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

pink smoothie bowl with banana and granola topping.

Why Eat Smoothie Bowls?
Ingredients in Smoothie Bowls
Let’s Chat Toppings!
Making Smoothie Bowls Thicker
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Healthy Smoothie Bowl Recipe

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 butter.

Ingredients in Smoothie Bowls

The sky is truly 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 primary ingredients I use to make my ultimate smoothie bowl recipes:

Frozen Banana– I highly recommend using frozen banana when making a smoothie bowl. It makes your smoothie thicker so it’s easier to eat with a spoon. It also adds natural sweetness.
Frozen Berries – Choose from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or mixed berries. You can also omit berries for other frozen fruit such as mango, peach or pineapple
Protein Powder– A great source of protein, this helps to give your smoothie bowl some staying power so you’re not hungry again an hour later. Pick a flavor you prefer like vanilla or chocolate. You can use vegan or plant-based protein powder or a whey protein powder. I like the ritual protein powder.
Nut Butter 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 allergic to nuts or even avocado for a non-nut or seed fat.
Almond Milk – You can also use a different non-dairy milk or dairy milk. This is the base liquid that will help to blend your smoothie together
Veggies – these are entirely optional but you can add in hidden veggies like spinach, kale or steamed and frozen cauliflower for a nutritional boost that still tastes like dessert.

ingredients in a smoothie bowl recipe - frozen berries, frozen bananas, almond milk, nut butter, spinach and protein powder

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

Let’s Chat Toppings!

Granola – you really can’t go wrong with granola on your smoothie bowls. I love this apple cinnamon granola or this almond cranberry granola but you can also use store-bought.
Fresh fruit – banana slices, fresh berries or whatever fresh fruit you have on hand
Nuts/Nut Butter – Top with chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans or coconut flakes. You could also drizzle with nut butter like almond butter or peanut butter. If you’re allergic to nuts, pumpkin seeds are delicious and a great source of nutrition.
Seeds – In addition to nuts (or instead of nuts), seeds are a delicious topping. Chia seeds or flaxseed are great sources of fiber and antioxidants. Hemp seeds are a fantastic option too.
Sweetener – I personally find this smoothie bowl recipe sweet enough but if you’d like to add more sweetness I recommend using a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

Making Smoothie Bowls Thicker

They key to making a delicious smoothie bowl is to ensure it is thick enough to eat with a spoon. Texture is everything. Here are my go-to tips for making your smoothie recipes thicker:

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

Use protein powder – almost all protein powder will help to thicken your smoothie.

Chia seeds – chia seeds absorb liquid so adding a tablespoon will help to thicken up your smoothie.

Reduce liquid – Try to not use more than a 1/4 cup of almond milk or other liquid. If you use too much your smoothie bowl will be 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 personally don’t use it but if you happen to have some on hand and want to try it out start with a 1/2 tsp and gradually increase if desired.

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