Smoothie bowls are a great way to start your day! This Thick Smoothie Bowl Recipe also makes great late-night snacks after a long day.
Why this recipe works
- It’s quick and easy to make a smoothie bowl.
- It’s easy to add different toppings to create a variety of flavors to the basic smoothie bowl.
Ingredient notes
- Blueberries: If you have fresh berries, it is best to freeze them first
- Strawberries: Cut the tops off and freeze
- Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Protein – Coconut protein powder adds a nice hint of sweetness from the coconut powder.
- Unsweetened almond milk
- Three scoops of Pyure Organic Stevia (optional)
- Toppings: frozen strawberry slices, frozen whole blueberries, unsweetened shredded coconut
See the recipe card for a complete list and quantities.
Step-by-step Instructions
For best results, freeze your fruit and liquids before putting them in the blender. Starting with frozen ingredients will ensure a thick consistency for your smoothie bowl.
- Place frozen fruit in your blender.
- 1 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
- 1 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries
- For my thickener, I have found a great protein addition that has a hint of coconut flavor called Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Protein. It is organic and non-genetically modified, with a blend of coconut powder, pumpkin powder, and pea powder. A serving gives you 20 grams of plant protein and 30% of your daily iron needed.
- Next add somesweetness. Pyure Organic Stevia is my choice for adding a little sweetness. This jar only has stevia, no other ingredients such as sugar or alcohol sweeteners.
- Add 1 1/3 cups unsweetened almond milk. Depending on your blender and frozen fruit, you might need to add more or less to create a thick smoothie.
- Blend on high for 1 minute or until your fruit is smooth. If your smoothie does not blend well, allow the fruit to thaw a few minutes and try again. If you are in a hurry, you can add a tablespoon of almond milk in increments until your blender makes the fruit smooth.
Tips for making a thick smoothie bowl
A smoothie bowl needs to have the consistency of soft serve ice cream to be eaten with a spoon instead of sipping with a straw.
- A great way to make a thick smoothie bowl is to start with frozen fruit such as frozen bananas or berries. When fresh fruit starts to get too ripe, I prep it for the freezer. For example, if a banana is too brown to eat, I peel them and break them in half. I place them in a zip-lock-type bag and freeze them. If I have very ripe berries, I put them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and freeze them for 24 hours. After that, I place them in a freezer zip-lock bag.
- Freeze juice such as apple or orange juice into ice cube trays. Once frozen, place them in a zip-lock bag or airtight container for easy access when you are ready to make a thick smoothie bowl.
- To make your smoothie thicker, you can also freeze almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk in the ice cube trays.
- Add raw oatmeal or chia seeds will help thicken a smooth bowl. Don’t cook them. Blend with your fruit raw.
- Use protein powder in your smoothie bowl to help thicken it to a creamy consistency.
- Buy a good high-speed blender. Investing in a good blender is well worth the money. I use a Vita-Mix. They have the strength to grind up any frozen fruit you like. Because they are so powerful, they require less liquid to make your smoothie which yields a thicker smoothie bowl.
✔️ Favorite toppings Ideas
If you like changing up the flavor of your smoothie bowl, here are some great options for toppings you can keep on hand in your pantry.
- granola
- pumpkin seed – these are an excellent option to substitute nuts
- unsweetened coconut flakes
- dark chocolate chips – I like to use Lilly’s because they are no sugar added and are made with stevia.
- fresh banana slices
- drizzle maple syrup
- mixed fresh berries
🔀Variations
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter
- You can use any unsweetened non-dairy milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or oat milk. We have banana almond milk in our local grocery store that would also be great to add to your smoothie bowl.
- 1/2 avocado
- Enjoy trying one of these Exotic Asian Fruits added to your bowl. They have beautiful vibrant colors, unique rinds, and a dazzling array of flavors that will dance on your palate.
Thick Smoothie Bowl Recipe Vegan
Get your mornings off to a great start with this deliciously creamy and Thick Smoothie Bowl Recipe. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand in your freezer, and it only takes a few minutes to blend up.
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Make a Shopping List for This Recipe
You can add any recipe from Intentional Hospitality to your shopping list to plan a full menu!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Blueberries, frozen
- 1 1/2 cup Strawberries, frozen
- 1 scoop Coconut protein powder, 20 grams of powder
- 1 1/3 cups Unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened almond milk. You might need to add more or less to create a thick smoothie depending on your blender and frozen fruit.
- Stevia, I like to add 3 scoops. The scooper comes inside the Pyure Organic Stevia jar.
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except toppings in a blender.
- Blend on high for 1 minute or until your fruit is smooth. If your smoothie does not blend well, allow the fruit to thaw a few minutes and try again. If you are in a hurry, you can add a tablespoon of almond milk in increments until your blender makes the fruit smooth.
- Pour in a bowl and top with frozen fruit and shredded coconut or any other favorite topping.
Notes
Topping Ideas
If you like changing up the flavor of your smoothie bowl, here are some great options for toppings you can keep on hand in your pantry.
- granola
- pumpkin seed – these are a good option to substitute nuts
- unsweetened coconut flakes
- dark chocolate chips – I like to use Lilly’s because they are no sugar added and are made with stevia.
- fresh banana slices
- drizzle maple syrup
- mixed fresh berries
Equipment
Serving: 1g, Calories: 181kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 241mg, Potassium: 296mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 18g, Vitamin A: 113IU, Vitamin C: 74mg, Calcium: 273mg, Iron: 2mg
Intentionalhospitality.com content and photographs are copyright-protected. Sharing this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in 2019, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions and tips, in January of 2022.