Craving a pumpkin drink, but still feeling the warm temps outside? This high protein iced pumpkin spice latte is calling your name! All the perfect pumpkin spice flavor, but served cold – and packed with protein. This drink features 21 grams of protein making it a great addition to your breakfast or for a sweet midday snack.
Ingredients and Instructions
You only need six simple ingredients to whip up this drink – here’s a photo of all of them along with helpful ingredient notes:
- Pumpkin puree – You want plain pumpkin puree for this recipe, not pumpkin pie filling. Because you’re only using a couple tablespoons in this recipe, it’s a great way to use up the rest of a can after you’ve made another pumpkin treat. Or, pop open a new can, and then freeze the rest in an ice cube tray, or portioned out on a baking sheet that you pop in the freezer (then transfer the portions to a zip top bag once frozen). Then you can use the frozen pumpkin cubes whenever you want to make this!
- Maple syrup – I like this drink on the sweeter side, so I do add maple syrup even though my protein powder is sweetened with stevia and xylitol.
- Cold brew – This coffee is brewed without heat, just letting the coffee grounds sit in water overnight. The result is a smoother beverage with less bitterness. That said, if you don’t make your own cold brew or have any on hand, you can easily use chilled hot coffee that you made earlier that morning.
- Milk – I like 1% milk for this recipe, as it has 8 grams of protein per cup. If you can’t do dairy, you can easily sub soy milk instead, which has the same protein content.
- Protein powder – Vanilla protein powder works well for this recipe; my go-to option is NOW Foods Creamy Vanilla whey protein powder (disclosure – they’re a client of mine; you can save 20% with code CHRISSY). You can use any vanilla protein powder you have on hand though. Both whey or plant-based powders will work.
- Pumpkin spice – You’ve gotta have the spice for that quintessential fall flavor! If you don’t have any on hand, you can use ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ginger, and ¼ tsp nutmeg as a quick DIY substitute.
Once you’ve got all your ingredients on hand, just pop ‘em all into a blender or blender cup.
Blend until well combined, then pour into a glass filled with ice, and you’ve got a delicious and nutritious treat.
Recipe FAQ
Here are some common questions that may come up as you’re preparing this recipe:
It is best made fresh when you’re ready to enjoy it. However, if you need to make it in advance, you can blend the ingredients and store in a mason jar in the fridge. When you’re ready to drink it, shake well, then pour over ice.
Yes! However, keep in mind that it will lose about 13 grams of protein by omitting the half scoop of protein powder.
Sure. Instead of 1% milk, use soy milk. Instead of whey protein powder, use a plant-based protein powder. Those two changes will make this vegan-friendly.
Nutrition Benefits
As a pumpkin-spice lovin’ dietitian, here are a few reasons why this recipe is in my hand on many fall days:
- Packed with protein – Thanks to the milk and the protein powder, this sweet treat packs in 21 grams of protein. I like it as part of a breakfast after a workout, or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up to boost my energy a little before heading to the gym.
- Less added sugar – A typical 16-ounce iced pumpkin spice latte from a popular coffee chain clocks in at 45 grams of sugar. This version is 21 grams of sugar, with only 7 grams being added sugar (the rest is naturally occurring in the milk and pumpkin). If you want to remove all the added sugar, simply omit the maple syrup or use a sugar-free liquid sweetener.
- Provides Vitamin D – This drink has 15% of your daily Vitamin D needs, an essential nutrient especially for active folks. Vitamin D is involved in bone health, immune health, and potentially exercise recovery.
- Contains calcium – You’ll get 33% of bone-building calcium in this drink.
- Provides potassium – You’ll get more than 600 mg of potassium in this drink – that’s more than a banana! Potassium is an electrolyte that’s lost in sweat during workouts. It is also involved in blood pressure regulation.
More Pumpkin Recipes
If you’re looking for healthier pumpkin recipes to satisfy those fall cravings, be sure to give one of these a try:
- Pumpkin breakfast bars (so yummy topped with peanut butter)
- Oatmeal and pumpkin breakfast cookies
- Pumpkin baked oatmeal cups
- Banana pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
- Pumpkin protein muffins
- Pumpkin Greek yogurt dip
I hope you enjoy this iced pumpkin spice latte recipe! If you get a chance to try it, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below.
High Protein Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup 1% milk (or soy milk)
- ½ cup strong cold brew coffee (or strong brewed coffee that has been chilled)
- ½ scoop vanilla whey protein powder (or plant-based protein powder)
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- ½ tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or blender cup. Blend until well combined.
- Pour over a glass of ice and enjoy! Feel free to garnish with a sprinkle of extra pumpkin spice on top.
Notes
Nutrition
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