Pumpkin Cereal Protein Smoothie/Smoothie Bowl

While creating my Pumpkin Cereal Breakfast Bowl I also had to play around with smoothie options! So I created a smoothie and smoothie bowl and this one really hits the spot and especially good after intense exercise when I need some extra carbs or when I need to fuel up for a long morning or day of mom duties.  I wish I had more to say as this smoothie and smoothie bowl really deserve more but I don’t want to repeat what I already wrote in my Pumpkin Cereal Breakfast Bowl post and honestly if I was talking about this smoothie I wouldn’t be saying much as my mouth would be full of it and really it isn’t polite to talk with food in my mouth.

Pumpkin Cereal Protein Smoothie/Smoothie Bowl

Makes 1 serving

3/4c bran or buckwheat flake cereal

1/4c pumpkin puree

1/3c, plus 1c for the smoothie, milk of choice (used So Delicious Unsweetened Almond Milk Plus for extra protein)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon, plus a dash for garnish optional

1TBSP pure maple syrup

1/2 a frozen banana

1 scoop chia or vanilla protein powder (used Vega Vanilla Sports Protein for the smoothie and Vega One Vanilla Chai for the smoothie bowl)

ice or additional 1/2 a banana, optional

*For a smoothie bowl you can either In a bowl mix together pumpkin puree, milk, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and maple syrup together until smooth. Stir in and crush cereal and let sit 5 minutes or make it the same way as the smoothie by blending.

In a Vitamix, or high-speed blender, blend together cereal, pumpkin puree, 1/3 cup of milk, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and maple syrup until smooth. Pour into a bowl or cup. Rinse blender (optional) and blend together remaining milk, banana, protein powder, and optional ice together until smooth and until desired thickness. Layer on top of the cereal layer, sprinkle with a little cinnamon/cinnamon sugar (optional), and enjoy!

As a Vega Recipe Ambassador I receive some Vega products, which I used as an option in this recipe. I use Vega not because it is given to me , I do purchase many on my own as well, but because it has been my plant-based protein of choice since before I started blogging and some recipes are made with Vega products I purchase. I only write about foods I love, my blog is an extension of my hobby to make fun healthy food creations for me and my family. I do not make any money off any Vega sales or posts.