Prepare Your Ingredients: If you haven’t done so already, freeze your banana slices and soak your dates in hot water for at least five minutes for easier blending.

Blend It Up: In a blender, combine the almond milk, pumpkin puree, frozen banana, ground flaxseeds, dates, vanilla, and pumpkin spice (*see NOTE below to make your own). Blend until smooth and creamy.

Adjust Sweetness: Taste your smoothie. Depending on the sweetness of your banana and dates, you might want to add an extra date or a splash more almond milk if you prefer a lighter consistency.

Serve and Enjoy: Pour the smoothie into a glass or mason jar, and add any additional toppings if using. These optional toppings include chopped pecans or walnuts, hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds, sweet cashew cream, and a dusting of additional pumpkin pie spice.

Leftover smoothies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. They’re best enjoyed fresh, but if you need to store them, make sure they’re in an airtight container—like a mason jar with a lid—to prevent oxidation. Give your smoothie a shake or stir before drinking.

*NOTE: To make your own pumpkin pie spice mix from scratch, combine the following:

• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon of ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg

You only need 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of this spice mixture for this recipe, so store the rest in a spice jar for later. Check out some of our other pumpkin spice recipes, like the pumpkin spice overnight oats, pumpkin spice chai latte, pumpkin brownies, and pumpkin oatmeal bars.