Perfect Berry Smoothie Bowl

This delicious and healthy berry smoothie bowl is so easy to make and it’s dairy free, gluten free, and can easily be vegan. Made in just a few simple steps and in 5-minutes too!

bowl with berry smoothie topped with strawberries, blackberries, and granola

Let’s Make A Berry Smoothie Bowl

When it comes to smoothie bowls the sky’s the limit! There are so many varieties and options it’s sometimes hard to know where to start if you are new to the smoothie bowl world. Well, I’m going to simplify it for you with perfect Berry Smoothie Bowl recipes.

First, it’s just a smoothie but made to be thicker and served in a bowl with toppings. This delicious recipe is packed with protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats, making it a well rounded meal you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The perfect smoothie bowl can be adapted to what you have on hand or what you want to eat, much like this recipe that I’m sharing here today.

Thick smoothie bowl

You can make this smoothie thicker or thinner depending on what you prefer but keep in mind that smoothie bowls are often too thick to drink through a straw which is why they are served in a bowl with a spoon.

Kind frozen smoothie bowl

This frozen smoothie bowl can have many different varieties and come in many different kinds of fruity flavors. simply adjust to your own tastes or with what you have on hand and it’s sure to be good!

Acai Smoothie bowl

If desired you can add in some acai berries for added health benefits. There are some stores that carry frozen mixed fruits with acai berries already in the blend. 

berry smoothie bowl topped with granola, strawberries, and blackberries

a berry smoothie bowl that's pin with fresh berries on the side

How to Make a Thick Smoothie Bowl

The token characteristic of a great smoothie bowl is a thick, scoop-able consistency. In order to create this thick consistency you can do the following:

  1. Use little to no liquid. If you use mostly frozen fruit and blend it with a small amount of liquid, using a high-speed blender with a tamper tool (Vitamix, Blendtec, Ninja, etc.) you’ll get a great thick consistency. Coconut milk is a non dairy milk that works great and adds some health benefits too. Regular milk or dairy free milk or even some coconut water will all work wonderfully.
  2. Use frozen banana. Rather than using fresh banana, frozen banana blended with other fruits helps to create a thick, creamy consistency for your smoothie bowl.
  3. Add in avocado or chia seeds. Both of these ingredients help to create a thicker smoothie consistency when combined with frozen fruits (and not too much liquid!).

close up of a berry smoothie bowl topped with fresh strawberries, blackberries, and granola

Top 6 Smoothie Bowl Variations

  1. Mango smoothie bowl – You can make this smoothie bowl with a bag of frozen mango slices instead of mixed berries or use a bag of mixed fruits that includes mango. You could even swap out the almond milk for mango juice if desired.
  2. Strawberry smoothie bowl – Make this yummy smoothie richer in strawberry flavor and pinker in color by choosing frozen strawberries. Frozen berries add thickness without watering down the smoothie.
  3. Fruit smoothie bowl – You can make this smoothie with just about any fruit pairings including kiwi and apple so feel free to mix and match to get a combination that you love.
  4. Banana smoothie bowl – Adding in frozen bananas helps to make this smoothie a lot more filling, naturally sweeter, and thicker too. It’s a perfect way to get in a lot of added potassium with every sip or slurp. You can even add berries to make a strawberry banana smoothie bowl.
  5. Dragon fruit smoothie bowl– I love dragon fruit and it’s not only pretty but good for you too. Add in some frozen or fresh dragon fruit for a wonderful flavor combination.
  6. Peach smoothie bowl– Adding in peaches (fresh or frozen) can really help to give your smoothie bowl some nice summer/fall vibes.

ingredients for a berry smoothie bowl on a white marble board - berries, banana, avocado, protein powder, maple syrup and granola all in bowls

Ingredients for this Berry Smoothie Bowl

To make this delicious and thick berry smoothie bowl you need only a handful of healthy whole-food ingredients, then you can garnish with whatever you like or use my simple garnishes below.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • frozen banana (fresh bananas will work but the results won’t be as creamy)
  • frozen mixed berries (I used the bagged mix of strawberries, frozen blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
  • avocado or nut butter of your choice
  • pure maple syrup
  • protein powder (plant-based vanilla protein powder or unflavoured collagen for non-vegan)
  • unsweetened almond milk

bowl with berry smoothie topped with strawberries, blackberries, and granola, and hemp seeds

Smoothie bowl toppings

Delicious toppings are my favorite part of a smoothie bowl as they add extra crunch, texture, and flavor. While you can get super creative adding any desired toppings, here are some yummy toppings that I like to add to my berry smoothie bowl (adding toppings is always the fun part):

  • fresh fruit like strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries
  • gluten-free granola
  • hemp seeds
  • sunflower seeds
  • pumpkin seeds
  • chia seeds
  • mini chocolate chips for a sweet treat
  • almond butter
  • shredded coconut or coconut flakes
  • flax seeds
  • dried fruit also works great

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

To make this simple and delicious smoothie bowl you only need to follow the simple steps below, or watch the recipe video!

  1. Add frozen fruit (banana and berries,) along with all the ingredients- avocado (or nut butter), syrup, protein powder, and almond milk to a high-speed blender.
  2. Blend on low, slowly increasing the speed to high, using the tamper tool to keep the smoothie ingredients moving in the blender.
  3. Continue to blend until a thick, smooth thick and creamy consistency is achieved (similar to that of a sorbet or soft-serve ice-cream).
  4. Transfer the berry smoothie to a bowl and smooth the top with a spoon.
  5. Top with granola, fresh berries, and hemp seeds.
  6. Enjoy!

Smoothie Bowl FAQ’s

If you love smoothies but haven’t tried a smoothie bowl, you are in for a treat! This twist on a traditional smoothie takes things up a notch and you can get creative with toppings to add in great crunch and texture.

What is a smoothie bowl?

Smoothie bowl recipes are a thicker smoothie blended from frozen fruits (and sometimes veggies) as well as yogurt and other tasty ingredients. It’s very easily customizable and can be made to suit your own tastes with just a simple addition or swap of a berry or two.

What is the difference between a smoothie and a smoothie bowl?

Smoothies are drinks made in a blender, poured into a glass or cup, and enjoyed by sipping or drinking with a straw. While they can vary in consistency from thinner to thicker, smoothies are always drinkable from a straw. A smoothie bowl recipe, like this one, on the other hand is meant to be enjoyed out of a bowl and eaten with a spoon!

The consistency of the smoothie portion of a smoothie bowl is usually much thicker than a traditional smoothie and can range from a thick soup-like consistency to a scoop-able sorbet consistency. Smoothie bowls are also always topped with garnishes like fresh berries, sliced banana, nuts, seeds, granola, or other superfood toppings (cocoa nibs, bee pollen, etc.).

Are smoothie bowls healthy?

I would say generally, yes! Although, it should be known that some smoothie bowls can be quite high in caloric content. While this doesn’t mean they are unhealthy, as they may be loaded with nutrients, it’s important to practice portion control if you are enjoying smoothie bowls often.

Smoothie bowls are usually made with frozen fruits, nut butter, superfoods, and other healthy ingredients so they can pack a nutritional punch and be very energizing and nutritious! However, some fast-food establishments sell smoothie bowls that are made with sugary syrups and not actual fruit, so be mindful of this if you are getting a smoothie bowl on the go.

Are smoothie bowls good for weight loss?

These smoothies are great for filling your body with much-needed nutrition and keeping it feeling full longer. This means that when added to a healthy lifestyle or exercise plan it can be used as a great asset to weight loss.

How to make a strawberry smoothie bowl

To make a strawberry smoothie bowl simply add in more strawberries! you can use other berries too or lower the amounts of the other fruits so that there is more strawberry flavor in every bite.

How many calories in a smoothie bowl

There are roughly 760 calories in this one recipe but these numbers can easily fluctuate depending on several factors including the size of the berries added, the brands, how much of it you actually eat, etc. You may find that this makes a good sized portion for two people instead of one if you aren’t all that hungry. You can also lower the calories by choosing healthier options and low cal options whenever possible.

How to make a smoothie bowl with frozen fruit

You can make this smoothie by simply blending up frozen fruit and other ingredients in a blender or a food processor. Adding in frozen fruits helps to make the smoothie thick and cold without worrying about ice melting and making it runny as time goes on, so you can take your time enjoying this dish as perfect as it is.

How to make yogurt smoothie bowls

Make your smoothie bowl with yogurt added in. Use your favorite yogurt brand or make healthier choices like Greek yogurt or yogurts high in protein and low in unnecessary sugars.

Do you love smoothie bowls? What’s your favorite kind? Tell me about it in the comments and be sure to pin the photo below the recipe to save this one for later!

bowl with berry smoothie topped with strawberries, blackberries, and granola

Berry Smoothie Bowl

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This perfect berry smoothie bowl is easy to make, packed with antioxidants, dairy free, gluten free, and perfect for any meal of the day!

Ingredients

  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.)
  • 1/4 avocado or 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 scoop (1/4 cup) vanilla plant-based protein powder or 2 tablespoons unflavoured collagen peptides (non-vegan)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Smoothie Bowl Toppings:

  • 2 tablespoons granola (gluten free, your favorite kind)
  • 2 sliced strawberries
  • a few fresh blackberries and raspberries

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender (except topping ingredients) and blend until completely smooth using the tamper tool. The consistency should be thick and scoopable with a spoon, like the consistency of soft-serve ice cream.
  2. Transfer smoothie base to a bowl and sprinkle with the toppings.
  3. Enjoy immediately!

Notes

  • If you do not have a high speed blender you can still make this smoothie bowl you will just need to stop and start the blender a few times and use a spoon to stir around the thick smoothie mixture between blending until a smooth consitency is achieved. That is why the tamper tool that comes with a high-speed blender if very helpful!
  • If the smoothie consistency is too thick, simply add a small amount of almond milk and continue blending until desired consistency is achieved.

Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 764Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 285mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 17gSugar: 35gProtein: 52g

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Author: Christal Sczebel

Christal is the creator of Nutrition in the Kitch. She's a Certified Nutritional Consultant, twice published author, gluten and dairy free recipe developer, food photographer, speaker, wife, and mama. Christal loves good food, all things wellness, and loves to travel. Her wellness philosophy is centred around balance and sustainable health, life's way too short for boring diets and restriction!

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