Everything you need to know to make your own Acai Bowl Recipe from home!
With four recipe variations, ingredient suggestions for bowls and toppings, plus top tips, this is your ultimate guide to creating the perfect acai bowl recipe.
Table of Contents
- Acai Bowl Recipe
- What Is Acai?
- How To Make an Acai Bowl Recipe
- Where To Buy Acai For These Bowls:
- Acai Bowl Recipe Tips
- Topping Ideas:
- Acai Bowl Recipe Serving Suggestion
- More Breakfast Recipes
- Acai Bowl Recipe Recipe
- Peanut Butter Bliss Acai Bowl
- Tropical Acai Bowl
- Lime Zinger Acai Bowl
- The Easiest Acai Bowl Recipe:
Acai Bowl Recipe
My mom grew up in Brazil and later returned for a few years as an adult. While she often talks about fudgy Brigadeiros, the best mangoes you’ll ever eat, and the creamiest, sweetest Brazilian lemonade, everyone in our family knows how she feels about açaí bowls, especially the ones we make with our favorite Acai Bowl Recipe.
She was thrilled when açaí products hit the U.S., and her passion has made us experts at finding and making the very best açaí bowls with our favorite recipe!
What Is Acai?
- The acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a small (about an inch long) deep purple fruit.
- It comes from the acai palm tree, which is native to Central and South America and a key ingredient in our Acai Bowl Recipe.
- Acai tastes like a combination of wild berries and chocolate.
How To Make an Acai Bowl Recipe
They are truly as simple as blending a few ingredients together, pouring the mixture into a bowl, and adding your favorite toppings according to the recipe below. They’re really that easy to do, especially when following a reliable Acai Bowl Recipe!
Where To Buy Acai For These Bowls:
- Acai puree packets: I love Pure Unsweetened® by Sambazon.)
- Acai powder (buy acai powder or in-store)
- To make a recipe with acai powder, substitute 1 tablespoon acai powder for the packet.
You’ll Also Need: A high-powered blender, such as Vitamix or Blendtec.
Acai Bowl Recipe Tips
- Prepare Ahead of Time: Everything needs to be frozen ahead of time. This is what gives the bowl its signature thickness and allows for optimal topping! Using frozen ingredients is key in this recipe.
- Consistency is Key: The more frozen your ingredients are, the thicker your bowl will be.
To Freeze Bananas: Use slightly overripe ones for more flavor. Peel, slice into 1-inch pieces, and space on a parchment-lined tray to freeze. Then, store in freezer bags (lasts 3-4 months). Use straight from the freezer for a perfect addition to your bowl.
Topping Ideas:
- Honey (skip if vegan)
- Vanilla almond granola, or your favorite homemade or store-bought granola
- Fresh fruit such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mango, banana, peaches, pineapple, kiwi, apple, etc.
- Flaked coconut
- Chia seeds
- Cacao nibs, or chopped dark chocolate, or miniature chocolate chips
- Hemp seeds
- Flax seeds
Acai Bowl Recipe Serving Suggestion
At my mom’s parties, instead of a dessert bar, she sets up an acai bar with her go-to recipe and a wide array of toppings. It’s so fun for guests to make their own Acai Bowl Recipe!
More Breakfast Recipes
- Chocolate Protein Shake tastes like a milkshake
- Green Smoothie you’ll never taste the greens
- Baked Oatmeal super chewy and soft
- Nutella Crepes simple to make
- Scrambled Eggs with simple ingredients
Acai Bowl Recipe
Learn how to make your own Acai Bowl at home with this simple base recipe. Check the notes for fun variations!
Equipment
- High-powered blender
Ingredients
Add to a high powered blender:
- 1 (100-gram) frozen acai berry packet see note 1
- 1/2 cup apple juice with no added sugar
- 1/2 cup frozen banana slices 1 small banana, see note 2
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
Add some toppings:
- 1 tablespoon honey see note 3
- 1 handful vanilla almond granola or a similar granola
- Fresh fruit such as fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and banana, sliced thinly or chopped
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 to 2 tablespoons coconut
Instructions
- Blend acai berry packet, apple juice, banana, strawberries, and blueberries with a high-powered blender (see note 4) until smooth. Pour into a bowl.
- Top bowl with as much (or as little) of your favorites such as granola, thinly sliced fresh fruit, chia seeds, and coconut! Drizzle 1 tablespoon honey over toppings. Enjoy immediately.
- Vegan: To make this recipe vegan, replace honey with maple syrup and confirm granola being used is vegan.
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Consistency is key. The more frozen your ingredients are, the thicker your bowl will be.
Note 2: To freeze bananas, use slightly overripe ones for more flavor. Peel, slice into 1-inch pieces, and space on a parchment-lined tray to freeze. Then, store in freezer bags (lasts 3-4 months). Use straight from freezer.
Note 3: If you don’t add honey on top, I recommend adding it to the mixture beforehand
Note 4: It’s important to use a high-powered blender. Less powerful blenders will struggle to crush the frozen fruits and by the time it does, it won’t be as thick.
Storage: Once blended, bowls are best eaten immediately. They don’t store well.
Nutrition Note: Nutrition information does not include the optional toppings.
Additional Bowl Recipes:
Peanut Butter Bliss Acai Bowl
Add the following to a blender:- 1 package frozen acai berry packet, 100 grams
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate almond milk
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 tablespoon honey (if you don’t add this on top, I recommend adding it to the mixture beforehand)
- A handful of vanilla almond granola, or a similar store-bought or homemade granola
- 1/2 of 1 banana, very thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon chopped dark chocolate or cacao nibs
- 1-2 tablespoons coconut
Tropical Acai Bowl
Add the following to a blender:- 1 package frozen acai berry packet, 100 grams
- 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk, 116 grams
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/3 cup frozen strawberries 46 grams
- 1/3 cup frozen pineapple 55 grams
- 1/3 cup frozen blueberries 50 grams
- 1 tablespoon honey (if you don’t add this on top, I recommend adding it to the mixture beforehand)
- A handful of vanilla almond granola, or a similar store-bought or homemade granola
- 1/2 of 1 kiwi, halved and very thinly sliced
- A handful of fresh pineapple or mango, thinly sliced into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoons coconut
Lime Zinger Acai Bowl
Add the following to a blender:- 1 package frozen acai berry packet, 100 grams
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup coconut water 116 grams
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/3 cup frozen strawberries 50 grams
- 1/3 cup frozen pineapple 51 grams
- 1/3 cup frozen blueberries 46 grams
- 1/3 cup frozen peaches 51 grams
- 1 tablespoon honey (if you don’t add this on top, I recommend adding it to the mixture beforehand)
- A handful of vanilla almond granola, or a similar store-bought/homemade granola
- Several strawberries halved or thinly sliced
- Handful of blackberries
- Handful of blueberries
- 1-2 tablespoons coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
The Easiest Acai Bowl Recipe:
Add the following to a blender:- 1 cup frozen triple-berry blend berries
- 1 tablespoon acai powder
- 1/2- 3/4 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon honey (if you don’t add this on top, I recommend adding it to the mixture beforehand)
- A handful of vanilla almond granola, or a similar store-bought/homemade granola
- A handful of fresh fruit
- 1-2 tablespoons coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My first attempt at making an Acai bowl was an epic fail as I don’t own a high power blender. Had to add extra liquid in order to make any progress whatsoever. It still tasted good though! Is cold water ok to use versus apple juice?
I’m sorry! It’s tough without a good blender. Water can work, but it will take away quite a bit of the flavor.
Hi Chelsea. I noticed that Nancy commented on bananas. I also would like to know alternatives. I’m allergic to both bananas and avocado. 😔. I’d really like to try these, but I have no idea what else to use. Thanks.
I’m so sorry Linda, I don’t know a great alternative to banana besides avocado! You could try a ripe mango, but I haven’t personally tested that. Sorry to not be of more help!
It’s an amazing idea and very helpful for everyone. Thanks for share
Thanks so much! So thrilled you’re enjoying! 🙂
Great website, thanks for the great recipes… I’ll use them again in the future 😉 THANK YOU !!! Greetings
This means so much! Thanks! <3
Just bought a bowl today and figured look up recipes make them myself, I cook, bake and grill. So my daughter and I are going to be trying out your recipes. Thank you!
Ahh yay! I hope you love! 🙂
Chelsea,
Thank you so much for these recipes! Since the first açaí bowl I had a a local coffee bar, I’ve been wanting to make my own!! Love, love, love them…!!! Any ideas where or how to get the freshest coconut flakes??
I am so happy to hear this! There is nothing better than a fresh Acai Bowl! You can actually find homemade coconut flake recipes online, or I always love a fresh, organic one from Trader Joes! 🙂