Smoothie bowls have been on a social media takeover lately, filling instagram feeds and pinterest boards with their vibrant colors and variety of toppings.
While smoothie bowls may be the new health food trend, the acai bowl is a classic – especially in surf towns.
This Tropical Acai Bowl recipe takes me all the way back to my first ever acai bowl in Hawaii almost 10 years ago!
I make my acai bowls with acai powder instead of the frozen puree packs because the powder is way cheaper and doesn’t have added sugar.
Thanks to Thrive Market’s low prices I can get 40 smoothie-bowls-worth (that’s a real unit of measurement don’t judge me) of acai powder for $24. If I was using frozen acai packs then 40 smoothies would cost me close to $80!
The powder is every bit as nutritious as the puree packs so I definitely recommend the powder.
Here’s some quick background info on acai berries for those who aren’t yet familiar:
Acai berries are a berry native to Brazil and are very high in antioxidants. Their high antioxidant content has landed acai berries on top of a variety of superfood lists.
This is where things get tricky, because of the high antioxidant content and exotic origin, marketers saw an opportunity to capitalize on the acai berry.
This led to a lot of unfounded claims about miraculous health benefits from consuming acai – most of which proved to be fake.
One thing is certain though, there are antioxidants in the acai berry and antioxidants are good for you.
How much antioxidants are in acai?
That depends on who you ask, some studies have found them to have over 10x the antioxidants of blueberries. That’s why I add acai powder into all of my blueberry smoothies!
But you want to know the best part about acai berries?
They are absolutely delicious and have a beautiful purple hue! The antioxidants (however much there may be) are just a bonus.
Alright I got sidetracked there, back to the recipe.
Acai has a naturally low sugar content compared to other fruits so to sweeten things up I add frozen blueberries and strawberries.
Most acai bowl recipes stick with a mixed berry base but don’t feel forced into using blueberries and strawberries, any berries will work.
For the liquid component I use coconut milk because it’s tropical, creamy, and delicious – but any milk will do. The final ingredient is a banana (preferably frozen).
Using frozen fruit in smoothie bowls is incredibly important to getting the right texture, so don’t think you can get away with using fresh fruit and a few ice cubes.
Add all of your ingredients to the blender and blend until thick and creamy.
That’s it, we’re done right?
Nope. Just because you have the perfect consistency acai smoothie in a bowl doesn’t mean you’ve made an acai bowl.
The toppings are the most important part! In my opinion a true acai bowl needs two types of toppings; fresh tropical fruit and something crunchy.
I use mango and kiwi for the fruit and granola to add a crunch but this a great place to get creative and make this bowl truly yours.
Just be sure to comment below if you found something really delicious. Seriously though, don’t hold out on me. We don’t like secrets around here.
More Delicious Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Can’t get enough of this superfood breakfast? You’ll love these other smoothie bowl recipes:
Tropical Acai Bowl
- Author: Kailey
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 Bowl 1x
Description
A classic acai bowl recipe that brings me back to my first ever acai bowl in Hawaii almost 10 years ago. This bowl packs an antioxidant punch thanks to the acai and blueberries. Topped with fresh mango and kiwi for added tropical flavor and finished off with granola for a nice crunch.
Ingredients
Acai Bowl
- 2 tsp Acai Powder (or 1 pack of acai puree)
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 3/4 cup Frozen Blueberries
- 3/4 cup Frozen Strawberries
- 1 cup Coconut Milk (any milk works. Use more or less liquid depending on desired thickness and capabilities of your blender)
- *Optional: 1 scoop Personalized Protein Blend
Instructions
- Add frozen fruit and acai powder to blender
- Add half of the coconut milk to the blender and blend until well combined
- If the smoothie is still too thick or your blender is having trouble blending then add the remaining coconut milk and blend until you reach your desired thickness
- Add your favorite toppings
- Take a picture of your beautiful smoothie bowl and post it to all of your social media accounts
- Enjoy!
Notes
- I love eating my smoothie bowls out of bamboo bowls for an even more tropical feel. For those that are interested, I use these bowls. I also got a set of cute bamboo silverware to go along with my bowls!
- I use a protein brand called Gainful. They create a personalized protein blend for your specific needs whether that’s weight loss, muscle gain, recovery or more. They also cater to a variety of dietary needs like vegan, gluten-free, keto, and various allergies. You can find out which protein blend is the perfect fit for you by taking the protein quiz!
- Category: Smoothie
Keywords: Easy Acai Bowl
Hover over the photo to pin this recipe!
Mindy
This was yummy! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
kailey
Thanks Mindy! Glad you enjoyed it!
Barbara
This was good. Made mine with the acai powder
★★★★★