake. Fiddly to cut the layers in half but well worth it. It looked great and tasted even better. The birthday girl loved it. Thanks again for the prize!
Emily
Hey Helen, this smoothie looks so delicious, I had no idea you could eat butternut squash raw :o
Helen
I does take getting used to, but really is lovely.
Platter Talk
Helen, you know that I’m going to be trying this very, very healthy smoothie out! Thanks.
Helen
I hope you enjoy it!
April J Harris
I hadn’t thought of using squash or pumpkin in my morning smoothies – what a delicious and healthy idea! I love the colours of this smoothie too. By the way, I have the same little Le Creuset pumpkin pots as in your photograph – I fell in love with them at John Lewis and just couldn’t resist!
Helen
The addition of squash or pumpkin gives the smoothie a velvet smooth texture. I love the pot – its currently got ice cream in it!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
We love pumpkin smoothies and I have a recipe for one coming next week too! It’s such a good way to enjoy pumpkin.
Helen
Pumpkin and squash are such amazing ingredients.
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This sounds really good. I also love the flavors of roasted butternut squash…it is great in so many things.
Helen
I think squash might be my favourite vegetable!
Amanda
Pumpkin smoothie overload! This is different. I love the addition of cranberries!
Helen
I love pumpkin in a smoothie, as creamy as a banana but it is all extra veg!
Charlie @ The Kitchen Shed
I have never had a pumpkin smoothie before but this looks like something I should try! Such a cool idea. Would love for you to share in on our healthy halloween recipe link up this week. I think our readers would LOVE it!
Helen
Thanks Charlie. I shared your linkie on Twitter