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Ready in just a few minutes, this Acai Bowl Recipe is filled with acai berry puree, fruit, and all your favorite toppings. Learn how easy it is to make your very own Acai Bowl right from home and enjoy this powerhouse of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats anytime you want for a fraction of the cost!
My first encounter with the infamous Acai Bowl was nearly fifteen years ago as a student at University of California Santa Cruz. Facebook was still just for students, Instagram was unheard of, and flip phones were all the rage. Despite a lack of social media coverage, however, acai bowls (and burritos) reigned king in my not-so-sleepy college town.
Many years (and Instagram posts) later, “acai” is now synonymous with the word “superfood” (because it is) and everyone wants a piece.
I mean, you do, right?
Fortunately, acai bowls are basically super thick smoothie bowls with a very special ingredient -acai berry puree!
What is Acai?
Açaí, pronounced ah-sigh-EE, comes from the acai berry grown on the acai palm tree in South Amerian rainforests.
With an outward appearance similar to that of a grape and a blueberry, approximately 80 percent of an acai berry is the seed with the remaining 20 percent containing the all nutritional value. Many believe that the acai berry contains more antioxidants than blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, or cranberries.
With claims that acai helps aid in weight loss, brain function, and prevent cancer, it’s easy to get hooked. But are any of these claims true? According to WebMD acai berries have “no known health benefit that’s different from similar fruits.”
Here’s what we DO KNOW about acai.
For starters, unlike many fruits that are high in sugar and low in fat, the acai berry is actually somewhat higher in fat and low in sugar.
In 100 grams of frozen unsweetened acai fruit pulp you’ll receive:
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 5 grams
- Potassium: 130 mg
- Carbohydrates: 5 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
What is an Acai Bowl?
Now that you know all about acai, what is an acai bowl?
Originating in Brazil, the acai bowl is made of frozen acai palm fruit that is pureed and served as a smoothie in a bowl or glass. In Brazil, acai bowls are typically topped with granola, banana, and guaraná syrup. Several other variations, however, can be found throughout the country, including acai bowls topped with tapioca balls and a saltier version that is topped with shrimp or dried fish.
With the explosion of social media, acai bowls have become a popular muse thanks to their bright color, blending varieties, and wide assortment of toppings.
Acai Bowl Ingredients
In this acai bowl recipe, you will find the following ingredients-
- Pure Unsweetened Acai Puree – If you can’t find frozen acai puree, there is also acai powder available. Although I have not tried acai powder personally, I would recommend using this with frozen fruit for the most authentic and thick smoothie possible.
- Frozen blueberries and strawberries – fortunately, acai tastes great with just about any fruit. That said, it tastes particularly wonderful with frozen berries. Any mixture of blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries would be my top pick.
- Banana – Ideally frozen, bananas are naturally super sweet and super creamy (not to mention loaded with potassium!)
- Liquid – Yes, you will need some kind of liquid to get things moving along. I added milk for the extra protein boost, but feel free to add your favorite fruit juice.
- Yogurt – I understand that yogurt may not be for everyone, so feel free to leave it out and substitute with additional milk or juice if preferred. However, if you are team yogurt, do it. So much creaminess. That said, please PLEASE do not add a flavored yogurt. You will completely mask the delicious, natural flavor of the acai.
- Acai Bowl Toppings:
- Granola
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Fresh sliced fruit
How to make an Acai Bowl
Make this Acai Bowl in three easy steps,
- Freeze your fruit. Slice your banana and transfer it to a small baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper. To the same plate, add the blueberries and strawberries (store-bought frozen fruit will work just as well). Transfer tray or plate to the freezer and allow the fruit to freeze completely.
- Blend. Once frozen, add the milk and yogurt to the bowl of a large, high-speed blender with a tamper (see tips and tricks). Add the frozen blueberries, strawberries, banana, and broken up acai. With the blender on low, use the tamper to push the frozen fruit down, mixing around as much as possible. Continue to blend on low until smooth, only adding additional liquid when needed.
- Assemble. Divide the smoothie into two bowls and top with all your favorite toppings. Best enjoyed immediately (because it will melt).
Are Acai Bowls Healthy?
We know that acai is good for you, but what about acai bowls?
This depends on a number of factors with the three most important being: topping choices, topping amounts, and overall serving size.
With no toppings, one serving (or one acai bowl) will contain approximately 250 calories, 10 grams of fat, 30 grams carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 20 grams sugar, and 7 grams protein. Normally I would question anything with that much sugar, but knowing that it either comes from fruit or milk, I’m ok (you will have to decide this for yourself). Calories aside, the vitamins and minerals in this single bowl pack a huge punch.
But the toppings…what about those toppings?
- If you plan to add granola, check the nutrition label. What you find may surprise you. Or, make your own homemade granola!
- Add less stuff when comparing your acai bowl against us food bloggers and Instagrammers. I can’t speak for all of us, but some of our bowls that claim to be “healthy” most definitely are not.
- Start with a smaller bowl to reduce the serving size.
How can I make my Acai Bowl Vegan?
You can easily make any acai bowl vegan by skipping the cow milk and yogurt. I live in a dairy-loving family, but it’s definitely not required for a delicious tasting acai bowl.
- Substitute cow milk with plant-bast milk or apple juice, instead.
- Use a plant-based yogurt. There are so many awesome soy or coconut dairy yogurt alternatives for you to pick from.
- Skip the yogurt entirely and add additional plant-based milk or fruit juice instead.
- Read ingredients carefully – many granolas are sweetened with honey.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- While I have not tried every blender out there, it is incredibly difficult to get a super thick smoothie bowl unless you have a blender that comes with a tamper (or something equivalent). This is the blender that I own. It has lasted years of daily use but isn’t cheap. Here is a well-reviewed much more affordable option. If you don’t care about thickness, then the type of blender won’t matter as much- you’ll just need to adjust the amount of liquid.
- Don’t rush it. In other words, don’t try to rush your blender from 0 to 60 without giving it the proper time to get there (this is the easiest way to blow its motor).
- These are the acai packets I use. Be sure to look for the unsweetened version.
- I do not recommend any kind of sweetened yogurt or added sweetener – especially if you are adding banana. You will lose out on the fabulous acai taste and instantly make a healthy snack a dessert.
- Add some tropical flavor by blending with frozen mango or papaya.
More Smoothie Bowl Recipes
- Easy Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie Bowl Recipe
- Banana Mango Smoothie Bowl with Bee Pollen
- Almond Butter and Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- Green Smoothie Recipe
If you try making this Acai Bowl Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
Acai Bowl Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 banana, sliced and frozen
- ½ cup blueberries, frozen
- ½ cup strawberries, frozen
- ¾ cup milk or juice, use your favorite milk (dairy milk, soy, almond, etc) or juice (apple or grape)
- ½ cup plain yogurt, (substitute with milk or juice if desired)
- 200 grams (2 packets) frozen acai puree, broken into pieces
- assorted toppings, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, granola, coconut, etc.
Instructions
- Freeze your fruit. Slice your banana and transfer it to a small baking sheet or plate lined with parchment paper. To the same plate, add the blueberries and strawberries (store-bought frozen fruit will work just as well). Transfer tray or plate to the freezer and allow fruit to freeze completely.
- Blend. Once frozen, add the milk and yogurt to the bowl of a large, high-speed blender with a tamper (see notes). Add the frozen blueberries, strawberries, banana, and broken up acai. With the blender on low, use the tamper to push the frozen fruit down, mixing around as much as possible. Continue to blend on low until smooth, only adding additional liquid when needed.
- Assemble. Divide the smoothie into two bowls and top with all your favorite toppings. Popular additions include sliced banana, nuts, seeds, granola, and berries. Best enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- If you forget to pre-freeze your banana, that's ok. However, I recommend adding additional fruit (strawberries, blueberries, mango, etc) that are already pre-frozen to help contribute to the thick consistency characteristic to acai bowls.
- While I have not tried every blender out there, it is incredibly difficult to get a super thick smoothie bowl unless you have a blender that comes with a tamper (or something equivalent). This is the updated model of the blender that I own. It has lasted over 5 years of daily use but isn't cheap. Here is a well-reviewed much more affordable option. If you don't care about thickness, then the type of blender won't matter as much- you'll just need to adjust the amount of liquid.
- These are the acai packets I use. Be sure to look for the unsweetened version.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi. If you prefer to use acai powder instead, how much do I need to use to equal the frozen acai? Thanks!
Great question! You can use about 1 tablespoon of acai powder to replace each 100-gram packet of frozen acai in the recipe. Just blend the powder with your other ingredients, and adjust to taste if you prefer a stronger acai flavor.
How many people does this serve?
The recipe as written serves 2 🙂
sigma sigma boy sigma boy
Haha love it—glad this recipe is earning that sigma status 😎
Could you use Açai Powder instead? If so, any recommendations on the quantity? Thanks!!
I haven’t made this recipe with acai powder myself, but it’s definitely possible to try to use it! To substitute, follow the directions on the acai powder packaging for reconstituting it into a puree. Typically, you might start with 1 to 2 tablespoons of powder mixed with around 1/4 cup of water, juice, or milk to achieve a similar consistency to the puree used in the recipe. Adjust the liquid as needed to get the right thickness for your acai bowl. Enjoy experimenting with it!
you should make one that doesn’t have the acai in it so it can just be fruit
tried it today! the fruit wasnt frozen however! what yogurt flavours would u recomend for this??
I prefer plain yogurt for this recipe, as with flavored yogurts you will completely mask the delicious, natural flavor of the acai.
Once made can you freeze and pull out when you want to eat it, or will it not freeze right?
Acai bowls are best enjoyed fresh due to the textures and fresh ingredients involved. However, you can freeze the acai mixture itself, similar to how you would with a smoothie. Pour the blend into an airtight container or ice cube trays for easier portioning. When you’re ready to enjoy it, let it thaw slightly for a few minutes and then give it a quick blend or stir to refresh the texture. Add your favorite toppings just before serving to maintain their crunch and freshness. Keep in mind that once thawed, it should be consumed immediately for the best taste and texture.
hey! tried the recipe today. im obbsessed!! does the fruit have to be frozen though??
That’s great to hear you loved the recipe! Regarding the fruit, using frozen fruit helps give the açaí bowl its thick and creamy texture, similar to soft-serve ice cream. If you use fresh fruit instead, the bowl will be more liquidy and less cold, which might change the experience a bit. However, it can still be delicious! If you prefer using fresh fruit, you might want to add some ice to help thicken and chill the mixture.
Im making this for a school project. If i wanted to make 200 4oz cups how much would you recommend making?
This is going to be a huge project – I am calculating around 58x the recipe as written.
Good luck 🙂
I got a lot of flavoured yogurt and I’m a big fan of acai bowls. Can I use the flavoured yogurt in it? What else can I use flavoured yogurt with?
Absolutely, you can definitely use flavored yogurt in your acai bowl! It’s a great way to add extra taste and creaminess. Depending on the flavor of your yogurt, it could complement the fruity acai beautifully. Just blend your acai with a little less liquid than usual to balance the additional moisture from the yogurt.
Flavored yogurt is also quite versatile in other dishes. You can use it as a base for smoothies, as a topping for pancakes or waffles, or mix it into overnight oats for a flavorful breakfast. It also works well as a dessert topping or stirred into a fruit salad for an extra touch of sweetness and flavor.
My bowl came out Way too runny. I have a ninja foodi blender with a “smoothie bowl” option. Not sure what I did wrong?
It sounds like your acai bowl turned out too runny due to either too much liquid or excessive blending time. Here are some tips to help you achieve a thicker consistency:
Reduce Liquid: If the bowl was too runny, you might have added too much liquid. Next time, try starting with just a splash (about 1-2 tablespoons) of your chosen liquid, and only add more if necessary to help the blender operate.
Use Frozen Ingredients: Make sure that both the acai and any additional fruits (like bananas or berries) are fully frozen. Fresh or partially thawed fruits can make the mixture too thin.
Monitor Blending Time: Your Ninja Foodi blender’s “smoothie bowl” option is great for thicker textures, but be careful not to over-blend. Stop blending as soon as the mixture is smooth and combined to prevent it from warming up and becoming runny.
Incorporate Thickeners: If adjusting the liquid and blending time doesn’t help, consider adding a thickener like more frozen fruit, a spoonful of nut butter, or a small amount of yogurt.
Feel free to experiment with these adjustments until you get the perfect thickness for your acai bowl!