Sweet potato pie is the coziest way to start your morning! This Vegan and Paleo Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie tastes just like a slice of your favorite dessert, but it’s filled with nutrients. Sweet potato and dates add perfect sweetness, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg are here for spiced comfort, and almond butter make it creamy and delicious.
Vegan and Paleo Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie Bowl
I have been into no-fruit smoothies lately. Nothing against fruit at all (love fruit and eat it every day), but sometimes I like to use smoothies as a way to sneak more vegetables into my diet early in the day. It's nice to kind of check that off my "list" so to speak. Not that I have a daily to-do list that includes eating vegetables or anything...no that would be totally weird.
This smoothie is made with sweet potato to give it a vibrant orange color that lets you know you are getting all that immune boosting vitamin A (also helpful for vision and bone health). Sweet potatoes also offer dietary fiber and potassium and are high in vitamin C. So, with this recipe you may feel like you are eating sweet potato pie, but you can rest assured that you are getting important nutrients and a healthy breakfast.
As far as smoothie bowls go, this one is pretty decadent. The smoothie base is naturally sweetened from the sweet potato itself and from dates. I then flavored it with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla for that classic sweet potato pie flavor. I topped it off with my Easy Pecan Granola for a satisfying crunch that compliments the flavors perfectly.
And to make it even more filling I sprinkled chia seeds and hemp seeds for good measure. You could also add unsweetened large flake or shredded toasted coconut, diced apples, sliced bananas, chopped raw or toasted pecans, chopped dates, a drizzle of nut or seed butter or melted coconut butter.
Have fun with this one and make it your own. The granola is great because it sort of mimics a pie crust in a sense so I would highly recommend that topping.
A key component of this recipe is clearly the sweet potato. Using a perfectly cooked sweet potato is important to the recipe. Here is my preferred method to cook the sweet potato:
- Place a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil on the bottom rack of your oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Pierce the potato with a fork on one side then place directly on the middle rack (not on a baking sheet and not wrapped in foil).
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until tender and the skin is thin and toasty. Baking time will vary based on the diameter of your sweet potato. You may need up to 60 minutes for a large sweet potato. The bottom baking sheet will catch any drippings for an easy cleanup.
- Remove from oven and pierce with a knife to ensure it is fully cooked. Allow the potatoes to cool for 5-10 minutes for easier handling. Slice the potatoes in half and split the flesh down the center.
For this recipe you will likely use one half of the sweet potato (1 cup). You can store the other half in an airtight container for another smoothie. For this recipe you will want the sweet potato to be fully cooled before using in the smoothie so I like to cook it the night before and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
It couldn't be easier and I hope you find this method helpful. It always works for me and yields the best baked sweet potatoes. You can do this part the night before and then throw everything together in the blender in the morning. I would also recommend making a batch of the pecan granola the night before.
I'm excited to be partnering with the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission (NCSPC) on this recipe. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables. They are convenient and versatile and somehow serve as both a comfort food and health food all at once. A medium sweet potato is just a little over 100 calories and they are loaded with fiber and nutrients. They are available year-round, naturally sweet and easy to prepare.
The NCSPC has been supporting growers since 1961 and has maintained North Carolina as the number one sweet potato producing state in the United States since 1971. November 13th is actually World Kindness Day, so in honor of that the NCSPC is emphasizing sweetness and created a 'Be Sweet More Often' initiative which is about finding little ways to make a difference. "Be Sweet." Wouldn’t the world be just a little bit better if everyone followed this mantra? I think about that a lot and try and remember to resist the temptation to always be right or to defend myself and just be nice to everyone and give people the benefit of the doubt. I try and be friendly to strangers and greet people by name (when I can remember). I reach out to my neighbors and try and find time for random acts of kindness like making a meal for sick friends or calling relatives that I haven't spoken to in awhile. It all adds up and in the end it makes me feel happier too. It really is true that if you put positive and sweet vibes out in the universe that you will feel it too.
Oftentimes when I would complain to my dad about problems I was having his advice was to "be sweet." It always seemed to apply whether it was about work or personal matters. It was basically his simple way of telling me to take the high road. I do believe that if you put positive vibes out into the universe good things will come your way.
When I was asked to create a recipe for this initiative I thought an easy sweet potato pie smoothie bowl would be the perfect fun and sweet way to bring this message home. Who doesn't love when breakfast tastes like dessert? When I made this for my family they all were a bit sweeter that morning.
So let's all be sweet not just today on World Kindness Day, but year-round. And maybe when you make this sweet potato smoothie bowl it will remind you to try a random act of kindness and to take a sweeter approach in your relationships. I hope it does!
This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and refined sugar-free. If you give this smoothie bowl a try, please snap a pic and tag #eatingbyelaine and @eatingbyelaine on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook so I can see you enjoying your creations.
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Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie Bowl
- Total Time: 4 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A filling vegan smoothie bowl that tastes like dessert. Top it off with your favorite toppings for an even more filling and decadent breakfast. This is a fruit-free smoothie and features sweet potato. It offers fiber, healthy fats and plant-based protein.
Ingredients
For the smoothie:
- 1 cup, cooked and cooled sweet potato (frozen works too)
- ½ cup unsweetened plant milk, chilled (almond milk or cashew milk)
- ¼ cup raw almond butter
- 2 soft pitted Medjool dates
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups ice cubes
Optional Toppings:
- Cinnamon Vanilla Granola
- Maple Pecan Granola
- Coconut Whipped Cream
- hemp seeds
- chia seeds
- unsweetened shredded coconut
- Candied Pecans
- Homemade Vegan Paleo Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- In a high speed blender, add the cooked sweet potato, plant milk, almond butter, dates, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend until smooth and creamy (about 45 seconds). Add the ice and blend again. Taste and add more ice if you want a thicker and frostier smoothie. You may want to adjust the spices at this time.
- Pour into a large bowl and top with your favorite toppings. Pictured here I used my homemade Pecan Granola, hemp seeds and chia seeds. Enjoy Immediately.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
To cook the sweet potato:
- Place a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil on the bottom rack of your oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Pierce the potato with a fork on one side then place directly on the middle rack (not on a baking sheet and not wrapped in foil).
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until tender and the skin is thin and toasty. Baking time will vary based on the diameter of your sweet potato. You may need up to 60 minutes for a large sweet potato. The bottom baking sheet will catch any drippings for an easy cleanup.
- Remove from oven and pierce with a knife to ensure it is fully cooked. Allow the potatoes to cool for 5-10 minutes for easier handling. Slice the potatoes in half and split the flesh down the center.
- For this recipe you will likely use one half of the sweet potato (1 cup). You can store the other half in an airtight container for another smoothie. For this recipe you will want the sweet potato to be fully cooled before using in the smoothie so I like to cook it the night before and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Smoothie Bowl
- Cuisine: Breakfast
This post is sponsored by the North Caroline Sweet Potato Commission. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Eating by Elaine.
Jennifer says
What a wonderful giveaway! Fingers Crossed! I made sure I commented on the Sweet Potato prompt, too! WOWZA!!! Thanks for the opportunity!
Elaine Gordon says
Awesome!!! 🙂 Best of luck to you!
cyndi br says
I would roast them more in the oven.
Elaine Gordon says
Yes, so easy! I hope you enjoy!
Chelsea says
So, how do I make the smoothie bowl? All I am seeing is instructions for baking my potatoes? What am I missing?
Elaine Gordon says
Hi, Chelsea! I just fixed it and it should be there now. Please let me know if you have any questions! Best, Elaine