Learn How to Make a Smoothie Bowl in Just Six Simple Steps

Here’s the ultimate guide for How to Make a Smoothie Bowl that’s scrumptious and healthy!

Smoothie bowls might not be your first thought when it comes to breakfast recipes, but it is an amazing way to start your day with loads of healthy foods.  I’ll show you How to Make a Smoothie Bowl in just six simple steps, and you’ll be hooked!  All your need are a few yummy ingredients and a blender.

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

• What is a Smoothie Bowl?
• What Tools Do I Need to Make a Smoothie Bowl?
• How to Make a Smoothie Bowl
• Tasty Topping Ideas
• How Do I Thicken My Smoothie Bowl?
• Our Favorite Smoothie Bowl Recipes
• How Many Calories are in a Smoothie Bowl?
• How Do I Make an Açaí Bowl?

What is a Smoothie Bowl?

A smoothie bowl is a delicious puree with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and sometimes yogurt. The mixture is thicker than a smoothie you drink, so it’s easy to eat with a spoon. Smoothie bowls are often topped with toppings like nuts, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, or oats. The best smoothie bowls are:

• Fruity
• Healthy
• Creamy
• Nutrient-Rich
• Naturally Sweet
• Quick and Easy!

This Banana Blueberry Almond Smoothie Bowl is the perfect example of how to make a smoothie bowl.  It’s got just a few simple ingredients like a ripe banana, vanilla yogurt and a splash of almond milk.  On top, I have dded whole raw almonds, fresh blueberries and shredded unsweetened coconut.  This is just one of millions of combinations you can create – your imagination is the only limit!

What Tools Do I Need to Make a Smoothie Bowl?

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Making a smoothie bowl does not require a ton of fancy equipment, but it is important that you have a really great blender.  Blenders without enough power or with dull blades will be unable to produce a smooth and creamy consistency. There are a lot of blenders out there, and some are super expensive. For my money, I love this Hamilton Beach Blender which we use daily. It works so well and even has a smoothie setting.

For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

1. In the bottom of the blender, start with 1 cup of liquid as a base.
   1. Almond, Soy or Cow’s Milk
   2. Yogurt
   3. Orange or Pomegranate Juice
   4. Coconut Water
2. Add a tablespoon of a sweetener and/or a nut butter.  Adjust to your own taste preferences.
   1. Sweeteners: Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave Nectar
   2. Nut Butters: Peanut, Almond, Cashew
3. Add in 1 cup of fresh or frozen fruit.
   1. Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries or Blackberries
   2. Banana, Mango, Guava, Pineapple, Kiwi
   3. Peaches, Pears, Apples, Plums
   4. Kale, Spinach, Avocado
   5. Steamed Beets, Carrots,
   6. Pumpkin Puree
4. Boost with other flavors or nutritional ingredients:
   1. Vanilla Extract
   2. Green Matcha Tea
   3. Protein Powder
   4. Ground Cinnamon
   5. Fresh Mint
5. Blend the mixture slowly until smooth and creamy.
   
   1. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash more liquid a little at time.
6. Pour into a bowl and add toppings with a variety of textures to compliment the flavors of your smoothie bowl.

Tasty Topping Ideas for Smoothie Bowls

• Fresh Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries or Blackberries
• Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans, Peanuts, or Macadamia Nuts
• Shredded Coconut, Oats
• Chia, Sunflower, Hemp, Pumpkin or Flax Seeds
• Figs or Dates
• Granola, Crispy Rice Cereal, Corn Flakes, Puffy Cereal
• Dark Chocolate or Cocoa Nibs

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl – Simple Vegan Blog

How Do I Thicken My Smoothie Bowl?

The key to a good smoothie bowl is to get both the flavors and the consistency right.  You do not want to have a bowl of thin smoothie, you want a thick luscious mixture that you can dig into.  Avocado and banana are both great for thickening a smoothie bowl.  Instead of topping your smoothie bowl with chia seeds, put them in the mixture.  Yogurt is another great natural thickener.

Our Favorite Smoothie Bowl Recipes

Here are some of my family’s most favorite smoothie bowl recipes:

Top, from left to right:

• Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie Bowl
• Green Smoothie Bowl with Berries and Pears
• Banana Blueberry Almond Smoothie Bowl

Bottom, from left to right:

• Easy Green Smoothie Bowl with Spinach and Strawberries
• Berry Banana Mini Smoothie Bowl for Kids
• Tropical Greek Yogurt Smoothie Bowl

How Many Calories are in a Smoothie Bowl?

The amount of calories in a smoothie bowl will vary depending on the type of ingredients you put into it, and the toppings you add.  If you’re watching your caloric intake, you will want to limit the amount of  certain ingredients.  For example, the average cup of granola is about 600 calories, so use just a couple of tablespoons, or skip it in place of a lower calorie item like rice cereal, which has about 100 calories per cup.

How Do I make an Açaí Bowl?

An Açaí bowl  is a type of smoothie bowl that starts with açaí – berries that look a little like grapes. You can purchase Acai Berry Puree at your local natural foods store, or online. Blend the puree with yummy ingredients like spinach or kale, banana, mango and a splash of milk. Process until smooth and top with fresh blueberries, slices of kiwi, granola and a drizzle of honey.  (You can also purchase Acai Berry Powder to blend into your fruit mixture.)

Quick and Easy Acai Bowl Recipe – Dinner at the Zoo