Smoothie Bowl Recipe – 3 Ways

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Learn how to make the best smoothie bowl recipe with 5 ingredients in 5 minutes! Homemade smoothie bowls are a nutritious breakfast, brunch or snack, and cost less than smoothie shops!

overhead photo of 3 smoothie bowls

I adore smoothies so much that I drink a green smoothie every day! However, sometimes I am in the mood for something a little different, and I opt for this smoothie bowl recipe!

I can’t always talk my kids into drinking a smoothie, but they will always grab a spoon and dig into one of these smoothie bowls – with lots of yummy toppings of course! They think I’m feeding them a fancy bowl of sorbet – for breakfast!

In this post I’ll show you how to make a smoothie bowl (using the strawberry version as an example), and then explain how to make three different color/flavor varieties – purple, green and pink! 

front view of three smoothie bowls, one green one pink and one purple

Smoothie Bowl Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead view of the labeled ingredients in this smoothie bowl recipe
  • Frozen Fruit.  Choose your favorite frozen berries/fruit. The fruit must be frozen to achieve the proper thickness and consistency.
  • Banana. If you don’t prefer bananas, you use another starchy food like avocado for creaminess, you will need to add more honey if you make this substitution.
  • Almond milk. Any non-dairy milk works excellently in this recipe. I love using coconut milk for a tropical flavor. You can also use regular dairy milk.
  • Vanilla extract. I think the vanilla extract takes these smoothie bowls from good to great. That little extra flavor is just perfect.
overhead photo of a smoothie bowl with a spoon, granola and coconut

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

There are a few important tips to remember when you’re making this smoothie bowl recipe. Don’t forget to watch the video to see exactly how each variety is made!

Use a Vitamix

For the creamiest, coldest, thickest smoothie bowls I suggest using a Vitamix – no other blender compares. Check out my Vitamix Buying Guide!

Begin by adding your frozen fruit of choice to the container of a Vitamix blender. In this example, for a pink smoothie bowl I used strawberries. I will discuss all the variations later on in the post.

overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl

Next, add the frozen banana. I recommend chopping it into smaller pieces (as pictured below) for quicker and easier blending. Remember, it must be frozen for the best texture.

overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl

Next, add 3 Tablespoons almond milk.  I know it seems like a small amount, but it should be enough to make the perfect smoothie bowl.

overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl - adding almond milk before blending

Then, add the honey depending on your desired sweetness level. For a vegan version use maple syrup. You could omit the sweetener all together, but I find this recipe tastes the best with a little extra sweetness.

overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl - adding honey

Blend

Once you have all the ingredients in the blending container, blend, starting on low and increasing to high, using the tamper to vigorously press the ingredients down into the blades.

I cannot stress enough how important the tamper is in this smoothie bowl recipe. As you can see in the video, I use the tamper the entire time I am blending. 

two photos showing how to make a smoothie bowl in a Vitamix blender

Scrape Down Sides, Blend Again

It is very important to pause, turn off the blender, use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the container and push the ingredients down into the blades once the mixture reaches a chunky texture as pictured below. This helps combine all the ingredients without over-blending. 

 Secure the lid and continue blending, using the tamper to vigorously press the ingredients down into the blades, until the mixture is smooth and thick.

Add-ins.

If you are going to put some add-ins into this smoothie bowl recipe, now is the time. Some possible add-ins are: 

  • Chia seeds
  • Protein powder
  • Nut butter
  • Acai powder
overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl in a Vitamix blender

Serve

Once the smoothie bowl reaches a smooth and thick consistency, pour it into one to four bowls and enjoy! The size of your servings will depend on how many people you are feeding and how hungry they are!

I could eat this entire recipe in one sitting, however I usually share it with my kids. I personally think the most reasonable serving size is for two adults.

overhead photo showing how to make a smoothie bowl in a Vitamix blender

Smoothie Bowl Toppings

The topping options for this smoothie bowl recipe are seriously endless. Here are some of my suggestions!

overhead view of three smoothie bowls with toppings - one green one purple and one pink

Smoothie Bowl Recipes – 3 ways

Since we all love to mix things up, I created three different varieties of smoothie bowl recipes for you! My kids each had a different favorite, and I love them all! 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl – Pink

To make a pink smoothie bowl (a fan favorite for my 4 daughters), use frozen strawberries or raspberries, or a combination of the two. You will need 10 ounces, or about 2 ½ cups of frozen fruit. 

overhead view of a strawberry smoothie bowl recipe

Acai Smoothie Bowl – Purple

For the acai purple smoothie bowl, use 10 ounces frozen mixed berries + ½ tsp acai powder. Be sure to use a berry medley that contains blackberries, blueberries and other berries. You could use half a berry medley and half frozen blueberries also. Do not use all blueberries, as I find doing so creates a mealy texture. 

Overhead view of an acai smoothie bowl with toppings and a spoon taking a bite out of it

Green Smoothie Bowl

To make a green smoothie bowl use 10 ounces frozen pineapple + 1 cup fresh spinach. You can also use 10 ounces frozen mango (or a combination of pineapple and mango) for the fruit, and kale for the greens! 

overhead view of a green smoothie bowl

Smoothie Bowl Recipe FAQs

Are smoothie bowls healthy?

Yes! They are loaded with fruits, greens and are naturally sweetened. Add-ins can add even more nutrition as well (protein, fiber, etc.)

How do you thicken a smoothie Bowl?

Use frozen ingredients and do not over-blend. Scraping down the sides and blending for short time periods is the best way to ensure that your smoothie bowl will stay thick. Also make sure not to add too much liquid.

Do you put ice in a smoothie Bowl?

I prefer not to use ice, instead I suggest using frozen ingredients to make it thick.

overhead view of 3 smoothie bowls in a row

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!

Smoothie Bowl Recipe – 3 Ways

Laura
Learn how to make the best smoothie bowl recipe with 5 ingredients in 5 minutes! Homemade smoothie bowls are a nutritious breakfast, brunch or snack, and cost less than smoothie shops!
5 from 5 votes
Course Breakfast, brunch, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 204.8
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients 
 

  • 10 ounces frozen fruit (about 2 ½ cups)
  • 1 banana frozen
  • 3-4 Tablespoons almond milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tablespoons honey (optional)
  • 1 cup greens (optional)

Add ins/Toppings

Instructions 

  • Place ingredients in the order listed in the container of a Vitamix blender (or another high-powered blender).
  • Blend, starting on low and increasing to high, using the tamper to vigorously press the ingredients down into the blades.
  • After about 50 seconds, pause, turn off the blender, use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the container and push the ingredients down into the blades.
  • Secure the lid and continue blending, using the tamper to vigorously press the ingredients down into the blades, until the mixture is smooth and thick.
  • Serve immediately into 2-4 bows and top with your favorite toppings (granola, flaked coconut, chia seeds, fruit, etc.).

Video

Notes

Nutritional information: calculated using the acai smoothie bowl recipe with 1 Tablespoon honey. 
Flavors
To make different variations of a smoothie bowl, follow the recommendations below for the 10 oz of frozen fruit. 
  • Pink: 10 oz strawberries, raspberries or a mixture of the two. 
  • Purple: 10 oz mixed berries + ½ tsp acai powder.
  • Green: 10 oz pineapple, mango or a combination of the two + 1 cup fresh spinach
  • Yellow: 10 oz pineapple
  • Orange: 10 oz mango, or mango + orange citrus fruits
Smoothie Bowl Recipe: Ingredient Substitutions
  • Frozen Fruit.  Choose your favorite frozen berries/fruit. The fruit must be frozen to achieve the proper thickness and consistency.
  • Banana. If you don’t prefer bananas, you use another starchy food like avocado for creaminess, you will need to add more honey if you make this substitution.
  • Almond milk. Any non-dairy milk works excellently in this recipe. I love using coconut milk for a tropical flavor. You can also use regular dairy milk.
Smoothie Bowl Toppings

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 204.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.8g | Protein: 2.2g | Fat: 1.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 17.5mg | Potassium: 290.5mg | Fiber: 9.6g | Sugar: 32.9g | Vitamin A: 4.6IU | Vitamin C: 30.2mg | Calcium: 7.2mg | Iron: 9.4mg

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

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

try these Smoothie recipes


latest recipes

5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Post a Comment or Ask a Question!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments