Pumpkin Milkshakes

How was your Labor Day?  Mine was fabulous.  We hung out with friends and enjoyed lots of good food and laughter.  Perfect for a celebration at the end of summer.  Labor Day is always bittersweet for me.  Being a teacher, it’s the start of the new school year, but I also love that it’s the beginning of fall.  And I love fall.   At our get together, I brought the dessert, and I wanted something cool (since it was so hot outside!), but something fall-ish.  This is the perfect dessert.  I am not a pumpkin pie lover, but I love it as a milkshake.  I just had a glass yesterday, and I’m thinking about when I can make it again.  What’s even better is that this milkshake is so simple!  If you like, you can even replace all the spices and the canned pumpkin with a large slice of pumpkin pie.  Yum!

To make this fabulous shake, you’ll need the following:

Put all the ingredients, except the ice cream, in a blender and blend until smooth.

If you have the ice cream out for a bit, 3-4 minutes, then you can easily scoop it into the blender and won’t have to add a lot of milk to “soften” it.  It will still be thick.  I promise you that when you make this shake, it will not only satifsy your sweet tooth, but it wil transport you to autumn–full of vibrant colors, crisp breezes, and warm homemade soups.  It will not dissapoint!  Enjoy! xoxo

Pumpkin Milkshakes

printable version

1/3 c canned pumpkin
½ t vanilla
¼ t cloves
2 T brown sugar
1/3 c milk
½ t cinnamon
dash of allspice
dash of nutmeg
3 c vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
1-2 graham crackers, crushed
whipped cream, optional

Combine all ingredients, minus the vanilla ice cream, in a blender and blend until smooth.  Add the vanilla and pulse until just combined.  Pour into serving glasses and top with an extra dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, crushed cloves and graham crackers.  (You could also add a dollop of whipped cream.)

Serve immediately.  Satisfies two.

slightly adapted from Our Best Bites