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This dragon fruit smoothie bowl was created with my daughter, Clare, during one of our favorite rituals—painting our nails and catching up on life. While we waited for the polish to dry, we wanted something fun and nourishing. We really like the taste of my dragon fruit smoothie, but wanted some texture and customization. This bowl delivers both.
Dragon fruit gives it that vibrant color and mild sweetness, while banana and pineapple add natural creaminess and tropical flavor. It’s a simple, nutrient-rich smoothie bowl that feels playful, unique, and perfect to share with someone you love.
Table of Contents
What is Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl?
A dragon fruit smoothie bowl is a thick, spoonable smoothie made with dragon fruit (also called pitaya) as the star ingredient. It’s blended until creamy—often with frozen fruit and a splash of liquid—then poured into a bowl and topped with things like fresh fruit, granola, coconut, seeds, or nut butter. The result is a vibrant, naturally sweet bowl with a refreshing flavor and an eye-catching pink or white color that feels like breakfast and dessert in one.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This smoothie bowl recipe blends both fruits and vegetables for a thick and creamy bowl that is as nourishing as it is delicious. It’s a great recipe for a smoothie bowl newbie, and also one kids will flock to. Who doesn’t want to eat purple food? Here’s what I’m blending:
- Dragon fruit: This unique fruit might be visually shocking, but it is pretty mild in flavor. It tastes a bit like a kiwi with the texture of a pear. If you have extra dragon fruit, try my blackberry elderberry smoothie that uses frozen dragonfruit.
- Banana: Added for sweetness and a natural thickener. Make sure to freeze bananas ahead to make this thick and creamy.
- Pineapple: Added for sweetness and to heighten the tropical flavor. I buy frozen pineapple chunks, yet you can also cut pineapple and freeze yourself.
- Cauliflower florets: Used as a thickener and to boost the nutritional value of this smoothie bowl, yet you won’t even know it’s in there!
- Water: I am using a few water-dense fruits so just a little bit of extra liquid is needed to achieve the perfect blend.
This brightly colored snack is just as thick as my maple smoothie bowl yet uses tropical flavors (and colors!) that are all its own.
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Recipe Tips
- To cut down on the natural fruit sugar in this pitaya smoothie bowl, swap 1/2 banana with 1/4 avocado, or use berries in place of the pineapple. This will change the flavor yet it will still taste delicious.
- While pink-fleshed dragon fruit will help you achieve the deep purple color in this creation, you can use white or yellow depending on what’s available at your grocery store.
- Swap in coconut water for extra electrolytes or use almond milk, coconut milk or the non-dairy milk of your choice.
- You can also boost this smoothie by adding in hemp seeds, chia seeds or some homemade protein powder.
How to Make Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl
Blending a smoothie bowl is similar to a regular smoothie. I definitely recommend using a high-powered blender for this one as it takes a while to get a smooth finish. Patience and persistence will get you the consistency you desire.
- Add all ingredients to the blender and turn on high. Blend until the blades stop, then stop and scrape down the sides, or use the tamper to continue to push the ingredients into the blades until they can spin on their own.
- Once the mixture is smooth, stop blending and scoop into the bowl of your choice. The mixture should be really thick and scoop like ice cream.
- Add the toppings of your choice and enjoy!
I love topping this bowl with chopped mango, healthy granola, coconut whipped cream, coconut flakes, a ribbon of acai, strawberries or nut butter.
Blending Tip
If your blender is having trouble even after stopping to mix then add a bit more water just until the blades start moving on their own. You might also need to upgrade to one of my recommended blenders for smoothies.
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More Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Smoothie bowls are a great way to enjoy your daily smoothie in a different form to keep it fresh and exciting. Plus, toppings. Need I say more? Here are a few of my favorites:
- Pineapple smoothie bowl
- Acai smoothie bowl
- Fruit smoothie bowl
- Tropical smoothie bowl
- Coconut joy vegan smoothie bowl
If you make this dragon fruit smoothie bowl recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup dragon fruit frozen
- 1 banana large frozen
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup cauliflower florets frozen
- ¼ cup water plus more if needed, for blending
Toppings
- Coconut Whipped Cream for swirling
- fresh berries
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together.
- Use a tamper to push down and encourage blending if getting stuck.
- Spoon mixture into a bowl.
- Swirl in coconut cream.
- Top with fresh berries.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Coconut cream is added for visual effect and is not needed.
- Smoothie bowls are meant to be thick and eaten with a spoon instead of a straw. You want a yogurt or sorbet consistency, so you may have to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender several times to get it all mixed together.
- Add just enough liquid to get your blender moving, but don’t add too much or you won’t get that scoopable consistency.
- To cut down on the natural sugar in this dragon fruit bowl, swap one banana with blueberries.
- Top with fresh berries, coconut whipped cream, cashew cream, fresh fruit, healthy granola or nuts/seeds.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Yes! Dragon fruit smoothie bowls can be a great healthy snack option. Use whole food, plant-based ingredients and toppings. Boost your bowl with plant-based protein powder for a more filling treat, and top with a variety of toppings to help it fuel your day.
This unique fruit can be intimidating to peel looking at its spiky exterior. To peel, I cut off both ends then slice the fruit in half length-wise. Then using a spoon, I scoop out the fresh fruit inside. Then cut into chunks to freeze, toss into smoothies, or eat.
To me, dragon fruit is similar in taste to kiwi. It’s fairly mild in flavor and slightly sweet, making it a great ingredient to toss into your next smoothie bowl. It pairs well with a variety of tropical fruits like mango or pineapple or goes nicely with berries.
Dragon fruit has always seemed intimidating. Thanks for so many great recipes!
From the vibrant color of this smoothie to it’s deliciousness. I particularly love that its just 215 calories per serving. Thanks for sharing this bright deliciousness
You’re so welcome Abiola!!!
I would love to make it but I can’t find the dragon fruit puree. How do I do it with the fresh fruit?
Hi Morvelle, I would prepare your smoothie bowl the same way but using fresh dragon fruit instead of the frozen puree. Cut the dragon fruit into smaller slices or chunks first, and then cut off the peel.
Can’t wait to make this! I have dragon fruit in my freezer right now My Sprouts had the chunks and purée packs.
Awesome! I love this one because the color is so vibrant!
That is a beautiful looking photo!
Thanks for the photo love, Ben! We’re so lucky to have our amazing photographer, Lindsey as part of our team!
This looks delicious… however, I am worried about the 62 grams of carbs!!! wowza. May have to wait on this one… or take out the banana and 1/2 the dragon fruit and add some greens…
Hi Nancy,
Thinking about swapping out the banana? Go for it! Some great substitutes are mango, papaya, pears, unsweetened applesauce, nut butters, chia seeds, fresh dates + my personal favorite – AVOCADO!
Definitely have to try this recipe out as soon as possible. Thanks for the share, love checking out your blog.
Hi Kim,
Reach back out + let me know what you think!
Dear Jen!
I love you you’re teaching your daughter life lessons with the help of fruit. Who would have thought a Dragon fruit could teach about beauty,but the more thought I put into it the more sense it makes! A dragon fruit looks fierce and colorful on the exterior-which is how we should be and yet on the inside it has more of a pure and clean vibe to it which is very beautiful to look at. Beauty comes from within and I love your idea!
Although I do have a query. Is the smoothie sweet without any sugar included because of the coconut cream ? Or do you add sugar later if needed to be sweetened?
XOXO
Hi Ushmana,
No added sugar needed. The fruit (especially banana) adds plenty of natural sweetness. Want even more sweetness? Some of our favorite natural sweeteners are Medjool dates, honey, and maple syrup and all make a great sweet addition to any green smoothie. Learn more about them here…
Dear Jen!
I love you you’re teaching your daughter life lessons with the help of fruit. Who would have thought a Dragon fruit could teach about beauty,but the more thought I put into it the more sense it makes! A dragon fruit looks fierce and colorful on the exterior-which is how we should be and yet on the inside it has more of a pure and clean vibe to it which is very beautiful to look at. Beauty comes from within and I love your idea!
Although I do have a query. Instead of Dragon fruit puree , is it possible to use a fresh blended dragon fruit from the market?
Would love to hear from you!
XOXO
Hi Ushmana Rai,
I love your take on dragon fruit! Don’t have puree, then definitely use fresh!! I’d reach for fresh too if it was more available here.
Looks delicious! Where do you buy dragon fruit puree? I doubt any local store in my small town would carry that!
Hi Kayla,
Dragonfruit is hard to find for me too! But sometimes it’s worth the splurge! I purchase it from Pitaya Plus. Learn more here…