Featured Recipes

If you’ve ever wanted your breakfast to feel like a treat and be packed with nutrients, let me introduce you to the magic of smoothie bowls. These thick, spoonable blends are everything you love about smoothies—only better. Why? Because you get to load them up with toppings like fresh fruit, granola, nut butter, seeds, and coconut flakes. Basically, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of meal.

Best Smoothie Bowl Ingredients

You know those gorgeous açaí bowls you see at smoothie bars—the ones that look like edible art? Vibrant colors, silky swirls, perfectly placed toppings? Yep, you can make that at home. And no, it’s not just for Instagram. It’s for your taste buds and your body.

The key to that thick, creamy, scoopable texture (think sorbet, not smoothie soup) comes down to a few important factors: the right ingredients and the right tools. Let’s break it down.

frozen Fruit 🍌

Frozen fruit is the foundation of any great smoothie bowl. It creates that thick, frosty texture and eliminates the need for ice, which can water things down.

  • Bananas (for creamy texture)
  • Mango
  • Pineapple
  • Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
  • Açaí packets (unsweetened if possible)

Add a Boost of Greens 🥬

Want to sneak in some extra nutrients? Greens like spinach or kale blend in beautifully—especially when paired with fruit that masks any earthy flavor.

  • Spinach, kale
  • Zucchini (yes, really!)
  • Cauliflower rice
  • Avocado (for creaminess and healthy fats)

Minimal Liquid is Key 🥛

To keep your smoothie bowl thick and spoonable, add just a splash of liquid. Start small—you can always add more if needed.

  • Almond milk
  • Coconut water
  • Oat milk

How to Blend a Smoothie Bowl

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.
  3. When the ingredients inevitably stop spinning and clump around the sides (because #thicklife), it’s time to grab your tamper. Use it through the top of the blender to push everything down toward the blade.
  4. No tamper? No problem. Just stop the machine, grab a spoon or spatula, scrape the ingredients toward the blades, and blend again. Rinse and repeat. Be patient—this is normal!
  5. Resist the urge to add more liquid. I know it’s tempting when things aren’t moving, but too much liquid = smoothie soup. And that’s a hard no.
  6. Once it’s smooth and scoopable, scrape it into your favorite bowl—bonus points for an oversized one.
acai smoothie bowl with fresh berries on top
tropical smoothie bowl in a coconut bowl
maple oat smoothie bowl with granola topping

Best Toppings for a Smoothie Bowl

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. My rule of thumb? Aim for a mix of protein, healthy fats, and juicy fruits. That way, your bowl feels indulgent (hello, ice cream vibes) and fuels your body like a boss.

✨ Protein Power

Give your bowl some staying power with these crunchy toppers:

  • Granola (bonus if it’s homemade)
  • Sliced almonds
  • Hemp hearts
  • Chia seeds

🥜 Healthy Fats

Creamy, satisfying, and totally craveable:

  • A big ol’ swirl of almond butter (or your nut butter of choice)
  • Shredded coconut for that tropical flair
  • Drizzle with MCT oil

🍓 Juicy Fruits

The colorful, sweet stuff that makes your bowl pop:

  • Kiwi slices
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Pineapple chunks

All Smoothie Bowls