Ice Cold Pumpkin Juice

[jennieingram]

While trying to find good recipes for a party before the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I was really disappointed in the selection of Pumpkin Juice recipes online.  Since I was going to have a house full of people all day long, I didn't want to be trapped in the kitchen roasting a whole pumpkin.  (Let alone squeezing all the pulp!)  Orange juice, canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices didn't sound like a great plan either, because the ratios of the recipes online would have made it too thick to sip.  After all, it's not called Pumpkin Smoothie.  It's Pumpkin JUICE! 

So I did some creative thinking....  I remembered that Jello makes a Pumpkin Spice pudding, and thought that Jello might have some sort of beverage recipes online.  (Jello Recipes)  I found one for "Creamy Orange Citrus Breeze", which called for Vanilla Pudding, orange juice, and Cool Whip.  I simply substituted the juices & pudding flavors for a more autumnal themed beverage.

Ice Cold Pumpkin Juice

1 gallon cold apple cider
1 pkg. JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding Mix (4-serving size)
COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping (thawed)

Pour 3-4 cups of cider into the blender, along with about 1/4 of the pudding mix, and a few spoonfuls of cool whip.  Blend till creamy.  Taste.  If you would like a more pumpkiney flavor, add more of the pudding mix and re-blend.  I like to start off with a little, and see how it goes, as everyone's tastes are different. If you would like it icy, add 4-6 ice cubes into the blender.

This really tastes like Autumn in a glass.  Creamy dreamy good.  And before you all freak out that I've given you a recipe, that you can't possibly make in the middle of summer (since Pumpkin Spice Pudding only comes out in the fall), I'll let you know that while I was in Walmart last month I found a huge amount of Pumpkin Spice Pudding mix.  Granted it was in that weird aisle of mixed-up things that are on clearance, but still.  They had tons.  I bought 2 extra boxes while I was there.   

[TroubleT]

I think I could drink a gallon of that without thinking...apple cider, pumpkin, spices, creamy....*drool*

[teachart]

Sounds yummy! I may have to try this one with hard cider though  !

[TroubleT]

Even better teachart!

[jennieingram]

Mmmm...  Hard cider does sound like a great idea.  You just might want to be careful if it's fizzy.  You don't want it to blow up in the blender!

[jillybeans]

Cider, Awesome!  Pumpkin, double Awesome!!!  MMMMMM!!!  You are full of wonderful ideas today!  That looks so good!  I'm gonna have to whip some up for a fall family party soon!  Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!

[hgddm]

Yaaay! The hard cider idea sounds like fun:) Thanks for this!

[Audania1]

I have a major sad face right now  . Every grocery store I've been to (including our Super Walmart and Winco) doesn't have the pumpkin spice jello.

That being said, i did find the butterscotch flavor and am going to give that a go - should be a super delicious substitute even if it's not the exact flavor. Yum!

[SewVintageBails]

Bookmarked! Definitly going to have to give this recipe a whirl.

[sweets4ever]

Ooooh, I MUST try this.  Thanks for sharing!