Easy Peanut Butter Acai Bowl

This delicious and easy peanut butter acai bowl is gluten free, vegan, free of refined sugars and loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. A Hawaiian favorite done homemade in your very own kitchen in minutes!

Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Acai Bowl

 

We are seriously enjoying our time here on Maui soaking up the sun, sand, and waves and I have been indulging in my fill of acai bowls because…when in Maui that’s just what you do! I’ve posted acai bowl recipes on the blog before (here and here!) and today I’m sharing a super simple peanut butter acai bowl that is very close to the classic acai bowl you can enjoy in Hawaii and other tropical locations like South America.

With the exception of the peanut butter addition this recipe is as close to the original as it gets and while I love a “loaded” or more unique take on an acai bowl, the classic is always a great option. I’m pretty sure baby is also a fan of acai bowls because whenever I have enjoyed one here on our trip, he seems to flip around a whole lot more in my belly!

And if you caught that…yes, it’s a BOY! We are so excited to be inviting a little boy into the family and Hemsley will have a little brother to take care of…and boss around a ton I’m sure, haha! 

What is an Acai Bowl?

 

If you aren’t familiar with what an acai bowl is, I’ll give you the low-down. The word “acai” is for the pureed acai berries that are one of the main componoents of an Acai Bowl. Acai berries originate in the Amazon jungle and are a potent superfood containing tons of antioxidants and immune boosting power.

An Acai Bowl is created when pureed acai berry is blended with other fruits like frozen berries and frozen banana. I’m sure there are thousands of mixtures possible but this is the most classic combination. 

After blending up the frozen acai and fruit with a non-dairy milk, the very thick, cold smoothie mixture is added to a bowl and sprinkled or layered with a variety of toppings, most commonly berries, sliced bananas, granola, honey, and bee pollen (which can be omitted for 100% vegan). 

Acai bowls can be made with a ton of variations in the smoothie ingredients and in the topping ingredients but the main component and must-have is the acai berry! 

Ingredients for the Peanut Butter Acai Bowl

 

To make this delicious and easy acai smoothie bowl you’ll only need a handful of ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your fridge and pantry. While you can definitely add whatever you want to the smoothie mixture or the toppings, this is an easy and classic combination you’ll love! Here’s what you’ll need: 

 

• Acai berry puree, frozen (I use the Sambazon brand which can be found in most grocery stores in the frozen section by the frozen berries or ice creams)
• Strawberries, fresh or frozen
• Blueberries, fresh or frozen
• Banana, frozen (peel and cut ahead of time and freeze)
• Peanut butter 
• Vegan vanilla protein powder (optional but recommended for nutritional balance!) 

 

Acai Bowl Toppings:

• Strawberries, sliced
• Blueberries, fresh
• Granola, your favorite kind (gluten free if needed)
• Peanut Butter
• Raw honey (optional, omit for strict vegan)
• Bee Pollen (optional, omit for strict vegan) 

How To Make A Peanut Butter Acai Bowl

 

Blending up a homemade acai bowl is incredibly easy, you’ll just want to make sure you have a relatively high-powdered or high-speed blender as the key to a delicious acai bowl is making sure the smoothie component is really nice and thick, like a soft-serve ice cream so it can be enjoyed with a spoon rather than drank with a straw. Here are the three simple steps:

 

1. Add acai bowl ingredients to a blender and blend increasing speed slowly, using a tamper, until a thick, scoop-able consistency is achieved. 
2. Transfer to a serving bowl. 
3. Top with the toppings indicated or other toppings of your choice and enjoy! 

This healthy, tasty, and filling peanut butter acai bowl recipe is a must-make whether it’s the middle of winter and you are dreaming of a tropical vacation or it’s in the heat of summer and you need a little something to cool down with. 

Have you ever tried an acai bowl while on vacation somewhere hot like Hawaii or South America? Or do you make your own homemade version? Tell me about in the comments and be sure to pin the photo below the recipe to save this one for later and of course, share the love! 

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Aloha!