This acai smoothie bowl is so simple, but I hope you give it a try and love it! It’s creamy, fruity, refreshing, nutrient-rich, and so quick. It’s also the perfect canvas for displaying your toppings.
Mornings are my favorite part of the day. I usually get up much earlier than anyone else (4 pm is the norm for me) and just enjoy the quiet. I love the peace of the morning, the cool crisp air, and anticipation of what the new day could bring. Mornings are an integral part of my day. The time I set my mind on what matters.
I also love breakfast. I think of bowls of crunchy granola with cold almond milk, soft crepes with Nutella, sparkling berries with whipped cream, or even the nutty flavor of Irish oatmeal with cinnamon. Whether you are having a group of friends and family, a quiet little brunch for two, or an even quieter little brunch just for yourself, breakfast can set the mood and pace of the whole day.
Unfortunately, it’s inevitable to get caught up in the hectic happenings of the week and not make time for breakfast. However, having a time-crunched, frazzled morning doesn’t mean you should skip breakfast. That’s what smoothies and smoothie bowls are for.
I love smoothie bowls not only for their simplicity, but also because they remind me of an edible art. Smoothie bowls are designed for toppings as their dense consistency holds up to hearty ingredients like nuts and granola, which add crunch and texture. They aren’t meant to be gulped down in seconds like a regular smoothie. But rather, a smoothie bowl is meant to feel like a real meal with layers of flavor, texture, and color.
So how do you make an acai smoothie bowl?
Tips for Making Acai Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
For an acai smoothie bowl, we will need acai, which is a berry growing around the Amazon river in South America. It’s very rich in antioxidants, minerals, healthy fats, and vitamins. If you’ve never tasted an açai berry, it tastes like a mix of wild berries, chocolate, and soil. The berry is not sweet and definitely has some earthy undertones. Unfortunately, fresh acai berries are difficult to get, unless you live in Brazil and happen to have a an acai berry palm tree growing in your backyard. Acai berries go rancid very quickly which is why they cannot be shipped fresh.
Luckily, there are three other options. You can get pure acai juice, frozen acai puree (I get mine in a local health food store), or freeze-dried acai powder. I use all of them interchangeably although I do have to say that acai puree works the best for smoothies and smoothie bowls. Whichever option you go with, just make sure you pick a high-quality product in which acai is the only ingredient.
Whether I make a smoothie or a smoothie bowl, I almost always add a frozen banana for a creamy texture and sweet flavor. If you don’t like bananas, feel free to use some frozen mango, coconut yogurt, or soaked cashews instead.
Since acai berries don’t taste all that great, I also add other frozen berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries … or a mix to enhance the berry flavor.
You might also need some plant-based milk to thin the acai berry bowl (unless you use a fresh banana) and a sweetener (depending on how sweet you like your smoothie bowls).
The toppings for acai smoothie bowls are endless. Here I have some of my favorites – raw grain-free granola, chia seeds or desiccated coconut, and some fresh berries.
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Technique
If you have a high-speed blender, add all the frozen fruit into a blender. Blend on low, using a tamper to push the fruit into the blades.. You will essentially end up with crushed berries. While the blender is running, add a little bit of plant-based milk – 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) at a time – scraping down the sides. You should reach a soft serve consistency. This technique works great because you control the consistency to a T.
If your blender isn’t all the efficient, just add all the ingredients into the blender at once and blend until smooth.
Tools You’ll Need
1. Blender (Vitamix 5200)
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Acai Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
Smoothie Bowl
- 1 packet frozen acai puree
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp. maple syrup (optional)
Toppings
- grain-free granola
- chia seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- fresh fruit
Instructions
- If you use a frozen pack of acai puree make sure you break it in a couple of places before you throw it into a blender. If you go the powder + ice cube route be sure your blender can handle it!
- Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. If the mixture is too thick, add more plant-based milk. The consistency should resemble a soft serve.
- Scoop into a serving bowl and add your desired toppings. I like to add some grain-free granola, desiccated coconut, and fresh berries.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
**You might need to add more almond milk, depending on how thick you want your smoothie bowl to be.
This is great! love it.
Thank you so much! ❤️