Acai bowls are my most favorite light and refreshing breakfast/snack. They’re smooth and creamy, yet with chunks of fruits and seeds on top — the best of both worlds!
The Drozhzhin family acai bowl obsession started when we took a trip to the Big Island in Hawaii. There was a shop near our resort that made the most delicious bowls. It quickly became our go-to spot for breakfast almost every morning of the entire trip (and occasionally for snacks at various times throughout the day). I’m pretty sure the shop employees were tired of us by the end of the week!
Today, it’s easier to make these bowls at home than to go back to Hawaii (although the temptation is real!). I’ve learned to make them nearly as good as their Hawaiian counterparts and our entire family loves them. With all the different fruits in an acai bowl, it’s no wonder it’s known for being packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. At home, I’m able to control the amount of extra sugar (if any!) I add to the bowls, making them even better for me and my men. It makes me so happy to see them chowing down these bowls because I know they are getting good stuff in every bite.
Hot tip: Sometimes, I even blend in some leafy greens to sneak a serving of veggies in. It’s the oldest “mom trick” in the book, am I right?
So…What Is an Acai Bowl?
Your definition of an acai bowl might be slightly different than someone else’s. The beauty of the acai bowl is in the eye of the beholder! Our acai bowl recipe has a smooth base of blended acai berries and fruits which is then topped with chia seeds, granola, shredded coconut, and/or banana slices. Other people’s bowls might be slightly different but the main idea is the same everywhere — fruitiness and creativity!
How To Make an Acai Bowl
Acai bowls are super easy to make… you’ll be wondering why you haven’t made them sooner! With just a few more steps than a traditional smoothie, you’ll have a power packed breakfast in no time!
- Blend the acai mixture: Combine the acai packets and the fruits in a blender. Blend until it is smooth!
- Add on the toppings: Top the bowl with as many toppings as you like. Serve and enjoy!
Tips For The Best Acai Bowl
We can’t all afford to go to Hawaii every time we crave fresh acai bowls, right? So, here are my tips to get a Hawaiian-like acai bowl each time you make it at home.
- Use any fruits and veggies: Berries, peaches, plums, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, mangoes — you seriously can’t go wrong with fruits to blend into your bowl! Blend in a bit of spinach or kale to the acai to add in a sneaky serving of veggies. Whatever you do, opt for frozen versions (they blend more cream-ily) and use the freshest ingredients you can get your hands on.
- Make it easy with acai packets: Trader Joe’s has an amazing unsweetened acai packet in the frozen section that is both affordable and tasty. These packets are amazing little acai bowl starters and they add a nice deep flavor and color. I’ve had great success with Pitaya Foods dragonfruit smoothie packs or any smoothie-like base, too!
- Pull out the blender: Acai bowls are best when they are velvety smooth in texture. Use a quality blender like a Blendtec or for individual portions, this hand blender works well, too.
- Add crunchy toppings: I love the combination of smooth and crunchy, so crunchy toppings are a must for me. Some options included dried fruits, nuts or seeds, and granola.
- Top with a sweet “sauce”: If you like “saucy” toppings, drizzle on some nut butter, nutella, honey, agave, or syrup.
- Serve immediately: Enjoy your acai bowl right away. The puckery flavors really pop when the acai is still frozen!
Hot tip: If you really want to maximize your dollar and control your sugar intake, make your own coconut granola or chocolate granola to sprinkle on top!
More Nutritious Snacks
- Coconut Bars — Filled with natural sweetness and a great treat
- Date Snickers — Quick to prepare, and tastes just like Snickers!
- Air Fryer Apple Chips — Only two ingredients and a great lunch snack
- Roasted Okra — A simply-seasoned, roasted snack
Recipe
Ingredients
Acai
- 2 bananas
- 1 mango
- 1/2 papaya
- 1 cup strawberries
- 4 packets of acai mix
Acai Toppings
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup granola
- 1/4 cup coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh berries
Instructions
- Combine all the fruits and the acai mix in a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a serving bowl. Top with your favorite berries, seeds, and granola. Serve right away.
I like it, please guide me,,to start one hotel in tamilnadu India, give me recipe
Hi Arul, In the blog post the recipe is shared on the bottom. I hope this helps.
This is amazing can this be made and sold...!
Oh dear, this is too kind! thank you!
Just whipped this up for breakfast, turned out so good!!!! And so pretty too.
Aimee, so good to hear. Thank you for sharing.
Not only was this delicious but has an absolute beautiful presentation! So pretty in a bowl.
Jen, thank you. So happy you loved it.
These look so delicious! I love that you can customize it with whichever fruit you have. These will be great for breakfast or as a snack after working out.
Julie, I am so glad to hear this. Thank you for sharing!