Acai bowls are similar to smoothies, but they are thicker and are served in a bowl. You can top them with all sorts of delicious toppings like fresh fruit, granola, and nuts. It’s one of our favorite ways to get a healthy start to the day.

a top-down photo of acai bowl garnished with fresh fruit

Sometimes Mr. K. and I fall into unhealthy eating spirals and need to reset our diets. One thing we both love is a smoothie bowl, so that’s our go-to when we feel like we need to eat a little healthier.

Acai bowls are thick smoothie bowls and have been all the rage for the past few years. They seem to be offered at every juice, coffee, and cafe in San Diego. But it’s actually really easy to make your own homemade acai bowls, and it’s a lot less expensive.

a close-up photo of an acai bowl

Ingredients

  • Acai
  • Bananas
  • Milk
  • Frozen fruit

Acai: I like to use two packets of acai puree, which you can find in the freezer section. It’s enough to make two generous acai bowls. It’s a good idea to run the acai packets under warm water for a few seconds before opening them. This makes it easier to break the frozen puree into pieces before you process it in the blender.

Acai berries are grown in Brazil. They have a reddish-purple color, which I love because it makes the acai bowls so pretty. Acai berries are sweet and taste like a blend of blackberries, blueberries, and mulberries.

I buy frozen acai puree at Whole Foods. There are two brands I like to buy: Amazon Planet and Sambazon. I also recently started buying the Sambazon brand from Costco.

Bananas: I like to use one half of a medium-sized banana for two bowls, but if you prefer a thicker and sweeter acai bowl, I recommend using a whole banana for each serving.

Milk: I love coconut milk, but you can also substitute soy milk, almond milk, or other dairy-free milk. You can also use regular milk.

Frozen Fruit: I like to add half a cup of frozen fruit, and I often switch up the fruit depending on my mood. For this version, I added frozen blueberries, but I also love to use frozen mango. Frozen strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and pineapple would be delicious, too.

Because fruit has natural sweetness, I don’t usually add sugar to the blended fruit. Instead, I might use a little honey as a garnish if I want a little sweetness for my bowl.

This acai bowl recipe is the one I use most often, but it’s really easy to customize it based on your own tastes. You can easily change the fruit mix-ins and toppings and never have it the same way twice.

a photo collage showing two brands of acai frozen packets

Recipe Steps

All you do is place the ingredients in a high-powered blender and puree them. Pour the mixture into bowls, and then you’re ready to add some toppings.

Unlike smoothies, acai bowls often have toppings and there are so many ways to customize them with different flavors and textures. Here are some of our favorite toppings:

  • Fresh fruit like strawberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Or try sliced bananas, kiwi, or even avocado.
  • Granola
  • Chopped nuts
  • Shredded coconut flakes
  • Sliced almonds or other nuts
  • Chia seeds
  • Flaxseed
  • Honey

Just be careful not to go overboard with the toppings if you are trying to eat lighter – they can really add up.

a close-up overhead photo of an acai bowl topped with fruit and nuts

More Breakfast Recipes with Fruit

overhead photo of an acai bowl
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Acai Bowls

Made with the super fruit from Brazil, these acai bowls are slightly thicker than a regular smoothie and topped with fresh fruits, granola, and nuts for a healthy breakfast or snack.
Servings: 2 bowls
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 packets of unsweetened frozen acai puree
  • 1/2 medium banana, see note
  • 2 tbsp coconut milk, see note
  • 1/2 cup frozen fruit, see note

Optional Toppings

  • fresh fruit of your choice
  • granola
  • shredded coconut
  • sliced almonds

Instructions
 

  • In a high powered blender, blend acai, banana, milk and frozen fruit (if using). Make sure to run frozen acai packets under warm water for about 5-10 seconds and break into smaller pieces before adding to the blender. Blend until consistency is slightly thicker than a smoothie.
  • Pour into bowls and top with granola, fresh fruit, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, or whatever else you desire.

Notes

I prefer to use 1/2 of a medium-sized banana, but a whole one will make your base thicker and sweeter.
I like coconut milk, but another liquid of your choice such as soy milk, almond milk, or regular milk will work well, too.
You can add other frozen fruit to change the base flavor of the smoothie and make it sweeter, but this is optional. I like to add blueberries or mangos.
The nutrition estimate does not include the additional 1/2 cup of frozen fruit or the toppings. I used the Sambazon brand of acai. If you use a different brand the nutrition estimates may vary.
Serving: 1bowl, Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 28.9g, Protein: 0.9g, Fat: 7.4g, Saturated Fat: 3.9g, Sodium: 17.5mg, Fiber: 3.5g, Sugar: 20.2g, NET CARBS: 25
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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