Acai Smoothie Bowl

Homemade Acai Bowl Recipe is made with a Brazilian berry mixed with frozen fruits and topped with fresh fruit and granola. I will share tips on how to make the popular acai smoothie bowls at home for a fraction of the price.

I will never forget the first time I tried an acai bowl. We were in California and we heard from our friends that we had to try the growing in popularity acai bowls topped with fresh fruits and homemade granola. We were intrigued.

As soon as we finished our first acai bowl, we were hooked. I had to figure out how to make them at home. I figured out how to make them for a lot less money and I am passing on the tips and tricks to you!

My health-nut daughter took her first job at our local acai bowl place, worked there for years, and learned how to make the best acai bowls!

What is an Acai Smoothie Bowl?

Acai berries have gained popularity in popular acai smoothie bowls. Acai Bowls are a thick fruit smoothie placed in a bowl and topped with fresh fruits, granola, cacao nibs, unsweetened coconut flakes, honey, and more. It is usually thicker than a smoothie and contains less liquid and more frozen fruit.

What is Acai?

Açaí, pronounced ah-sigh-EE, comes from the acai berry grown on the acai palm tree in South American rainforests.

The acai fruit is small, round, and has a deep purple color.

What does acai taste like?

The taste of acai berries has been described as a blend of chocolate and berries. Acai is relatively lower in sugar compared to other fruits, so it makes the base not as sweet. 

Acai berries have been called a superfood, and the benefits can be debated. According to Medical News Today…”acai berries contain more antioxidants than other commonly eaten berries. They also are high in fiber and heart-healthy fats.”

Acai Bowl Ingredients:

• Frozen Acai Berry Packets — use unsweetened frozen acai packets or sweetened acai berry packets. You can find frozen Acai packets at Costco, Whole Foods, Sprouts, or other
• Blueberries — use frozen blueberries for extra antioxidant benefits, a deeper color, and a deeper flavor.
• Strawberries – use frozen strawberries for extra sweetness and nutritional benefits. Strawberries are extremely low in calories and are high in Vitamin C.
• Banana — this adds the perfect amount of natural sweetness. I suggest using a frozen banana. The riper the banana was when frozen, the sweeter it will be in the Acai bowl.
• Apple Juice, Coconut milk, or Almond Milk — if you want a sweeter acai bowl, I suggest using apple juice. If you want a creamier acai bowl, use coconut milk or almond milk.

Acai Bowl Toppings:

The sky is the limit on what toppings you would like to put on your smoothie bowl. Any fresh fruit would be delicious as well as nuts butters, dark chocolate shavings, and granola.

• Sliced Banana: Brings a sweet taste to the Acai bowl. Banana is soft and has a stronger flavor that compliments the Acai well.
• Fresh Strawberries: A lighter and fresher flavor that pairs well with the other fruits in the bowl.
• Fresh Blueberries: More fresh fruit with a slight crunch. Tastes great with the Acai base.
• Granola — I prefer making homemade granola because I love being able to control the amount of sugar. Most acai shops use the Nature’s Path Hemp Granola. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and crunch. 
• Almond Butter: You can your favorite nut butter, such as peanut or cashew butter. The savory nutty flavor is the perfect balance to the sweet fruits.
• Cacao Nibs or Dark Chocolate: Cacao nibs are dried bits of cacao beans, which are the base of chocolate. Acai has been described to have a chocolate taste, so adding dark chocolate or cacao nibs is the perfect pairing.

More topping ideas include — unsweetened coconut flakes, peanut butter, honey, hemp seeds, fresh fruits, and more.

If you prefer a more tropical bowl, you can add fresh fruits like mango, papaya, passion fruit, and coconut flakes.

For more fresh and light recipes, you can find my Fresh Juice Cleanse Recipes, and my Six Superfood Smoothie Recipes. I also shared my easy Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl (Pitaya Bowls) Recipe.

Acai bowl FAQ

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5 from 5 votes

Acai Smoothie Bowl

By: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

Homemade Acai Bowl Recipe is made with a Brazilian berry mixed with frozen fruits and topped with fresh fruit and granola. I will share tips on how to make the popular acai smoothie bowls at home for a fraction of the price.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

Acai Berry Bowl:

• ▢ 2 Acai Superfruit Pack unsweetened (100 g)
• ▢ 1/4 cup Blueberries
• ▢ 1/4 cup Strawberries
• ▢ 1 Banana frozen, preferably
• ▢ 1/4 to 1/2 cup Apple Juice (can substitute coconut water or chocolate almond milk)
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Chocolate Protein Powder (optional)
• ▢ Ice (optional)

Tropical Acai Bowl:

• ▢ 2 Acai Superfruit Packet unsweetened (100 g)
• ▢ 1/2 cup Mango
• ▢ 1/2 cup Pineapple
• ▢ 1/2 Banana frozen, preferably
• ▢ 1/4 – 1/3 cup Coconut Water Milk, or Apple Juice

Smoothie Bowl Toppings:

• ▢ Almond Butter
• ▢ Cacao Nibs or Shaved Dark Chocolate
• ▢ Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• ▢ Blueberries
• ▢ Strawberries
• ▢ Mangoes
• ▢ Pineapple
• ▢ Granola
• ▢ Banana
• ▢ Honey
• ▢ *You can substitute any frozen berries for acai

Instructions 

• Blend acai, blueberries, strawberries, banana, protein powder and apple juice. If you are using frozen fruit, you will need 1/2 cup of apple juice, to help the blender break it down. If you are using fresh fruit, 1/4 cup of apple juice is needed. Feel free to substitute apple juice with coconut water or chocolate almond milk.
• Top with your favorite toppings – almond butter, chocolate, coconut, blueberries, strawberries, mango, pineapple, banana, homemade granola and drizzle with honey.

Notes

You can find frozen acai packets at your local grocery store, Whole Foods, Target, and sometimes Costco or Sam’s Club.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: 2

Keyword: acai bowl

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If I want to up the ante on antioxidant benefits, here are some Antioxidant Power Acai Smoothie Bowl topping ideas that will keep you full + happy:

Almond Butter  – is a good source of protein, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals and adds a creamy richness.

Cacao Nibs – made from crushed cacao beans and rich source of antioxidants. They can be slightly bitter but impart an earthy chocolate crunch.

Unsweetened Coconut Flakes – contribute to happy hormones and healthy fat.

Blueberries – are an antioxidant powerhouse and one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Granola –  a way to add heartiness to an acai bowl. Many acai bowl places use Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola or you can make your own – https://www.modernhoney.com/nature-chick-granola/

Honey – adds a natural kiss of sweetness.

Goji berries, chia seeds, almonds, dark chocolate shavings, and fresh fruit are some other ideas to mix it up.

*If you don’t want to use acai smoothie packs, you can substitute other frozen berries and still make a fantastic bowl.

I would LOVE to hear from everyone on how they are doing with their healthy eating resolution. How is the Youthful Glow Green Smoothie https://www.modernhoney.com/youthful-glow-green-smoothie/ challenge going?  Who is in? I have heard from so many of you on Instagram, Facebook and even text and it makes me so happy that you are already reaping the benefits. Now, just add this Antioxidant Power Acai Smoothie Bowl to your regimen and you are going to have skyrocketing energy.

Happy Blending!