How To Make An Acai Bowl

Creating a delicious açaí bowl is easy and customizable. Here are tips on how to make an acai bowl, with simple step-by-step instructions, that can be tailored to your taste. 

It’s smoothie week!

You know I love a smoothie in a bowl (and overnight oats as a “doughy” smoothie bowl), and that I have a ton of smoothie recipes on KERF! They are both an easy way to get in a ton of nutrients in and an easy-to-digest meal. Smoothie bowls are a great way to get a head start on your nutrition when they are the first meal of your day. 

How To Make An Acai Bowl

I believe açaí bowls were some of the very first smoothie bowls to go mainstream (maybe followed by the popular Green Monster smoothies?!). They have a great thick, frozen texture and are packed with antioxidants from açaí fruit. I’ve seen them more on the west coast when I’ve traveled, like this one from Juice Wave in San Diego. Look at that peanut butter swirl!

As seen above with all the berries and hemp seeds, açaí bowls are also known for their decorative toppings from fresh fruit to granola to seeds to coconut flakes. I took a stab at a decorated Mermaid bowl a few years ago!

If you don’t have access to açaí, you can use any frozen berry you do have. The more purple the better!

Here’s how you can make a customizable, nutritious, and delicious açaí smoothie bowl at home. 

What Is An Acai Bowl?

Açaí: The correct pronunciation is ah-sign-EE.

An açaí bowl is a popular and nutritious dish made from the açaí berry, a fruit native to Central and South America, particularly the Amazon rainforest where it’s grown on the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea). The açaí berry is known for its dark purple color and health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, fiber, healthy fats, and various vitamins and minerals.

How To Make Acai Bowl At Home

To make an açaí bowl, frozen açaí puree (or powder) is blended with other fruits and liquids to create a thick, smoothie-like base. The mixture is then poured into a bowl and topped with an assortment of toppings, such as granola, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, and honey. The result is a visually appealing and delicious bowl that offers a blend of flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits.

Acai Berry Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1/4 cup açaí powder
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Toppings:

• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 banana, sliced
• 1/4 cup diced mango
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 kiwi, sliced
• 2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
• coconut flakes (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

In a food processor or high speed blender with a plunger (so you can get a thick texture), combine the frozen bananas, açaí powder, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, maple syrup, and Greek yogurt.

Step 2

Blend the ingredients until smooth and well combined.

Step 3

Pour the smoothie into a bowl.

Step 4

Arrange the toppings on the smoothie. Sprinkle chia seeds, sliced banana, diced mango, fresh blueberries, and sliced kiwi on top.

Step 5

Finally, add pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes as desired.

Step 6

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Açaí Bowl Ideas

Look for Açaí packets

Açaí packets can be found in the freezer section at the grocery store, near the frozen fruit. This is the easiest way to get the base for your bowl for any homemade acai bowl recipe.

Up the protein

Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the açaí mixture. My favorite at the moment is Tera’s Whey Bourbon Vanilla. It’s made from grass-fed milk and tastes great. 

Add some greens!

I add baby spinach to almost every smoothie. Why not get a little bit more green in your life!? The color might go deeper, but you can’t taste it at all. 

Make it dairy free / sub other milks

If you don’t have yogurt on hand, you can use almond milk or your milk of choice.

A little frozen banana…

Goes a long way! I love frozen banana to make smoothie bowls extra fluffy and creamy. Add half of one with your acai for the best texture. 

Acai Bowl Topping List

Here’s a great list of acai bowl toppings along with their nutritional benefits to help you mix things up while adding a healthy boost!

Fruit Toppings 

1. Banana – High in potassium, helps with muscle recovery and energy.
2. Strawberries – Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, great for skin health.
3. Blueberries – Loaded with antioxidants, supports brain function.
4. Mango – Packed with vitamin A and fiber, good for digestion.
5. Pineapple – Contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids digestion and reduces inflammation.
6. Kiwi – High in vitamin C, supports immunity and digestion.

Nut & Seed Toppings

1. Almonds – High in healthy fats and vitamin E, supports heart health.
2. Walnuts – Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, great for brain function.
3. Chia Seeds – High in fiber, omega-3s, and protein, helps with digestion.
4. Flaxseeds – Packed with fiber and lignans, supports hormone balance.
5. Hemp Seeds – High in protein and healthy fats, supports muscle recovery.
6. Pumpkin Seeds – Rich in magnesium and zinc, good for immunity and sleep.

Crunchy Toppings

1. Granola – Provides fiber and crunch, but choose low-sugar options.
2. Coconut Flakes – Contains healthy fats, supports metabolism.
3. Cacao Nibs – High in antioxidants and iron, boosts mood and energy.
4. Goji Berries – Packed with antioxidants and vitamin A, supports skin health.

Drizzles & Extras

1. Nut Butter (Peanut, Almond, Cashew) – Adds protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
2. Honey – Natural energy booster with antibacterial properties.
3. Maple Syrup – Contains trace minerals like zinc and manganese.
4. Greek Yogurt – High in protein and probiotics for gut health.

Meal Prep Acai Bowls

Here are some tips for meal-prepping acai bowls to make them even easier to enjoy:

Pre-Portion Your Acai Base

• Blend acai with your usual fruits and liquid (like milk or coconut water).
• Pour into ice cube trays, muffin tins, silicone muffin cups, or freezer-safe containers.
• When ready to eat, let it thaw slightly and stir together if needed for the best consistency.

Freeze Topping Ingredients

• Wash and pre-slice your toppings like strawberries and blueberries so you can quickly add them when you’re ready.
• Make a batch of granola on the weekend to have for your weekday bowls.

Make Smoothie Packs

• In a freezer-safe bag, add pre-portioned acai, frozen banana, frozen berries, and spinach.
• When ready, just dump the bag into a blender, add liquid, and blend.

Here are some other delicious recipes!

• Tropical Açaí Bowl – from Cookie & Kate
• Raspberry Açaí Bowl – from Bakerita
• Lime Zinger Açaí Bowl – from Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Have you made your own açaí bowl? Do you have any favorite toppings?

You may also enjoy:

• Homemade Overnight Oats
• Make The Best Smoothie Tips & Tricks
• My Favorite Everyday Smoothie