Puree of ingredients including cottage cheese, banana, pumpkin puree, and spices topped with seeds in glass bowl.

Pumpkin spice mousse

A recipe using popular fall flavors makes a healthy snack that will remind you of pumpkin pie.

Puree of ingredients including cottage cheese, banana, pumpkin puree, and spices topped with seeds in glass bowl.
Pumpkin spice mousse

This is a popular fall snack and dessert. It features great pumpkin and spice flavors similar to pumpkin pie. The frozen banana adds sweetness and creates a fluffy, light texture when whipped. Kids can easily make this treat themselves and then add fun toppings to create a sundae.

For a vegan version, consider using silken tofu as a substitute for cottage cheese. It yields a similarly creamy result. Additionally, you can freeze any leftover pumpkin puree in ice cube trays and add those cubes the next time you prepare this dish for a colder, thicker consistency.

Servings: 4

Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese or silken tofu
  • 1 1/2 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned pumpkin)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or date syrup
  • 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Optional toppings: chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, pomegranate seeds, currants

Directions

  1. Blend all ingredients (except toppings) in food processor or blender until smooth. 
  2. Add toppings: chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, pomegranate seeds, or currants.
  3. Freeze (for fun fall popsicles) or refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 to 5 days. 

Nutrition information (per serving)

With cottage cheese

  • Calories: 120
  • Total fat: 1.5 g
  • Saturated fat: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 5 mg
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Total carbohydrate: 20 g
  • Dietary fiber: 3 g
  • Total sugars: 12 g (includes 3 g added sugars)
  • Protein: 7 g

With silken tofu

  • Calories: 110
  • Total fat: 2 g
  • Saturated fat: 0 g
    Cholesterol: 0 mg
  • Sodium: 25 mg
  • Total carbohydrate: 19 g
  • Dietary fiber: 3 g
  • Total sugars 10 g (includes 3 g added sugars)
  • Protein: 5 g

Note: Nutrition information does not include toppings.