Acai Bowl with Mixed Berries
My acai bowl recipe is packed full of antioxidants and deliciously sweet with a variety of berries, nuts, seeds and mixed fruit toppings. You can make an acai bowl in just a few minutes with your Vitamix or other high-powered blender.
And good news, you can use frozen acai packets or powdered acai – either works. So time to whip up this delicious smoothie bowl!
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 (check out all the smoothie bowl recipes below), but shockingly I didn’t have a recipe for an acai bowl on my website.
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 a healthy beach cafe, you can easily make them at home (hooray). Let me show you how.
Acai Bowl Recipe (1-Minute Video)
Making an acai bowl is fast and easy, but it always helps to watch a quick video tutorial. Watch me make it below!
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. That’s why it’s one of my favorite anti-inflammatory foods to enjoy.
Needless to say, if you’ve never had an acai bowl you’re in for a healthy, sweet treat.
How to Make an 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.
Toss the acai into a high-powered blender 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.
Tips for the Best Acai Bowl
Given that I’m somewhat of an acai bowl expert (self-proclaimed based on how often I make them!), I have a few more tips for you:
- If you opt for acai powder rather than frozen acai packets, I recommend freezing your banana to keep your acai bowl nice and thick.
- Remember that the tamper on your blender is your friend. You want the acai bowl thick and cold, so that means you’ll need to use the tamper to push everything into the blades.
- Acai bowls are best eaten right away. They will soften quickly, especially in warm weather.
- If you’d like to make the acai bowl extra creamy, you could add a few spoonfuls of my homemade yogurt (dairy) or coconut yogurt (dairy-free).
More Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Acai Bowl with Mixed Berries
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
Instructions
- 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
- Can you make an acai bowl ahead of time and freeze, then thaw when needed? You sure can. Though I prefer them freshly made for the best texture.
Nutrition
Recipe originally published March 2017, but updated to include new information.
