What Is An Acai Bowl?
An acai bowl is a traditional Brazilian smoothie bowl made from frozen acai berries (native to South America), banana, and other fruit. The blend is then topped with more fruit and crunchy toppings. Acai bowls make a great snack or healthy breakfast option!
Acai Bowl Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for homemade acai bowls, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Main Ingredients:
Frozen Acai Packets – I used frozen packets (found in the freezer section). These are already blended acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berries. You’ll need 200 grams, or about 1 cup total of berry puree. If using acai powder instead of frozen, use 2 tablespoons total, but you will need to increase quantities of the frozen berries below. I suggest doubling the raspberries and blueberries. Frozen Fruit – You will need sliced and frozen fruit for the base of the homemade acai bowl recipe. I used bananas, raspberries, and blueberries. You can also use other fruit, such as strawberries, mango, or pineapple. For a low carb option, omit the banana and add more berries instead, or use a combination of berries and avocado (like I do for my keto smoothie — you won’t taste the avocado!). Coconut Water – This thins out the puree, to make it a smoothie bowl consistency, and makes it easier to blend. You can also substitute regular milk or non-dairy milk of your choice (such as store-bought or homemade almond milk). Plain water will work too, but the flavor isn’t as nice. Honey – Optional, but nice for balancing the tartness of the fruit. I used zero sugar honey to avoid added sugar, but regular also works.
Acai Bowl Toppings:
Fresh Fruit – Top this bowl with fresh fruit, such as fresh bananas or berries. Crunchy Toppings – I used sliced almonds and unsweetened coconut flakes for my acai bowl. You can also use other nuts, such as walnuts, cashews, or macadamias, or make it nut-free by using pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds. Homemade granola also makes a wonderful topping — this is what they used in the acai bowls we had on our trip that inspired this recipe. Honey – Add natural sweetness with a drizzle of honey or zero sugar honey. Omit altogether to make the bowls vegan.
How To Make An Acai Bowl
This section shows how to make acai bowls, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. For a protein boost, add 1-2 scoops of protein powder, such as collagen, whey, or plant-based protein powder. A drizzle of peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butter (or even sunflower seed butter) makes a flavorful topping option for extra protein and healthy fats.
Are Acai Bowls Healthy?
Yes, acai bowls are healthy, as long as you don’t add refined sugar. Acai berries are a nutritious superfood packed with fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins C, A, and E. Studies have even shown that consuming these berries can improve antioxidant levels in the body and lower cholesterol [*]. This makes it much easier to blend.
Storage Instructions
This bowl tastes best fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, store without the toppings and add them fresh.
More Healthy Breakfast Recipes
Don’t stop at this mouthwatering bowl! Make mornings more relaxed with these easy breakfast recipes, including sweet, savory, and make-ahead options: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or toppings. For an option lower in carbs and sugar, replace the bananas with more berries instead.
