On days when I want a nutritious, delicious, and simple breakfast that’s ready in minutes, I turn to oatmeal and simple smoothie bowls like this vegan chocolate smoothie bowl, mixed berry smoothie, avocado banana smoothie, and this frozen acai bowl. However, anytime you can enjoy a nourishing breakfast like this acai breakfast bowl that feels like you’re eating an indulgent dessert, count me in! While the açai bowls trend isn’t new, previously I’ve only posted a recipe for a blueberry acai smoothie bowl – but never the ultimate base acai smoothie bowl. Which is what I’m changing today! Like many commercial food trends, a single bowl can be extremely pricey to buy in cafes. So instead, make this easy acai bowl recipe at home. Not only will you save some money, but you can adapt the acai breakfast bowl to personal taste! Best of all, this homemade acai bowl is an excellent way to start (or end) the day and it also takes just minutes to prepare and is super versatile with the plentiful add-ins and optional toppings!
What is an acai bowl?
While acai bowls may be a food trend, they’re one that I’m 110% behind as a smoothie bowl lover. An acai bowl combines acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) – a delicious tropical berry grown in Central and South America – with several other ingredients to blend into a thick, ice-cream-like smoothie. Once blended, the acai smoothie is transferred to a bowl and topped with several nutritional toppings. With the combination of the acai and your selection of toppings, this healthy breakfast bowl is packed with nutrients, protein, fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and more. The result is a nutritious breakfast bowl that will keep you satisfied for hours AND satisfy your sweet tooth (yay!). These açai bowls first originated in Brazil and are typically topped with banana, granola, and syrup. However, over the years, the toppings have multiplied, and now there are dozens of options. Best of all, the base acai smoothie is made up of just 3 ingredients. And the thick texture makes you feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast – and the versatility of acai bowl toppings means you’ll never get bored.
Acai health benefits
Acai berries may be an excellent, vibrant purple color ready for making a super pretty breakfast, but that’s not the only thing going for these “superfood” berries. Acai berries are known for being antioxidant-rich and contain several health benefits, including:
Acai berries contain moderate levels of Vitamin A and calcium, with trace levels of several other minerals, including copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. However, it’s the plant compounds, in the form of anthocyanins, which give the berries their antioxidants and most of their health benefits. The high level of antioxidants (3x the amount in blueberries) helps to protect our cells against harmful free radicals. Thus, reducing the risk of various diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Plus, acai berries are lower in sugar and higher in healthier fats than many fruits, great for a lower-sugar smoothie bowl. The plant compounds can also boost brain health and cholesterol levels. Plus, the acai puree is packed with healthy dietary fiber – to keep you fuller for longer.
The açai bowl ingredients
Acai puree: I used frozen unsweetened acai puree from a local grocery store. I like to get the ones in large packs, though you can also get “pellets” in some supermarkets. It may also be available from your local health food store or online. Banana: you need frozen banana – I recommend slicing it and freezing it the day before, so it’s ready. Coconut water: I love using coconut water. However, if you’d prefer a slightly creamier açai bowl, you could use milk instead – such as almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. Sweetener: (optional) this easy acai bowl recipe is naturally sweet already, thanks to the banana and acai berry puree. However, if you have a sweet tooth, feel free to add an extra drizzle of maple syrup or honey (not vegan).
The Acai Bowl Toppings
There are tons of options for topping your acai breakfast bowl. For this version, I used:
Sliced banana Strawberries Shredded coconut Almond butter Granola
Other Toppings Include
More fruit – berries, kiwi, pineapple, mango, etc. Cacao nibs or unsweetened dark chocolate. Muesli in place of the granola (for less sugar), etc. Seeds – chia, hemp, or flax. Honey (or vegan dandelion honey)/maple syrup to drizzle. Puffed quinoa.
Optional Add-ins
Berries: add a handful of your favorite berry like blueberries or strawberries. Mango: my other favorite fruit to add to an açai bowl is mango (or pineapple). Yogurt: you can add Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt (like coconut yogurt, soy yogurt, or almond yogurt). I don’t recommend using flavored yogurt. Fruit juice: instead of using coconut water/milk, you could infuse the homemade acai bowl with extra flavor by adding a fruit juice – like apple juice or orange juice. Banana-free acai bowl: to reduce the natural sugars in the recipe while maintaining the texture, you can use frozen cauliflower in place of the banana. However, I recommend using 50/50 the first time. Seeds: for extra protein, you could add a tablespoon of chia, flaxseed, or hemp seeds to the smoothie (or as a topping). Nut/seed butter: instead of topping the bowl with this, you can add it into the acai smoothie for a richer, creamier easy acai bowl recipe. I recommend almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or peanut butter acai bowls as my favorite options. Chocolate acai bowl: you could use cacao/cocoa powder (around 1 Tbsp). I love to add this, especially when using nut butter, as the combination of acai, chocolate, and creamy nut butter is wonderfully rich! Alternatively, use a combination of cocoa powder and chocolate protein powder. Protein acai bowl: add a scoop of your favorite plain or vanilla-flavored protein powder. Vanilla: just a little pure vanilla extract will boost the flavor of the homemade acai bowl.
How to make an acai bowl
Step 1: Freeze the banana
To get the signature thick and creamy consistency of an acai smoothie bowl, you need to work with frozen ingredients. If you don’t already have some in the freezer, then prepare these the night before. To freeze the banana, either slice the banana in half (if you have a high-speed blender) or in coins and spread on a tray (not touching). Freeze until solid, then transfer to an airtight bag. These will be fine in the freezer for between 3 and 4 months!
Step 2: Blend the acai smoothie
You can use either a blender or an immersion blender for this frozen acai smoothie. Add all the ingredients to your blender or container, breaking the acai pack into several pieces, and then blend until thick and smooth. If you’re blending, make sure to add the liquid first so it’s closer to the blades. This will help it blend the frozen ingredients easier. If you have a tamper, this will also help the process. Otherwise, be patient – as this can take some time. If you want a super-thick açai bowl, add the liquid bit-by-bit rather than all at once in the beginning.
Step 2: Assemble the acai breakfast bowl
Then, transfer the blended acai smoothie to a serving bowl, using a spoon/spatula to smooth it down. Next, it’s time to add your toppings of choice. I included a mixture of flavors, textures, and nutrients for this version – with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. My toppings included a small handful of homemade granola, a sprinkling of shredded coconut, a couple of sliced strawberries, 1/3 a banana, and a spoonful of almond butter. Enjoy the frozen acai smoothie bowl immediately before it melts too much.
How to store
Meal Prep: to save time in the morning, you can create little “meal prep” packs with all your toppings (stored separately, so the fruit doesn’t make the granola soft). That way, in the morning, all you have to do is blend the smoothie and pour your toppings over, no need for any additional fruit washing/chopping/weighing, etc. You can also prepare the smoothie and transfer it to a large Ziplock bag, pressing it thin. Then freeze the smoothie until solid and store in the freezer for several months. When you want a smoothie, just break the frozen acai smoothie sheet into smaller pieces and add to your blender with a splash or two of liquid. Storing: once the açai bowl is assembled and topped, I recommend enjoying it immediately before it can melt and the granola becomes soggy.
Recipe notes
Store fruits in your freezer at all times: I enjoy several smoothies weekly, so I always have fruits in my freezer. Making sure the freezer is stocked means you’re ready to make a homemade acai bowl whenever the cravings hit. A high-speed blender is best: if you’re using an old/low-speed blender, it will struggle to process the frozen ingredients. You need to add extra liquid to the machine when that happens, which ruins the super-thick consistency that a frozen acai bowl should have. Don’t go overboard with toppings: without realizing it, you’ll have added hundreds of extra calories. Instead, I recommend adding a balanced amount of healthy fats, additional fruits, and fiber-rich ingredients. Serve in a chilled bowl: this is especially helpful if you live in a warmer climate. Chilling the bowl will mean you can take your time enjoying the frozen acai smoothie bowl without it melting too quickly. Blend the fruits directly from the freezer: don’t allow them to thaw slightly first if you want the thickest, creamiest açai bowl.
More simple smoothie recipes
Strawberry Banana Smoothie Creamy Banana Avocado Smoothie Recipe Tropical Guava Smoothie Blueberry Kale Smoothie Keto Strawberry Smoothie
You might also enjoy this guide to meal-prepping healthy smoothie recipes. If you try this frozen acai bowl (acai smoothie) recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
