Pumpkin Pie Shake

Nothing says Fall like pumpkins. You see them everywhere...carved for Halloween...pies for Thanksgiving. And now protein shakes! Best of all, you can have them any time of the year! This recipe was inspired by a shake recipe on BariatricEating, a wonderful online support group by Susan Maria Leach.

Pumpkin Pie Shake
(used with permission)

1-2 cups ice

1 tablespoon sugar free vanilla pudding mix

2 drops vanilla extract

1 teaspoon instant coffee

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon sugar free caramel topping
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
sweetener, to taste (optional)
4-6 ounces milk (I use soy or almond milk)

Place ice in blender. Add the rest of the ingredients, ending with the milk. Set blender to crush ice, then blend on lowest speed and building up to highest speed until shake is thick and frothy.

UPDATE ALERT!  A wonderful variation is to substitute sugar free butterscotch pudding mix for the vanilla pudding mix! It really brings out the pumpkin and caramel flavors! Go ahead...ask me how I know!