Healthy Holiday Spice Mylkshake
Elsewhere Note: I interviewed Alison St. Sure of Sure Foods Living on the topic of a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving. She offers great tips and a couple of family-tested recipes that are at their feast every year. You can see the post here: Making Gluten Free Holidays Merry.
After discovering that many of my online friends didn’t have a single acorn squash recipe posted, I went a little nuts with trialing out different recipe ideas to inspire them … and this one was too delicious not to share. Yes, it is November, freezing, and I’m talking about smoothies and milkshakes, but really, ice cream never goes out of season, so why should shakes?
I think what surprised me most about the flavor was how it tasted a bit nog-inspired. No, I’m not claiming that this tastes just like eggnog (see my article on Dairy-free Egg Nog for some options in that department), but it does have a similar rich and creamy texture, in addition to those “warm” holiday flavors. And more importantly, this holiday beverage is virtuous enough to enjoy for breakast or as an afternoon treat. The acorn squash provides loads of vitamin A, vitamin C, and a whole host of other nutrients, the pecans and flaxseeds balance the carbohydrates with a touch of protein and some healthy fats, and don’t even get me started on the banana. Bananas are a key “superfood” in my world. I’m also addicted to adding fresh ginger to my smoothies lately. It adds a clean, but spicy taste, along with some more healthy benefits to help ward off winter colds.
The recipe below makes one really big serving, but I still wanted more …
Recipe: Dairy-Free Holiday Spice “MilkShake”
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons (.5 oz) Pecan Pieces
- 1/2 Teaspoon Flaxseeds
- 1 Medium to Large Ripe Frozen Banana, broken into chunks
- 1/2 Cup Cooked Acorn Squash (roughly 1/4 of a medium-sized acorn squash – see below for other options)
- 1/2 Cup Vanilla Milk Alternative (I used Pacific Foods 7-Grain Vanilla Non-Dairy Beverage)
- 1-Inch Chunk Fresh Ginger, peeled
- 1/4 Teaspoon Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- Pinch Salt
- 1-1/2 Teaspoons Maple Syrup
- 1 25mg Scoop Pure Stevia Extract (or sweeten to taste with more maple syrup or your sweetener of choice)
Instructions
- If you aren’t using a high power blender (that can pulverize little seeds and such), place the pecans and flaxseeds in your spice/coffee grinder and whiz them for about 30 seconds, or until finely ground (the pecans may start to clump, that is okay).
- Place all ingredients, including the pecan-flax mixture in your blender, and blend until smooth. I recommend making sure the squash is closest to the blades to allow the blender to work with ease before it hits those frozen bananas. This is particularly important if you aren’t using a high power blender.
- Feel free to adjust the liquid (by adding more milk alternative) and/or sweetener to taste.
Variations
-
I had some leftover roasted acorn squash, which worked so well in this, but you can substitute pumpkin puree, cooked sweet potatoes, or cooked butternut squash for the acorn squash.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Diet type: Vegan, Dairy free, Egg free, Peanut free, Soy free, Refined Sugar free, optionally Gluten free
Number of servings (yield): 1
Copyright © Alisa Fleming.
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I’ve submitted this recipe to Wellness Weekends ate Diet, Dessert & Dogs.
19 thoughts on “Healthy Holiday Spice Mylkshake”
I love adding winter squashes to my smoothies! I usually roast them whole (at least once a week) and then add a few chunks to them when I make them (daily). I’ve never thought to add pecans or flax, but I may have to try to recreate the nog flavor.
I rarely make a smoothie without nut butter anymore. It does add fat, protein, and tastes good, but the main reason is that the creaminess of the nuts really ups the level of the smoothie. Highly recommended 🙂
This sounds so yummy! Your pictures of smoothies are always the best 🙂
Aw shucks, thanks Lauren!
Fantastic! Love it. And I’m sure I will love drinking it!! Thanks for submitting to WW, Alisa. 😀
This drink sounds so perfect, exactly what I’d want on a holiday morning! I bet the ginger gives it a nice kick!
This looks lovely, Alisa!
And thanks for your email…I am so behind on my replies but just wanted to thank you for it.
And for this great drink…yum!
Okay…so I tried acorn squash and hated the texture of it a few week ago. I will HAVE to give it another go for this smoothie looks amazing! I never did pecans in a smoothie before, what a great little twist in lieu of the holiday!
Have a wonderful weekend, Alisa!
I hear you Laury! I’ve been the same way. I have to pair pumpkin or squash with a frozen banana and nut butter in smoothies to get a texture that makes me smile. I also make this more like soft serve (spoonable), which I think ups the creamy factor.
Wow, that looks and sounds like the perfect fall treat!
Oh, how I’m craving some egg nog right now, but dare not drink the real stuff or resign myself to misery. This “noggy” milkshake looks awesome, Alisa! I am surprised by squash as an ingredient, but love pumpkin and squash in smoothies so why not? Think I’ll sub almond milk for the vanilla beverage as I don’t usually use those. Thanks so much for this one! Well, both Son and I thank you. 🙂
Shirley
Incredible, Alisa! Somehow I feel this would have been a better breakfast for me than the fizzy chemicals I just drank. Darn conference 😛
YUM
anything with fresh ginger in it is a thumbs up in my book!!!
Yum, sounds absolutely wonderful!
Very creative. My son would love this.
You are so cheeky 🙂 And so smart! This sounds deeeelish! Thanks for sharing, I’ll be trying this since I just bought two at the farmer’s market.
Oh my. This WILL be made this weekend in my house. What a fun and completely brilliant idea. And seriously. How embarrassing that it was that hard to find an acorn squash recipe on one of our blogs. LOL
xo
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