This delicious Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl is the perfect way to start your day! Not only is this Acai Smoothie Bowl incredibly beautiful, it’s also packed with the vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients necessary to help you power through your day. Of course, smoothie bowls aren’t just for breakfast! Enjoy as a midday meal or as a healthy pick-me-up instead of high sugar treats or other unhealthy snack options. I prefer intermittent fasting, so a quick, healthy smoothie bowl is perfect for my first meal of the day.
This nutrient dense smoothie bowl goes hand-in-hand with mindful eating habits. Just make sure you’re choosing the right ingredients. For example, instead of unhealthy refined sugars consider raw honey, pure maple syrup, or agave, but still use these sweeteners in moderation. Pick fruits and veggies across the color spectrum, darker is usually better. And consider adding chia seeds which are rich in fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.
What is Acai?
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) berries come from the açai palm which thrives in the Amazon River basin and South American rainforests, particularly in Brazil. The fruit of the acai palm is considered a superfood; however, the acai berries are highly perishable, usually lasting only about a day after being picked.
For the fruit to be exported, the pulp is usually dried and powdered for use as a dietary supplement, or it is flash frozen for use in smoothies, acai bowls, and juice blends.
What You’ll Need for an Acai Smoothie Berry Bowl
- acai berry puree
- banana, preferably frozen
- frozen mixed berries, store-bought or freeze your own fresh berries
- milk or dairy-free alternative
- honey or sweetener of your choice
TOPPINGS:
- blueberries
- kiwi
- blackberries
- pomegranate arils
- desiccated or finely shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- chia seeds
Acai Powder vs Frozen Acai Puree
There are definitely advantages to both, and having options is always nice. I like to keep both the powdered and the frozen puree on hand.
The benefit of acai powder is that it is shelf-stable, needing no refrigeration. This is nice, especially if you have limited freezer space or if you want to take it with you to work, while traveling, etc. It’s also convenient because it can be added to this Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl, a smoothie, yogurt, and even baked goods without the hassle of thawing and measuring the acai puree. You can ensure maximum benefits by choosing a quality product with 100% acai powder with no added sweeteners.
On the other hand, the frozen packets of acai puree are perfect for making smoothies or smoothie bowls because they’re pre-portioned. You can use them straight from the freezer, just break it into chunks before putting them in your blender. Or, take the packets out several hours before you plan to use them. I typically just take a couple packets out of the freezer and put them in the refrigerator the night before I’ll be using them. You can also place the frozen packet in a bit of warm water and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. It’s okay if it’s still a bit slushy, the blender will take care of that.
I find that there are good reasons to have both versions on hand. Sometimes I’m in a hurry and I just want to have the powdered acai that I can stir into my yogurt. It’s a convenience thing. However, if possible, I prefer the frozen puree because it has a brighter flavor and produces that rich vibrant reddish/purple color that makes smoothies and acai bowls so beautiful!
Customize Your Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl
I love this recipe for my Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl, but if you prefer you can make some changes to ensure it’s exactly the way you like it. Here are some substitutions you might want to consider as well as some ideas for other yummy toppings! The only thing I would suggest is to make the healthiest ingredient choices possible. Read labels and avoid added sweeteners.
- plant-based (dairy-free) milk alternative
- fruit juice
- plain yogurt
- granola
- sliced almonds
- chopped pecans or walnuts
- pistachios
- flax seed
- almond butter
- dark chocolate chips
- your favorite berries: strawberries, raspberries, lingonberries, elderberries, boysenberries, etc.
- kumquat
- mango
- avocado
Ingredients
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup milk or dairy free alternative, soy, oat, almond, coconut, or rice
- 2 3.5 oz acai puree packets, defrosted overnight in the refrigerator
- 1/2 frozen banana, sliced
- 1-1/4 cups mixed berries, frozen
- 1 Tbsp. honey, or other sweetener, to taste
Toppings:
- blueberries, fresh
- blackberries, fresh
- kiwi
- pomegranate arils
- desiccated coconut , or finely shredded, unsweetened coconut
- chia seeds
Directions
- Place milk or milk alternative in the blender canister or jar, add the contents of the acai packets, frozen banana, berries, and honey. Blend on high speed, stopping frequently to scrape down sides of canister. If necessary, add a few more drops of liquid and continue blending until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour smoothie into 2 serving bowls and arrange the blueberries, blackberries, sliced kiwi, pomegranate arils, coconut, and chia seeds on top.
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