How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

Curious how to make a smoothie bowl? This recipe formula is easy and customizable! I've included my favorite superfood add-ins, options for adding protein, and fun toppings ideas.

I remember when smoothie bowls were all the craze and açaí shops started popping up all over the place here in Nashville. I've always loved them, mostly because you can get so creative with the toppings and make a work of art!

Enjoying a smoothie bowl in the mornings, barefoot in the summer, with beachy music on, surrounded by freshly potted tropical plants puts me in the best mood and sends me straight to my favorite warm weather destination: Tulum!

Grab your favorite fruits, think about your favorite tropical destination, and learn how to make a smoothie bowl with me!

What Makes this Recipe Formula the Best

There are countless smoothie bowl recipe variations out there, but what makes this one the best is that it's simple.

So simple that my husband and I make a smoothie bowl every single morning, even when we're enjoying a savory dish too. I don't overthink what ingredients I need to buy or measure out what goes into my blender each time. I know the basic things I need to keep stocked in my fridge:

• Bananas
• Plantbased milk
• Frozen fruit
• Superfoods (powders + toppings)
• Granola

It's easy to make this recipe in small or large quantities and it's easy to save. But I always love having the option to enjoy something fruity and healthy to energize me for the day ahead.

Achieving that Perfect Smoothie Bowl Texture

I also really love this simple smoothie bowl recipe because it's easy to vary in texture. I have had smoothie bowls that feel like you're eating a thin soup and others that straight up have the texture of sorbet. This recipe, on the other hand, is somewhere in between.

Hunter really can't stand overly frozen or thick smoothie bowls, and I can't stand when they are too liquidy. So trust me when I say, I have spent a long time trying to get the texture just right!

Do keep in mind, depending on what types of ingredients you use, the texture will vary. For instance, açaí results in a much thicker texture than blueberries or dragonfruit. You can always thicken up your smoothie with a handful of ice if needed! Or toss in an extra banana. If you even need to thin it out, just add a little more liquid. Add the liquid in small amounts to prevent it from getting soupy!

Are Smoothie Bowls Healthy?

I'm not a huge stickler on tracking nutrients because I truly believe eating a whole foods, plantbased diet with lots of variety provides everything we need! I also love following the idea of eating just until you start to feel full. I think with these two guidelines: 1) consuming a variety of plants and 2) eating intuitively, there's no need to overanalyze whether or not something is "healthy."

However, I do get asked the question a lot, "Are smoothie bowls actually healthy?"

In most cases, this question is being asked in regards to sugar. With all of the fruit—plus the granola—sometimes the sugar can add up. The difference between sugar from fruit and sugar from processed foods is that fruit also provides dietary fiber. Processed, sugary foods do not.

When smoothie bowls are made with organic fruit that has zero added ingredients, plus nutrient-dense superfoods, they are incredibly healthy! In fact, I think they are one of the best ways to sneak in healthy foods you might not eat otherwise, like mushrooms, frozen cauliflower, dark, leafy greens...or even fruit!

Some things you may want to watch out for that can quickly turn your smoothie bowl into more of an unhealthy treat:

• Read the ingredients on frozen fruit and make sure there is no fruit juice or sugar added.
• Read the ingredients on granola and find ones without refined sugar, or better yet, make your own!
• Be mindful about what plantbased milk you choose—opt for unsweetened.
• Use green bananas instead of overly ripe bananas. Save those for banana bread. 😉
• Avoid adding honey as a topping unless you know it comes from a good source—I like Beekeeper's Naturals.
• Watch out for what other sources of sugar you consume throughout the day and try to limit your sugar intake.

Superfood Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie Bowl

In my kitchen you'll find wood shelves with bamboo glass jars. I keep a variety of superfoods in these and looking at them brings me so much joy—and inspires me to consume them!

Stock up on the superfoods below and use them in your smoothie bowl recipes. You can buy them all at once, but they can be a bit pricey. Start with one or two and slowly build your collection.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Maca powder
• Cacao powder
• Açaí powder
• Ground flaxseeds
• Spirulina
• Blue-green algae
• Lion's mane
• Chaga
• Reishi
• Cordyceps

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl with Protein

I feel similar about the subject of protein as I do about asking whether or not something is healthy. Hunter teases me all the time, asking before a meal, "Is this healthy?" "But is there protein in it?" He's teasing because he knows the food I prepare is full of nutrients and that between breakfast, lunch, and dinner we're getting more protein than we probably even need. 🙂

But if you use your smoothie bowl as a post-workout snack and you want to add protein—I totally get it!

Here are my favorite ways to add protein to a smoothie bowl:

• Peanut butter
• Protein powder
• Ground flaxseeds
• Hemp seeds
• Oats

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl: A Formula + Add-Ins

When making your smoothie bowl, these are the basic things you need:

• Frozen fruit: I usually pick two types of fruit, but you can get as creative as you'd like with this! The fruit will determine the flavor of your smoothie and its texture.
• Banana: Bananas help to make the smoothie texture creamy. Use greener bananas to get more prebiotic fiber and less sugar.
• Plantbased milk: I use Ripple, a pea protein milk. Oat milk is another good option, or soy milk. Read your labels and always choose unsweetened.
• Superfood/protein: Choose something from the list above! Read serving suggestions to make sure you're adding enough and not too much.
• Peanut butter: This is optional, but adds a little extra protein and can help to thicken the texture.

When it comes to making your smoothie bowl, this is a great time to use up anything in your fridge that you don't want to waste. Okay, so maybe not everything, but here are some ideas to get you started!

• Broccoli or cauliflower stems
• Dark, leafy greens
• Sweet potato or pumpkin puree
• Canned coconut milk
• Sweet vegetables like carrots or beets
• Citrus fruits
• Herbs

It's All About the Toppings!

The whole point of a smoothie bowl is the toppings, otherwise it's basically just a smoothie. 🙂

You can go super simple with toppings and just add some granola, or use the list below for inspiration!

• Granola
• Goji berries
• Cacao nibs
• Sliced fruit (banana, strawberries, kiwi)
• Berries
• Peanut butter (smooth, drizzled on top)
• Hemp seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Coconut flakes

The options are really endless!

What Tools You Need to Make a Smoothie Bowl

You can really make any blender work, but I do recommend a high speed blender if possible. Especially if you're making smoothie bowls regularly, this can make your morning routine a bit quicker and more efficient. Read: less pausing, stirring, pausing, stirring.

I also use a spatula that is specifically designed to scrape out of my blender. You can use any jar scraper or spatula. But it makes it super easy to transfer a thick smoothie into a bowl without the whole mixture plopping right onto your table.

Finally, I love, love, love coconut bowls! They make the experience of enjoying a smoothie bowl much more fun. And if you decide to get your own coconut bowls, you might as well get some coconut spoons to go with!

If you made this recipe I would LOVE to see your beautiful work of art! Tag me on Instagram so I can show off your smoothie-bowl-making skills! 😉

📖 Recipe