Make a healthy acai bowl at home with your favorite healthy ingredients, or choose from four delicious recipes topped with colorful fruits and nuts.
Table of Contents
Acai bowl recipes have vibrant colors and various toppings, but the superfruit inside makes it a popular health-conscious snack. Luckily, the base is easy to make, and you can customize it to your taste.
These nutrient-packed bowls make pulling out the blender worth the effort, and you can even meal prep for breakfast. Need a protein boost or want to pack in more greens? No problem! The smoothie-like consistency adapts well to whatever you want to mix in.
What is acai?
Acai (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) is a small purple berry found in the Amazon rainforest that grows in clusters on tall palm trees. It has a unique flavor with a combination of blackberry and cocoa notes. The fruit comprises 95% seed, making only a few edible portions.
Thousands of years ago, they were utilized by ancient tribes for food and medicinal purposes. Now they can be purchased as a frozen puree or powder for bowls, smoothies, drinks, snacks, or desserts.
Is acai healthy?
Yes! They’re prized for their high concentration of antioxidants, rivaling the value of blueberries two-fold. Acai contains plant sterols (linked to lowering cholesterol), amino acids, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, omega 3’s, 6’s, and 9’s for heart and brain health.
It’s also naturally low in sugar and contains various vitamins and minerals. Acai is exceptionally high in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value.
Where can you buy it?
Buying fresh acai berries isn’t easy unless you visit the Amazon in South America. You can typically find dried ground powders as a supplement in health food stores.
Look for unsweetened frozen acai packs at grocery stores like Albertson’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Some brands also sell blends that contain sweeteners and other ingredients like guarana for energy.
How to make an acai bowl
Like making a smoothie, the acai mixture should have a very thick, spoonable texture and be cold. Combining frozen ingredients like acai puree, fruit, and a tiny amount of liquid makes for the right consistency. Do not use ice as you would for smoothies because it makes the bowl melt quicker and can dilute the flavor.
The best base ratio
- Frozen Acai Puree: 1 packet (100 grams, ⅗ ounces), about ¾ cup
- Frozen Fruit: 1 ½ cups
- Liquid: ¼ cup
- Yogurt: 2 tablespoons (optional to add creaminess)
- Sweetener: 1 to 3 teaspoons (optional)
- Leafy Greens: 1 cup (optional)
As long as you stick to the above amounts for the main ingredients like acai puree, frozen fruit, and liquid, it’s easy to customize the flavor and nutrients for an extra boost.
Blending sequence
Processing the acai bowl ingredients works best when using a kitchen blender. Add liquid ingredients and any leafy ingredients first, followed by the frozen ones. Any dried ingredients like protein powders should be added to the liquids.
The frozen acai packet needs to be broken down into smaller chunks while still in the package to make blending easier. The consistency should not be easy to pour out as you want to be able to use a spoon to eat from the bowl.
Use frozen bananas
Frozen bananas add a creamy, soft-serve ice cream-like texture due to the fruit’s starches and tiny ice particles. Each recipe uses ½ cup of frozen bananas, a medium-sized piece.
Add ripe sliced bananas in a single layer into a resealable plastic bag and freeze overnight, so they’re ready the next day. Some grocery stores sell frozen bananas as a quick solution.
Liquid ingredients
A small amount of liquid, only ¼ cup, is needed to help process the frozen ingredients. Try water, coconut water, coconut milk, almond milk, apple juice, orange juice, or dairy-free milk.
Juices are an excellent way to naturally sweeten the mixture, while thicker milk adds a touch of creaminess. Don’t use too much. Otherwise, it will make the consistency runny, and the acai bowl will melt faster.
My favorite topping ideas
- Fresh Fruit: Sliced strawberries, bananas, kiwi, apples, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pineapple, mango, pomegranate arils.
- Protein: Peanut butter, almond butter, chopped nuts, hemp heart seeds.
- Superfood Boosters: Cacao, cacao nibs, matcha, flax seeds, chia seeds, goji berries, homemade granola.
Sweeteners
Add honey, maple syrup, or dates to add a hint of natural sweetness. Although most of the mixture is frozen berries and other fruits, you may find it sweet enough. A little extra sweetness does help to balance some bitterness from leafy greens like spinach or kale.
Nutrient boosts
Add protein with a few tablespoons of Greek yogurt, non-dairy yogurt, peanut butter, almond butter, or protein powder. Add ¼ of avocado for healthy fats and creaminess. Turmeric, cacao powder, and matcha green tea powder add various benefits like antioxidants, phytonutrients, or if you want a bit of caffeine from the tea.
Berry Acai Bowl
- Base: Frozen acai puree, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, and coconut water.
- Toppings: Strawberries, pineapples, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwis, bananas, toasted coconut, hemp heart seeds.
Protein Acai Bowl
- Base: Frozen acai puree, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, almond butter, Greek yogurt, protein powder, and cashew milk.
- Toppings: Nut butter, sliced almonds, quinoa granola, strawberry, blueberry, banana, chia seeds, hemp heart seeds.
Superfood Acai Bowl
- Base: Frozen acai puree, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, kale, spinach, matcha powder, and pomegranate juice.
- Toppings: Pomegranate arils, chia seeds, cacao nibs, strawberry, matcha powder, hemp heart seeds, banana, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, granola.
Tropical Acai Bowl
- Base: Frozen acai puree, mango, pineapple, banana, and coconut water.
- Toppings: Strawberry, banana, mango, pineapple, kiwi, coconut flakes, and hemp heart seeds.
Use only frozen fruit
All the fruit in the recipe must be frozen, or a thick texture won’t be achieved. Water that freezes inside the fruit cell walls helps to keep the acai mixture chilly and thick. Grocery stores sell various types of frozen fruits, which are convenient and sometimes affordable. For fresh fruit you have on hand, freeze it inside a plastic bag in a single layer until solid.
Acai Bowl (4 Easy Recipes!)
Ingredients
Berry Acai Bowl
- 1 packet frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- ¼ cup coconut water
- 2 tablespoons greek yogurt, plain
- ½ cup frozen banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup frozen blueberries
- ¼ cup frozen raspberries
- 1 teaspoon honey, or maple syrup (optional)
Protein Acai Bowl
- 1 packet frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- ¼ cup cashew milk, or almond milk, unsweetened
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or almond butter
- 2 tablespoons greek yogurt, plain or dairy-free yogurt
- protein powder, as recommended by product for 1 serving (optional)
- ½ cup frozen banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- 1 teaspoon honey, or maple syrup (optional)
Superfood Acai Bowl
- 1 packet frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- ¼ cup pomegranate juice, or cranberry juice, grape or apple juice
- 1 teaspoon Matcha powder
- ½ cup baby spinach, packed
- ½ cup baby kale, packed
- ½ cup frozen banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- ¼ cup frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup frozen blueberries
- ¼ cup frozen blackberries
- ½ cup frozen raspberries
- 1 teaspoon honey, or maple syrup (optional)
Tropical Acai Bowl
- 1 packet frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- ¼ cup coconut milk, or coconut water or pineapple juice
- ½ cup frozen banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- ½ cup frozen mangoes
- ½ cup frozen pineapples
- 1 teaspoon honey, or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bowl – Place the serving bowl in the freezer.
- Defrost the Acai – Allow the frozen acai packet to slightly defrost at room temperature for a few minutes. Break into smaller pieces while still in the package.
Berry Acai Bowl
- Add coconut water, yogurt, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, acai, and sweeteners (if using) to a blender cup. Blend on medium speed, using the tamper to push down the fruit, for about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high, and process until thick, spoonable, and smooth, about 15 seconds. Add more coconut water if needed. Transfer the mixture to the bowl from the freezer and add desired toppings. Serve immediately.Suggested Toppings: Strawberries, pineapples, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwis, bananas, toasted coconut, hemp heart seeds.
Protein Acai Bowl
- Add cashew milk, almond butter, yogurt, protein powder (if using), bananas, strawberries, blueberries, acai, and sweetener (if using) to a blender cup. Blend on medium speed, using the tamper to push down the fruit, for about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high, and process until thick, spoonable, and smooth, about 15 seconds. Add more coconut water if needed. Transfer the mixture to the bowl from the freezer and add desired toppings. Serve immediately.Suggested Toppings: Nut butter, sliced almonds, quinoa granola, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chia seeds, hemp heart seeds.
Superfood Acai Bowl
- Add pomegranate juice, matcha powder, spinach, kale, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, acai, and sweetener (if using) to a blender cup. Blend on medium speed, using the tamper to help push down the fruit, for about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high, and process until thick, spoonable, and smooth, about 15 seconds. Add more coconut water if needed. Transfer the mixture to the bowl from the freezer and add desired toppings. Serve immediately.Suggested Toppings: Pomegranate arils, chia seeds, cacao nibs, strawberry, matcha powder, hemp heart seeds, banana, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, granola.
Tropical Acai Bowl
- Add coconut milk, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, acai, and sweetener (if using) to a blender cup. Blend on medium speed, using the tamper to help push down the fruit, for about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high, and process until thick, spoonable, and smooth, about 15 seconds. Add more coconut water if needed. Transfer the mixture to the bowl from the freezer and add desired toppings. Serve immediately.Suggested Toppings: Strawberry, banana, mango, pineapple, kiwi, toasted coconut flakes, hemp heart seeds.
Equipment
Notes
- Serving Size: About 2 cups. Makes one large bowl or 1 cup each for two small bowls.
- Freezing Bananas: Slice into ½-inch thick slices. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and spread into a single layer, seal, and close. Freeze until solid, about 3 hours or more.
- Freezing Fresh Fruit: Any other type of fruit can be frozen in a single layer until ready to use. Make sure pieces are no larger than 1 inch in size.
Ola Ipaye says
What a bunch of fantastic acai recipes! I’m not too familiar with acai and have never had it but ill definitely do my very best to get it hands on some form of the acai!
The smoothie bowls all look tasty too! I’ll be making one of sure.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you, Ola! I know you will love it. They sell the acai packs in the frozen food section, so it should be easy to find. Let me know what bowl you make!