Acai Bowl with Mixed Berries
Acai bowls are packed full of antioxidants and fun to make with a variety of berry or mixed fruit toppings. You can make an acai bowl in just a few minutes with frozen acai packets or powdered acai – either works!
Now that spring has sprung in Cali, I’m already switching gears from heavier, wintry meals to fruity smoothie bowls. You guys know I love my smoothie bowls (see: mango, cherry, pitaya and green smoothie), but shockingly I didn’t yet have a recipe for an acai bowl.
Acai bowls are the quintessential smoothie bowl. Especially in Southern California where you can find them in nearly every beach town. But even if you’re not close to an acai bowl store, you can easily make them at home (hooray). Let me show you how.
Watch this quick video of my Acai Bowl recipe:
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What is Acai?
Acai (pronounced a-sigh-ee) is a small, round, purplish berry from the acai palm. Acai palms are native to Brazil and the upper parts of South America, as well as Trinidad.
The dark purple color of acai is an indicator that it’s loaded with polyphenols and anthocyanins (a flavanoid pigment also found in beets, blackberries and blueberries) and packed full of antioxidants. In fact, acai has the highest level of anthocyanins which is why some consider it a superfood. Even more, acai is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and fiber.
Needless to say, if you’ve never had an acai bowl you’re in for a sweet treat.
How to Make and Acai Bowl
I made this smoothie bowl with frozen acai puree, but you could also use acai powder. If you grab the frozen acai puree, make sure to get unsweetened. There’s no need for added sugar considering the sweetness of all the fruit.
So toss the acai into a high-powered blender (like my favorite Vitamix) and add a banana, some homemade cashew milk, a few tablespoons of homemade almond butter and collagen for protein goodness. But the beauty of acai bowls are how easily customizable they are, so feel free to tweak.
Once you’ve made your acai bowl comes the fun part – the toppings! Add mixed berries, chia seeds, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, cacao nibs or anything else that add texture, crunch, protein or nutrients. It’s your smoothie bowl, so have fun with it.
I love acai bowls for all their chewy goodness, but if you’re looking for something sippable make sure to check out my strawberry acai smoothie.
Next week I’m heading to New York, where the weather is rainy and cool, so this week I’m soaking up the 80 degree, blissful SoCal sunshine and enjoying my fruity acai bowl.
Enjoy!
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Acai Bowl with Mixed Berries
The acai bowl is a delicious smoothie bowl recipe loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Watch my video above to see how quickly it comes together!
Ingredients
- 2 packets unsweetened frozen acai
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 banana
- 1 cup cashew milk
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 scoop collagen peptides (optional)
toppings
- bee pollen
- chia seeds
- coconut flakes
- mixed berries
- hemp seeds (optional)
- cacao nibs (optional)
Directions
- Place all of the acai bowl ingredients together in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into two bowls and top with mixed fruit and a variety of toppings.
Lisa's Tips
If you opt for acai powder rather than frozen acai packets, I recommend freezing your banana to keep your acai bowl nice and thick.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 2 servings, Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Amount Per Serving:
- Calories: 224.6
- Total Fat: 10.7g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1g
- Sodium: 117.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 4.8g
- Sugar: 13.7g
- Protein: 9.6g
Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see!
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Wow where do I find this bee pollen? I live in a very not trendy area and can’t seem to find it? Can i order online? this recipe tastes really with peanut butter.
Yes, you can order online! Here you go: https://amzn.to/2TAMns6
Spring is on the way. I am going to work on getting my skills tuned in on this one. Thanks.ps: I will use the glyphosate free berries….
This is a great spring recipe for sure! Hope you enjoy it…with those clean berries. :)
I LOVE acai bowls and really love that this recipe includes collagen peptides and bee pollen! Can’t wait to make this…ASAP!!!
Yes! Love to add collagen and bee pollen to my acai bowl. But there’s so many ways to get creative with toppings. Hope you enjoy it Sarah! :) x
I have never had Acai berry!! I see them dried in the grocery store but have never picked them up.This looks like the perfect healthy breakfast for someone. Packed with fruit and nut products. AND so colourful!!!
You’ll definitely have to grab some of that dried acai powder and whip up one of these bowls then! It’s definitely nutrient-packed and nourishing….and of course yum! :)
That is almost too pretty to eat! I am a California girl too – I LOVE the warm weather! I can’t wait to try these bowls, my family will devour them.
Yay for Cali girls and warm weather! Hope you and your family enjoy these acai bowls Allison. :) x
This is such a gorgeous meal! I need to make this for breakfast this week, it sounds so incredible!
Thanks Madi! It’s a delicious breakfast for sure. Hope you enjoy it!
I love acai bowls, yours looks so delicious with all the great toppings.
Thanks Jere! I think acai bowls are always about the toppings. ;)
If you use acai powder how much do you use and does the recipe need adjusting? Have the powder here but have never seen frozen acai here in Australia.
thanks!
Hi Renee – you don’t need to do much tweaking. Just make sure your banana is frozen (to make it nice and thick) and I’d use 1 tbsp of acai powder. :)
Wow that is one gorgeous looking bowl! Almost too pretty to eat! I am loving this – finally get to use all my berries up and I’m actually kinda super pumped to be eating a bit more healthier too.
Thanks Joyce! I find that acai bowls are definitely photogenic and seem to bring out that healthy creativity. ;) Enjoy!
I love these bowls, but I don’t know why I never think to make them. Those toppings sound so yummy!
And they’re so easy to make too! Just toss everything in a blender and you’re good to go!
I would love waking up to this acai smoothie bowl – it looks delicious!!
It’s definitely the best breakfast to enjoy on a warm weekend!
I can wake up to this bowl everyday. This looks super delicious and healthy. I have never tried bee pollen before. Thanks for sharing.
It’s delicious, healthy and easy – which is the best combo! And definitely give bee pollen a try as it’s got great health benefits. :)
I’m all about the acai bowls – but honestly I usually buy them over making them. Thanks so much for the easy recipe!
Once you give it a try at home and see how easy it is to make, you won’t have to buy them at the store again. ;)
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What a beautifully enticing breakfast. Love all your topping combinations.
The great thing is this acai bowl couldn’t be easier – love that! :)
Perfect for the Queensland weather!! It is still quite hot here and acai bowls are very popular breakfast here. I have acai powder in my pantry, so will try this very soon. Thank you for sharing the recipe <3
Ahh, jealous of your warm weather and bummed that I didn’t spend time in Oz this winter! Perhaps next year again. But yes, acai bowls are the best! :)
Super healthy and packed full of goodness. Love all the hemp seeds as well as the acai
Gotta love how customizable the toppings are – love hemp seeds, chia seeds and bee pollen!
Its funny I lived in Rio when I was about 12 for abut a year and I remember how common acai bowls were and in the last couple of years they have boomed everywhere. I really like that you topped yours with bee pollen its great with spring for allergies.
I’ve never been to Rio, but would love to visit one day (and eat lots of acai bowls). ;)
Açai bowls are definitely a worthy trend – delicious, gorgeous, and so versatile! Love your recipe. And keep enjoying the warm weather for me! It’s FINALLY starting to warm up here, but you obviously have me beat with the temperatures, haha ;)
So glad it’s warming up for you! Time for you to defrost! ;) And my warmth will be balanced with cold NY weather next week. Lol.