Apple Pie Smoothie – Gluten-free, Vegan + Refined Sugar-free

I honestly think I love fresh local apples this time of year just as much as pumpkins and I feel like they don’t get nearly the same amount of love! We finally got out this weekend apple picking at Blackman Homestead farm in Lockport. I didn’t realize it until it was too late that most all of the local farms that normally offer u-pick options started the u-pick earlier this year due to the unseasonably warm winter we had that started the trees blossoming early. That plus some late spring frosts and lots of rain and an extremely hot and dry summer – crops all across the region were definitely affected in lots of different ways. Thankfully most apple farms were affected by all of this only by having early harvests, otherwise no worse for the ware. (Most local apple farms may not have u-pick options, but almost all of them do have their apple harvest already picked and ready for purchase, so please make sure to continue to support your local farms whenever possible)

We were lucky that as of Friday at Blackman Homestead the Crispins were ready for picking so we were able to make the trip out on Saturday morning, grab some bags and pick some of the beautiful brightly hued apples! Most of the apples that were left were at the way tops of the trees, but we didn’t mind, we climbed up the ladders and grabbed as many as we could. It was the perfect crisp cool fall weather and the sun was even out for most of our time there. I didn’t want to bombard this post with photos so look for more pics from our trip in this week’s upcoming Friday Photo Fun Day post.

I plan to make lots of fun baked goods and also some fun savory dishes, with the Crispin apples we picked so look for more apple recipes in the coming weeks! I of course also grabbed a bag of my very favorite apple there is, the honey crisp. I seriously am in love with honey crisps, they are so amazing just on their own, sliced up. YUM!

While we were at the farm, I of course grabbed a gallon of their delicious fresh pressed cider. Made from their apples and with no other junk added, it is so delicious. I love apple cider just on it’s own, but I also really love it hot and spiced (and sometimes spiked), it is great in baked goods and now, smoothies! This smoothie is so simple to throw together and it is like fall in liquid form. The comforting apple pie aromas from the spices and the crisp apple cider, plus a little bit of creaminess from the almond milk, it was perfect!

Tagged as: apple picking, Apple Pie Smoothie, autumn, breakfast, brunch, drink, fall, gluten-free, recipe, refined sugar free, simple, snack, sweet, tasty yummies, vegan