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Suppose you want to save money and make the trendsetting Açaí Smoothie Bowl at home. In that case, this DIY guide has everything you need to know about the exquisite acai berry and how to feature it in an irresistible smoothie bowl adorned with any topping imaginable!

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Check out my Pineapple Raspberry Smoothie and my Peachy Berry Smoothie for more delicious smoothie recipes!
Acai bowls are a hot commodity on juice and smoothie bar menus. The gorgeous hot pink color is undoubtedly part of the appeal, but there’s much more to an acai smoothie bowl than its hue.
These bowls are a powerhouse of antioxidants and nutrient-dense calories, perfect for any meal, including dessert! The smoothie base is much thicker than your standard, sippable smoothie. It’s the ideal consistency to enjoy sundae-stye with your favorite tasty toppings and spoon.
The truth is, I was once a regular at my local juice bar, specifically for acai bowls, but they can be pricey instead. Fortunately, I discovered homemade acai bowls are quick, easy, and a much better bang for your buck!

Açaí berries (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) are inch-long, reddish-purple berries that look similar to grapes but grow on the açaí palm tree in the Amazon rainforests.
As for acai’s flavor, it has a genuinely unique profile. Berries typically become sweeter as they ripen. However, acai berries become more tangy and sour with a rich and earthy bitterness comparable to dark chocolate.
With only 70 calories per cup and three times more antioxidants than blueberries, acai certainly qualifies as a superfruit. They’re also rich in fatty acids, mainly oleic, palmitic, and linoleic.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Acai! This berry is super good for you, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than in a smoothie.
- It’s budget-friendly. Making acai bowls at home is more cost-effective than routine trips to your favorite smoothie shop.
- The versatility. These bowls are perfect for breakfast, snacks, and a guilt-free sweet treat.
- It’s a healthy dessert! This sweet, velvety smoothie base is as satisfying as sherbert with a fraction of the calories, fat, and sugar.
- Perfect for BYO acai bowl bars. Make a bag batch of the acai smoothie base to serve alongside an assortment of tasty toppings so everyone can build their perfect bowl!
Ingredients You'll Need

- Açaí Frozen Packets: Acai palm fruit is often frozen in perfect 1-2 serving packages, which is quite convenient for smoothie bowls. First, break up the large chunks in the package with your hands or the bottom of a heavy mug, then empty the packet directly into the blender.
- Apple Juice: You will need a liquid element to soften the frozen ingredients so they blend smoothly. I like using apple juice, but feel free to experiment with other unsweetened, 100% juice flavors here.
- Frozen Banana: Frozen from fresh or a bag of store-bought frozen bananas.
- Berries: Frozen bags of triple berry blend (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) are great to buy in bulk for all of your smoothie, smoothie bowl, and berry “nice” cream needs.
- Greek Vanilla Yogurt: Greek has more protein and less sugar than regular yogurt, and it’s much thicker, creamier, and tangier than its non-Greek counterpart. Instead of vanilla, you can use plain Greek yogurt or a different flavor and add a dash of vanilla extract to enhance flavor.
- Toppings: I like topping mine with sliced banana, sliced strawberries, crispy granola, and rich, syrupy honey, but there are no rules regarding what goes on top of an acai bowl. Most important is that the base is thick, creamy, and firm enough that the toppings do not sink to the bottom.
Step-By-Step Instructions

From start to finish, these bowls can be ready in under 10 minutes, but with the ingredients prepped and portioned out in advance, it’s as simple as pushing a button. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Make smoothie bowl base.
Add apple juice, frozen banana, frozen berries, yogurt, and acai pieces to a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Add ice to thicken smoothie base.
If the consistency seems thin, add ¼ - ½ cup of ice, and blend once more. Repeat until the base is a soft-serve-ice-cream-like texture.
Step 3: Divide between bowls.
Using a rubber spatula, scrape the thick, silky smoothie base from the blender into two shallow bowls.
Step 4: Add toppings and serve.
Layer the banana and strawberry slices on top, along with a neat pile of granola. Finish with a decorative drizzle of honey, and serve with a spoon.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

Expert Tips
- You’re aiming for a consistency similar to soft-serve that you can eat from a bowl with a spoon. If it’s too thin, you can add ice to fluff it up a bit.
- A powerful high-speed blender or food processor should be able to blend the frozen fruit without trouble. If the blades seem to struggle, add 1-2 tablespoons of warm apple juice or water to soften the frozen ingredients.
- You can freeze whole, unpeeled bananas or peel them first and freeze in an airtight bag. Keep in mind that the peels will continue browning in the freezer, and that’s okay! It doesn’t impact the flavor of the fruit.
- This smoothie is made with natural fruit, so there are no added sugars or sweeteners. If your smoothie is too tart, add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to balance it.
Variations
You can, of course, adjust the thickness to your likeness and drink this smoothie with a straw, but that limits room for toppings.
If you choose to enjoy your acai smoothie in a bowl, you have a blank canvas for toppings like:
- Creamy nut butter
- Cacao nibs
- Coconut flakes
- Chia or flax seeds
- Chopped pistachios or macadamia nuts
- Blueberries and blackberries
- Slivered almonds
- Sliced kiwi
- Starfruit
- Whipped coconut cream
- Cool Whip
- Dark chocolate chips or shavings
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Scoop the leftover pureed smoothie into a glass jar and keep it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Freezing: You can also freeze leftover acai smoothies in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Let thaw on the counter for about 2 ½ hours before enjoying. Likewise, you can let the frozen acai smoothie mixture soften for 5-10 minutes before pureeing in a high-speed blender.
Recipe FAQ's
Fresh and frozen berries are always interchangeable in smoothies, but the shelf life of fresh acai is brief, so you won’t find fresh acai in many places outside of its native region unless it’s frozen.
Nope! Adding kale, spinach, zucchini, avocado, celery, and other veggies is always a good idea! It may alter the color, but as for taste, no one will ever know you snuck in greens.
To make a dairy-free version, swap Greek yogurt with vegan Greek yogurt, canned coconut milk or coconut cream, vegan barista blend milk, and oat milk are great substitutions.
Other Recipes You'll Love
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Açaí Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 100 grams Açaí packet frozen and broken into pieces
- 6 ounces apple juice
- 1 small banana frozen
- 1 ½ cups frozen berries
- 5.3 ounces Greek vanilla yogurt
- ½ small banana sliced
- ¼ cup strawberries sliced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons granola
Instructions
- Add apple juice, frozen banana, frozen berries, yogurt, and acai pieces to a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- If the consistency seems thin, add ¼ - ½ cup of ice, and blend once more. Repeat until the base is a soft-serve-ice-cream-like texture.
- Using a rubber spatula, scrape the thick, silky smoothie base from the blender into two shallow bowls.
- Layer the banana and strawberry slices on top, along with a neat pile of granola. Finish with a decorative drizzle of honey, and serve with a spoon.
Notes
- You’re aiming for a consistency similar to soft-serve that you can eat from a bowl with a spoon. If it’s too thin, you can add ice to fluff it up a bit.
- A powerful high-speed blender or food processor should be able to blend the frozen fruit without trouble. If the blades seem to struggle, add 1-2 tablespoons of warm apple juice or water to soften the frozen ingredients.
- You can freeze whole, unpeeled bananas or peel them first and freeze in an airtight bag. Keep in mind that the peels will continue browning in the freezer, and that’s okay! It doesn’t impact the flavor of the fruit.
- This smoothie is made with natural fruit, so there are no added sugars or sweeteners. If your smoothie is too tart, add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to balance it.
- Storing: Scoop the leftover pureed smoothie into a glass jar and keep it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Freezing: You can also freeze leftover acai smoothies in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Let thaw on the counter for about 2 ½ hours before enjoying. Likewise, you can let the frozen acai smoothie mixture soften for 5-10 minutes before pureeing in a high-speed blender.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Angela
I never realized the acai berries had such a short shelf life, thanks for sharing. This looks fantastic, the acai bowls are popular at my Costco.
Patrice Rutledge
I love acai bowls and this one looks really delicious. My favorite toppings are coconut flakes, almonds, and cacao nibs.
Colleen | Bakes & Blunders
This is the perfect breakfast for me right now! Just got my braces tightened so a smoothie bowl is a great way for me to slurp up a tasty, healthy meal.
Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef
Deliciously healthy-looking breakfast, love Acai berries too they really make things pop!
Alison
This looks fantastic! Love the beautiful pink color which is bringing me feelings of spring on this cold February day!
Tawnie Kroll
Smoothie bowls are so refreshing, this bowl was so flavorful and satisfying. Thank you!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
Love that you made this lower in sugar and calories! Oftentimes you order a smoothie bowl and it has as many calories as a big old bowl of granola! Genius! Also love the toppings
Alyssa
Thanks so much for making a lower calorie version of this! My girls and I love acai bowls, but there's always so much added sugar. This is even better than the one at our favorite smoothie place.
Dannii
what a vibrant looking bowl. So many ways you can load it up too.