This acai bowl recipe is a smoothie made with fruit, acai berry puree and yogurt that’s served in a bowl and finished with a fun and colorful variety of toppings. The perfect healthier option for breakfast, lunch or snack time.
When I need a quick nutrition boost, I make a strawberry banana smoothie, mango smoothie, or this creamy and refreshing acai bowl.
We are a family of smoothie lovers, and I decided to shake things up a bit by trying something a little different in the smoothie department. This acai bowl recipe combines a variety of nutritious foods to create a unique and colorful snack or breakfast that my kids can’t get enough of! The adults love these acai bowls too, how could anyone resist something so colorful?!
What is an acai bowl?
An acai bowl is a blended mixture of acai berries and other fruits, served in a bowl and topped with a variety of fresh fruit, nuts and seeds.
Acai berries a small fruit native to Central and South America and are considered a superfood because of their high antioxidant levels. They’re definitely becoming a trendy ingredient, there are acai smoothie bowl shops popping up everywhere in my town! You can find packets of acai berry puree in the freezer section of most grocery stores, either with the frozen fruit or the cans of frozen juice. Just break up your acai packet into pieces, toss it into the blender with the other ingredients and you’re ready to go!
How do you make an acai bowl?
These acai bowls are actually very quick and easy to make, and your family will never guess that they’re full of good-for-you foods! The recipe starts with a smoothie base. I used frozen banana, apple juice, vanilla yogurt, frozen berries and acai berry puree.
What you end up with is a thick and creamy smoothie – you don’t even taste the acai, it marries nicely with the other fruit flavors.
You want your acai smoothie to be on the thick side because you’re going to pour it into bowls and eat it with a spoon.
Acai Bowl Tips
- I find that the texture of the acai bowls are best if served immediately. If you’re looking to make them in advance for meal prep purposes, you can blend up the fruit mixture and store it in small containers in the freezer. Let the acai mixture partially thaw, give it a stir and you’ll be ready to eat.
- If you’re looking to make this recipe vegan, you can use non dairy yogurt and agave or maple syrup instead of the honey.
- Not a berry fan? You can blend you acai with peaches, pineapple or mango if you prefer a different flavor.
Are acai bowls healthy?
Acai bowls are full of nutrients such as antioxidants, fiber, protein and vitamins. That being said, fruit is naturally high in sugar and these acai bowls are primarily fruit based. To keep your acai bowls on the healthier side, you can use plain non fat yogurt instead of vanilla, omit the honey, and choose lower calorie toppings for your bowl.
I make these acai bowls almost every week – it’s a great way to get that smoothie shop flavor at home. The topping possibilities are endless, my kids love to make their own acai creations for a fun snack.
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This post was originally sponsored by Honey Bunches of Oats.
More fresh and healthy fruit recipes
Easy Acai Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup of apple juice
- 1 large banana sliced
- 1 1/2 cups of frozen berries
- 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 frozen packet of acai berry puree (100 grams), broken into pieces
- Assorted toppings such as sliced almonds, berries, shredded coconut, granola, chia seeds, sliced banana, mint sprigs, etc.
Instructions
- Place the apple juice, banana, frozen berries, yogurt, honey and acai puree in the blender.
- Blend until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Pour the smoothie into 2 deep bowls.
- Arrange the desired toppings over your smoothie bowls and serve.
Mary says
This is really yummy! I think I’ve become addicted to this recipe!