Last Updated on July 11, 2022 by Karen
This Superfood Acai Bowl topped with a delicious combination of fresh fruit and granola is easy to make and tastes just like the ones from your favorite smoothie bar. Customize your acai bowl by topping it with all your favorite fruits and superfood ingredients you like.
Acai bowls and smoothie bowls have been all the rage. Are you on the bandwagon yet? I had it the first time when I was in Hawaii, and it was so refreshing and delicious – perfect as an afternoon snack or breakfast.
Acai bowls are pretty pricey. If you love acai bowl and don’t want to pay over $12 for one, you’ve come to the right place. It’s super easy to make it at home and only takes a couple of minutes. This is the kind of no-fuss recipe that requires just blending all the ingredients together, and then it’s all done and ready for topping.
It’s a great way to start the day and treat yourself to something satisfying, but still good for you.
Acai bowl isn’t just for mornings though. You can enjoy this superfood treat any time of day – after a workout, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or even as a dessert (just like a sorbet)!
What is acai?
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) berry is a small, grapelike fruit harvested from acai palm trees in the rainforests of South America. Acai berries are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, and is known as a superfood with anti-aging and weight loss properties. It’s often blended into a smoothie or used in a juice.
Originating in Brazil, acai bowls are usually made of frozen acai that is blended up and served as a smoothie in a bowl or glass. Acai bowls are typically topped with fruit. They’ve now become very popular here in the U.S. as a healthy breakfast or snack.
What does acai taste like?
In my opinion, they have a taste of their own, similar to a blend of berries with an earthy undertone.
Where to find acai?
Fresh acai is hard to find since they can spoil within a day, which makes it hard for it to be shipped around the world. You can usually find frozen unsweetened acai pulp packets in the freezer fruit section of your grocery store (I’ve found it at Target and Costco as well), while acai juice is also easy to find in the refrigerated juice section. Sometimes you can find freeze-dried acai powder (like the one from Navitas) in the health food section.
What ingredients do you need to make this Acai Bowl?
Unsweetened acai – I like the acai packets from the brand Sambazon. Trader Joe’s also has unsweetened acai packets. Be sure to break up the frozen acai into smaller pieces so that it blends nicely and smoothly. If you can only find acai powder, you can use 2 tablespoons of the powder in place of the frozen acai pulp.
Banana – this adds natural sweetness and creaminess to the acai bowl. Be sure to use super ripe banana so it will sweeten your smoothie without the need for additional sweetener.
Berries – you can use any combination of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, or just stick with a single variety.
Mango – you can also substitute with frozen pineapple chunks
Coconut water – coconut milk or any milk of choice works
How to make Acai Bowl
Once you have all of your toppings prepped, making this acai smoothie bowl is very simple and takes just a minute or wo.
- Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour the acai smoothie base into a bowl and garnish with your favorite toppings.
- Serve right away!
Scroll to the bottom of the post to get the full printable recipe with measurements and instructions.
What kind of toppings should I use for the Acai Bowl?
You can top your acai bowl with just about anything you want. I like to use a combination of fresh fruit and something with a crunch as toppings. Here are some of my favorites.
Fruit:
Strawberry
Blueberry
Raspberry
Blackberry
Banana
Mango
Pineapple
Kiwi
Crunchy toppings:
Coconut shavings
Granola
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Chopped nuts (cashew, almonds, macadamia)
Toasted seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds/pepitas)
Do you need to add a sweetener to Acai Bowl?
Acai by itself is pretty tart, so you’ll need to add some form of sweetener to make it taste good. A ripe banana is usually enough to make it sweet and creamy, but if you like more sweetness, honey, maple syrup, and dates are good natural sweeteners.
How to serve Acai Bowl
- It’s delicious semi-frozen (soft serve like texture). Serve it with your favorite toppings for a refreshing treat.
- Add a little more liquid and blend it into a sippable smoothie.
- Made two servings but only eating one? Pour the leftover into popsicle molds and turn them into acai popsicle sticks. They make a satisfying treat on a hot summer day!
Tips for making Acai Bowl
- Using pre-frozen fruits help contribute to the thick consistency of acai bowls. You’ll want your acai smoothie base to be on the thick side so your toppings don’t sink to the bottom of the bowl.
- Chill your serving bowls ahead of time to help keep the smoothie cool.
- Prep the toppings beforehand, since the acai smoothie mixture will melt quickly.
Can you make this ahead of time?
Acai bowls taste best when enjoyed right away. If you want to make it in advance, pour the blended up acai mixture into individual freezer-safe storage containers. To serve, allow the smoothie bowl to thaw for about 15 minutes and give it a good stir before adding your toppings.
What are some other add-ins for Acai Bowl:
- Add a scoop of plain protein powder or collagen powder for a nutritional boost
- Blend in some baby spinach or kale for a “green” acai smoothie bowl. However, keep in mind that the color will not be a vibrant purple due to the leafy greens added.
- Use coconut milk or other non-dairy milk (almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk) in place of the coconut water to amp up the flavor
To make this Acai Bowl, you will need:
- A high-powered blender works best here. With a regular blender, it’s difficult to get a super thick smoothie. You may have to add a little more liquid, and stop and stir often.
- A food processor can be an alternative. Just add all fruits to the food processor, cover with lid, then pulse in bursts until they’re broken into smaller bits. Add coconut water and puree until smooth.
More healthy smoothie recipes you’ll love:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie Bowl
Carrot Orange Sunshine Smoothie
If you make this Acai Bowl recipe or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Superfood Acai Bowl
Ingredients
- 7 oz frozen unsweetened acai pulp broken into pieces
- 1 large banana sliced
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1/4 cup coconut water
Instructions
- Add the acai, banana, berries, mango, and coconut water tothe pitcher of a high-powered blender.
- Blend on medium low speed until smooth. If necessary, add abit more coconut water, a little at a time, but try not to add too much in order to keep the acai texture thick.
- Divide the mixture among two bowls and top with yourfavorite toppings.
