Popular Recipes

Basic Smoothie Bowl Formula

A perfectly thick, spoonable smoothie bowl—more like sorbet than smoothie soup—comes down to just a few essentials: the right ingredients, balanced ratios, and the proper tools. The key is blending mostly frozen ingredients with just a splash of liquid in a high-speed blender to achieve that irresistibly creamy, dense texture.

Frozen Fruit — 2 Cups

  • Bananas
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Açaí packets
  • Frozen zucchini
  • Frozen cauliflower
  • Avocado

Liquid — 1/4 Cup+

  • Almond milk
  • Coconut water
  • Oat milk
  • Water
  • Coconut milk
  • Cold brew
  • Fruit juice

Add-Ins — 2 TBS+

  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Protein powder
  • Nut butter
  • Chia seeds
  • Acai powder
  • Hemp hearts

Step by Step Instructions

Unlike regular smoothies that blend into a liquid fairly easily, smoothie bowls will remain thick in the blender, and might take a little muscle. This is my method for blending:

  1. Load up the blender with all your ingredients—frozen fruit, leafy greens, nut butter, protein powder, you name it. Start with minimal liquid—just enough to help things move. Less is more here.
  2. Crank it up to high speed to get the blending party started. When the ingredients inevitably stop spinning and clump around the sides, it’s time to grab your tamper. Use it through the top of the blender to push everything down toward the blade.
  3. Once it’s smooth and scoopable, scrape it into your favorite bowl and add toppings.

Blending Tips

  • Resist the urge to add more liquid. I know it’s tempting when things aren’t moving, but too much liquid = smoothie soup. To keep your smoothie bowl thick and spoonable, start with a small amount of liquid (1/4 cup)—you can always add more if needed (after you tampered the heck out of it).
  • If you don’t have a tamper, just stop the machine, grab a spoon or spatula, scrape the ingredients toward the blades, and blend again…. and repeat.
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Smoothie Bowl Topping Ideas

Sure, you could throw anything on top of your smoothie bowl—but if you want that perfect balance of flavor, texture, and nutrition, I’ve got some go-to combos for you. Aim for a mix of protein, healthy fats, and juicy fruits. That way, your bowl feels indulgent and fuels your body.

Fruit — 1/4 cup

  • Chopped kiwi
  • Diced mango
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Fresh berries
  • Sliced bananas

Protein — 2 TBS

  • Granola
  • Sliced almonds
  • Chopped pecans
  • Hemp hearts
  • Chia seeds

Healthy Fat — 1 TSP

  • Almond butter
  • Shredded coconut
  • Drizzle with MCT oil

All Smoothie Bowls