Pumpkin + Blue Majik Smoothie Bowl with a Halloween Vibe

Today I’m sharing a beautiful pumpkin and blue majik smoothie bowl, which has a Halloween vibe with its (all natural) garish color and pumpkin flavor. 

Halloween is the worst time of year for me, for keeping my resolve about limiting my sugar intake.  I am not someone who can enjoy a little treat, here or there.  I’m already ashamed to admit that I bought some candy corn at the bulk store recently and, on the drive home from town (about an hour), ate it all.  Hubby was driving and kept trying to get the bag away from me, but I’m fairly certain I growled and just kept stuffing my face.

Giving up sugar is an ongoing battle for me.  Sometimes my cravings go away, but then sometimes they come back with a vengeance.  I complain bitterly on Instagram every year that I don’t like fall.  I live for summer and loathe winter, so for me, fall signals the end of my favorite season and the beginning of another grueling six months of snow and ice.  Frankly, indulging at Thanksgiving dinner and binging on Halloween candy were the only things I enjoyed about the season!  But since cutting back on sugar – and losing 50 pounds – I am trying not to fall back on old habits.

I need to just stay away!  But it doesn’t help me get into a festive mood when everyone else is enjoying colorful Halloween treats and I can’t.  So I whipped up a garishly colorful pumpkin and blue majik smoothie bowl for myself that has SUCH a fun Halloween color palette – plus a season appropriate pumpkin-infused flavor – and this is helping me get into the spirit.

Luckily it’s been warm enough to keep enjoying a colder treat like this blue majik smoothie bowl, but I’ll need some cozier recipe ideas soon as the temperature drops…

I wanted to share, for anyone else who wants a Halloween treat but is trying to kick sugar.  I’ve shared some smoothie treats before, like my turquoise blue majik smoothie bowls and my layered smoothies, and I’m still a firm believer in the power of pretty food.  I want to eat good-for-me meals when they look as enticing as this pumpkin and blue majik smoothie bowl.

I mentioned that the colors are all natural: a spirulina infused base (that’s the blue majik) created the gorgeous blue-grey and a pumpkin-infused top layer created the bold orange.  A punch of hot pink dragon fruit rind, blackberries and orange slices evoke such a Halloween treat color palette.

Here’s what you need to make this pumpkin and blue majik smoothie bowl:

• 2 small scoops Blue majik powder (optional – that’s the blue hue, blueberries work too but they’ll be more grey)
• 1 frozen, sliced banana
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tsp chia seeds (for topping)
• 1 tsp unsweetened shredded coconut (for topping)
• Sliced oranges, dragonfruit and blackberries (topping)

I still struggle with smoothie “recipes” because I’m more of a dump-in-what’s-around kinds smoothie gal.  I’ll add whatever fresh and frozen fruits I have on hand, plus spinach or other veggies. If I have Greek yogurt, I’ll toss that in.  For this pumpkin and blue majik smoothie recipe, I used my hand magic bullet to make two smoothies: the blue layer and the orange layer.  I used the largest cup from my bullet and this yielded four small blue majik smoothie bowls.

Blue Layer:

I mixed the banana, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/2 scoop protein powder together and added two small scoops of blue majik.  You want a really thick base, so if it’s too runny add some more frozen banana.

I poured the blue layer into my bowls and popped them into the freezer for about 15 minutes so the layer could firm up – but not freeze – to support the second layer.  You can totally just add the second layer, but it will be a swirled effect, which is just as pretty and equally delicious.

Orange Layer:

I mixed the cup of pumpkin puree with a 1/2 cup of frozen peaches to keep the orange hue but add some more sweetness.  The other 1/4 cup of almond milk and 1/2 scoop of protein powder found their way into this half of the smoothie too.  You could also add some carrots for color but less fruit.

I removed the blue layer from the freezer and poured on the top layer.  For photos I popped it back into the freezer because I wanted it firm enough to support the fruity topping while I took photos but in real life you don’t need to photograph your smoothie bowl a million ways so you can just top it and enjoy it right away!  And that’s all it takes to make this beautiful and delicious pumpkin and blue majik smoothie bowl for fall. 

I’ll be sharing some more ideas for healthier treats that still feel spooky – and I’d love to hear your ideas!