Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Latte Shake

Pumpkin season is fast approaching.  I don’t know about you but I am really craving pumpkin.  Although you can buy some pumpkin treats at fast food restaurants, it is fun to make your own, and also that way you know what went into them and that it was only real ingredients.  I  used to get a pumpkin shake at a local restaurant, and loved it, but I have since came up with my own vegan version that I like even better.  I include a date caramel in mine and it is crave worthy!  Make this shake as a treat for when you need a little pumpkin in your life!  Might as well add a little nutrition to your shake, and pumpkin is packed with it!

Author: Amy Lyons O’Neil

Amy has worked for Fresh and Natural Foods since 2006 contributing to the variety of healthful foods we offer. She graduated with a degree in studio art from Bethel University in 2007, but in her senior year of college, found that her passion was with the art of food. She later used her photography and culinary skills to create a vegan food and recipe blog, Fragrant Vanilla Cake. She has also written 3 cookbooks. She specializes in vegan and vegetarian recipes. Local, fresh and organic food has always been her focus in whatever she creates.

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Servings: 2 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 0 | Ready in: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• Caramel:
• 3/4 cup packed pitted soft medjool dates (if they are not soft, soak them in filtered water for 30 minutes and drain)
• 1 Tbsp raw almond butter or cashew butter
• filtered water as needed
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• Shake:
• 4 large bananas, frozen and cut into pieces
• 2 cups pumpkin purée (canned will work)
• 1/4-1/2 cup raw hemp milk or coconut milk (depending on how liquidy you like it, I like mine thick so I add less)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coffee extract or 1 Tbsp espresso powder (if a stronger coffee flavor is desired)
• 2 Tbsp raw almond butter
• stevia to taste (or your choice liquid sweetener)
• raw chopped pecans for serving

Instructions

For the caramel, combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth (adding filtered water as needed until it is a desired consistency). Set aside.For the shake, combine bananas, pumpkin, hemp milk, vanilla, coffee extract, almond butter, and stevia in a blender and blend until smooth, using the tamper to press the mixture into the blades. Pour half into glasses, then top with half the caramel, and some of the pecans. Pour over the other half of the smoothie in the glasses and top off with more caramel and pecans. Serve!