Berry Smoothie Bowl
Start your day off right with this healthy berry smoothie bowl! It’s packed with antioxidant-rich fruit and an array of superfood ingredients, but it tastes like a dessert!
Everyone loves a good smoothie (and even green smoothie pancakes!), but a smoothie bowl is a feast for the eyes in addition to being a healthy breakfast. It also adds a variety of textures and flavors to the traditional smoothie—basically, it’s like smoothie 2.0!
While açaí bowls are super popular, frozen açaí is pricy, so this berry smoothie bowl is an excellent alternative. It’s just as healthy (pomegranate juice and frozen berries add mega antioxidant power!), much more affordable, and a breeze to whip up when you’re still feeling bleary-eyed in the morning.
(If you love berries for breakfast, be sure to check out our Banana Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, Strawberry Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes, and Fluffy Lemon Raspberry Pancakes too!)
About this berry smoothie bowl
When it comes to smoothie bowls, the world is your oyster. You can easily switch up the ingredients and it’s kind of hard to go wrong because if you don’t like the way the smoothie tastes, you can adjust, blend it up again, and give it another try!
If you’d like, you can skip all the toppings and pour the berry smoothie into a glass and drink it instead of serving it as a smoothie bowl, but where’s the fun in that? This recipe is all about those toppings, and you can unleash your inner creativity by artfully arranging everything!
(Be sure to take a pic and tag us on Instagram so we can see it!)
Like the idea of a smoothie bowl? Be sure to try my raspberry smoothie bowl and rainbow smoothie bowl.
What you need
For the smoothie bowl:
- Banana – The riper the banana, the sweeter your smoothie bowl will be!
- Frozen mixed berries – If you want, you can use a single variety of berry, but we love having an assortment.
- Carrot juice & Pomegranate juice – Smoothie bowls are extremely versatile so if you don’t have these two juices on hand or want to try something different, feel free! You could even use a green juice mixture instead of the carrot juice. Pomegranate juice is slightly tart and will balance out the flavors so a good substitute for that would be another tart juice such as 100% cranberry juice.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla adds a touch of sweetness and a depth to the flavor. If you don’t want to add it in, you don’t have to.
- Almond milk – Or use another dairy or plant-based milk. Again, smoothie bowls are extremely flexible and hard to mess up!
For the toppings (choose any you like!):
- Granola – Use store-bought or your favorite homemade granola recipe.
- Coconut flakes – Toast them for even more flavor!
- Dragon fruit – Arguably one of the prettiest fruits!
- Chia seeds – You could also choose flax seeds, sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds.
- Sliced banana –
- Fresh berries – Strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry!
How to make it
Make the smoothie base. In a blender or food processor, combine the frozen berries, banana, almond milk, vanilla extract, carrot juice, and pomegranate juice. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth, with no lumps. You want it to be quite thick, so if it’s too thin, add some ice cubes and blend again. If it’s too thick, add a little more juice or milk to achieve the consistency you’re looking for.
Assemble. Pour the berry smoothie mixture into a wide, shallow bowl.
Next, channel your inner artist and arrange your toppings as desired. Or if you’re in a hurry, just throw them on! They all get mixed up eventually anyways.
Serve. Grab a spoon and dig in!
FAQs
It depends what you put in your smoothie bowl! This smoothie bowl is a healthy combination of fresh and frozen fruit, almond milk, and it’s sweetened only with juice.
If you’d like your smoothie bowl thicker, add more banana, frozen fruit, or ice. (To thin it out, add more juice or almond milk.)
The primary difference between a smoothie and a smoothie bowl is the serving vessel! But that’s not the only difference—because smoothie bowls are meant to be served in a bowl and eaten with a spoon, they’re often thicker than a traditional smoothie. The fact that they’re served in a bowl also means you can add all kinds of toppings!
How to make it your own
Want to switch things up? There are so many possibilities here!
- Make it without banana. Not a banana fan? Make your smoothie bowl with yogurt instead, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try using soft tofu, which yields a thick smoothie bowl that’s also loaded with protein. Some people also like to use frozen cauliflower in their smoothie bowls.
- Swap out the almond milk. Cashew milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or even cow’s milk can be used in this recipe. Out of milk? Add extra juice or use water instead!
- Even more topping ideas. Basil seeds, hemp seeds, bee pollen granules, cacao nibs, flax, honey, goji berries—a smoothie bowl is the perfect opportunity to load up on superfoods!
- Assemble a build-your-own smoothie bowl bar for a brunch get-together. A la our DIY Smoothie Bar!
Make Ahead Ideas
You can make this berry smoothie bowl ahead of time without the toppings and freeze it in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 4 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving. If desired, add ice and re-blend.
Storage Suggestions
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for up to a day, but smoothies don’t have a very long shelf life after blending—they’re best eaten right away or frozen for later!
More healthy breakfast recipes
Get the Recipe: Berry Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
- ½ cup carrot juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice
- ½ cup almond milk
Toppings
- granola
- coconut flakes
- dragon fruit
- chia seeds
- sliced banana
- fresh berries
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, blend frozen berries, banana, almond milk, vanilla extract, carrot juice, and pomegranate juice until well blended and smooth.
- Pour berry smoothie mixture into a serving bowl and add desired toppings.
- Serve right away while cold.
Notes
- Nutritional information does not include toppings.
- You can substitute any milk you wish for the almond milk. Cashew milk, oat milk, cows milk, etc.
- You can substitute any of the toppings for the preferred topping of your choice.
- Storage Instructions: This Berry Smoothie is best served right away but can be frozen without the toppings for up to 4 months in a freezer.