September is a funny month — the weather's still quite warm, but the Fall vibes are undeniable. Pumpkins and squash begin to pop up at the market, but many of the traditional ways to cook these gourds don't feel quite right. If you, like myself, are eager to get your pumpkin spice fix but aren't quite ready to dig into a bowl of soup or a piping-hot cup of oatmeal, this pumpkin pie smoothie bowl is just the thing to bridge the seasons.
Creamy and barely sweetened, this festive breakfast can easily be customized to your taste. I've listed a bunch of topping ideas, but have fun with it. I like to keep the smoothie base low-sugar (no sweeteners are added besides half of a frozen banana) since some of my favorite toppings are sweeter-leaning (like candied ginger), but your mileage may vary. If you find it could use a hint more, you may want to blend in a chopped date, a bit of honey, or maple syrup or drizzle a bit of the latter on top.
From Nicole Perry, POPSUGAR Fitness
Add the smoothie bowl ingredients to a blender in the order listed (liquids and soft items go in before solid, chunky items like frozen banana). Blend until smooth.
Pour into a bowl, spread it out, and smooth the top. Decorate with toppings. To make it as pictured, use toasted pepitas, granola, chopped candied ginger, and bee pollen.