ULTIMATE smoothie bowl recipe – The Healthy Maven

The perfect healthy breakfast in one – smoothie bowls! A healthy smoothie bowl recipe made with frozen berries, bananas, and yummy toppings. A smoothie bowl recipe that’s thick, creamy and eaten with a spoon.

Why Eat Smoothie Bowls?

Aside from being packed full of delicious and healthy ingredients, smoothie bowls are the perfect compromise for breakfast or snack lovers who prefer to eat their smoothies with a spoon.

They’re also a great way to sneak in hidden veggies and the perfect vehicle for delicious toppings like granola, almonds, chia seeds, or nut butters.

Ingredients in smoothie bowls

The sky really is the limit when it comes to smoothie bowl recipes. Mixing and matching is the perfect way to find your unique smoothie bowl recipe. These are the main ingredients I use to make my ultimate smoothie bowl recipes:

Frozen Banana– I highly recommend using frozen bananas when making a smoothie bowl. It thickens your smoothie, making it easier to eat with a spoon. It also adds natural sweetness.

Frozen berries – Choose between strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or mixed berries. You can also omit berries for other frozen fruits like mango, peach, or pineapple

protein powder– A great source of protein that will add some staying power to your smoothie bowl so you won’t be hungry an hour later. Choose a flavor you prefer, like vanilla or chocolate. You can use vegan or plant-based protein powder, or a whey protein powder.

nut butters or healthy fats – I like to use either peanut butter or almond butter (plus more on top!), but you can also use seed butter if you’re allergic to nuts, or even avocado for a non-nut or seed fat.

Almond milk – You can also use another plant-based milk or whole milk. This is the base liquid that will help you blend your smoothie

vegetables – These are totally optional, but you can add hidden veggies like spinach, kale, or steamed and frozen cauliflower for a nutrient boost that still tastes like dessert.

Let’s talk about toppings!

The true MVP of smoothie recipes has to be the toppings. You can get really creative with your toppings depending on your preferences. Here are my favorite toppings:

granola – You really can’t go wrong with muesli on your smoothie bowls. I love this apple cinnamon granola or this almond cranberry granola, but you can use store-bought too.

Fresh fruit – Banana slices, fresh berries or whatever fresh fruit you have on hand

nuts/nut butter – Garnish with chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or coconut flakes. You can also drizzle with nut butters like almond butter or peanut butter. If you’re allergic to nuts, pumpkin seeds are delicious and a great source of nutrition.

seed – Along with nuts (or instead of nuts), seeds make a delicious smoothie bowl topping. Chia seeds or flaxseeds are great sources of fiber and antioxidants. Hemp seeds are also a fantastic option.

sweetener – Personally, I find this smoothie bowl recipe sweet enough, but if you want to add more sweetness, I recommend using a dash of honey or maple syrup.

Make smoothie bowls thicker

The key to making a delicious smoothie bowl is making sure it’s thick enough to eat with a spoon. texture is everything. Here are my tips for making your smoothie recipes thicker:

Use frozen fruit – Make sure your bananas and berries are frozen. Frozen fruit keeps your smoothie thick.

Use protein powder – Almost all protein powders help thicken your smoothie.

Chia seeds – Chia seeds absorb liquid, so adding a tablespoon will help thicken your smoothie.

reduce liquid – Try not to use more than 1/4 cup of almond milk or other liquid. If you use too much, your smoothie bowl will become too soupy and difficult to eat with a spoon.

Try avocado – Add chunks of avocado (frozen is even better!) to thicken your smoothie.

Note: Some people recommend using xanthan gum to thicken your smoothie. I don’t personally use it, but if you have some on hand and want to try it, start with 1/2 teaspoon and gradually increase if you’d like.

More smoothie + smoothie bowl recipes:

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