Freeze Some Canned Pumpkin Purée For An Easy, Fall-Spiced Smoothie

Whenever the crispness of fall creeps into the air, chances are your taste buds start craving the warm and comforting flavors of the harvest. At the very top of that list, of course, is pumpkin. From pumpkin pies to pumpkin waffles, the hearty gourd lends itself to plenty of treats that mark the arrival of the season. In fact, it may not even feel like autumn until you've got a hot Pumpkin Spiced Latte in your hand.

If your kitchen embraces all-pumpkin-everything come fall, it's likely stocked with plenty of canned pumpkin purée, the go-to ingredient to create both sweet desserts and savory dishes like soup and casserole. So whether you've got leftovers or are just looking for a creative new way to make the most of your pumpkin purée, we suggest freezing the ingredient — not only to extend its shelf life but also to create the ultimate pumpkin spice smoothie.

To freeze pumpkin purée, you can simply scoop some out into sealable plastic bags or create individual portions inside a regular ice cube tray. The ingredient should last for up to a year in your freezer.

If you're planning on using it for smoothies, it may be best to freeze the purée in trays since you can just pop out the portions you need and place them right into the blender alongside your other ingredients.

Since the frozen pumpkin purée provides a built-in cold component and will automatically create a slushy texture, it also means you can skip adding extra ice, which usually leads to a more watered-down result. In addition to providing the perfect punch of fall flavor, frozen pumpkin purée with a pie spice blend can make the smoothie taste as rich and creamy as honest-to-goodness pumpkin pie filling, especially when blended with other rich ingredients, like frozen banana and coconut milk.

A cool and refreshing alternative to the classic PSL, a blended pumpkin smoothie is as delicious as it is nutritious since pumpkin (even the canned version) is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like beta-carotene. This makes it a great choice for breakfast or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Better yet, it tastes like your favorite fall dessert.