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.

Acai Bowl Recipe in a bowl.

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.
All the ingredients used in this smoothie bowl prepped out for easy assembly.

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.

Acai bowl recipe topping options laid out.

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!

All four different options of smoothie bowls prepped out.

More Breakfast Recipes

4.76 from 29 votes

Acai Bowl Recipe

Learn how to make your own Acai Bowl at home with this simple base recipe. Check the notes for fun variations!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 servings

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:
Side-by-side photos of a Peanut Butter Bliss Acai Bowl and an ingredient shot

Peanut Butter Bliss Acai Bowl

Add the following to a blender:
  • 1 package frozen acai berry packet100 grams
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup chocolate almond milk
  • 1 small frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
Top each bowl with the following: (Below are my recommendations; add your favorite toppings and add to your desired quantity. These topping suggestions are for one Acai Bowl.)
  • 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
Side-by-side photos of a Tropical Acai Bowl and an ingredient shot

Tropical Acai Bowl

Add the following to a blender:
  • 1 package frozen acai berry packet100 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
Top each bowl with the following: (Below are my recommendations; add your favorite toppings and add to your desired quantity. These topping suggestions are for one Acai Bowl.)
  • 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
Side-by-side photos of a Lime Zinger Acai Bowl and an ingredient shot

Lime Zinger Acai Bowl

Add the following to a blender:
  • 1 package frozen acai berry packet100 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
Top each bowl with the following: (Below are my recommendations; add your favorite toppings and add to your desired quantity. These topping suggestions are for one acai bowl.)
  • 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
Top each bowl with the following: (Below are my recommendations; add your favorite toppings and add to your desired quantity. These topping suggestions are for one Acai Bowl.)
  • 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.

 

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping byโ€”I hope you find something delicious to make!

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4.76 from 29 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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70 Comments

  1. Gloria says:

    5 stars
    For the first bowl recipe (the basic one) is it 254 calories per serving? So half of what the recipe makes?

  2. Peggy says:

    5 stars
    Thank you! mahalo, merci, grazia, gracias, and xie xie!! These are the cultures my family has lived in and loves food from, and it is a favorite for every one of them!! Thank you and thank your mom for sharing too please!! So carefully written and shared! So yummy and feels good too!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      You are so sweet! Thanks so much for your kind comment! So glad you and your family enjoyed! ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. Paul says:

      Hi, the acai berry packet, how healthy is it? Id imagine it has preser atives if its sold in a package. Can u buy the berries themaelves at a whole foods?

      1. anonymous says:

        the one i get is just pure frozen acai berries nothing else added ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Jonathan says:

    Aรงaรญ bowls are not American as written in the recipe card! They are Brazilian.

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I know, I’m so sorry my recipe card has auto-populated “cuisines” and for whatever reason doesn’t have an option for Brazilian; I just sent an email to my developer, hopefully can get that fixed. Thanks!

  4. Rich says:

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe, looks absolutely delicious! I’m currently writing up some content regarding Acai and I would love to share your recipe to my readers! Either way, thanks for the recipe, cant wait to try it out!

    Rich

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Thanks Rich!

  5. Sara says:

    5 stars
    This is awesome! Acai bowls are my fave at the Farmer’s Market but so expensive. Thanks for the recipe!!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      You’re welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Stephanie says:

    5 stars
    I love acai bowls! These were all so delicious!

  7. Natalie says:

    5 stars
    I LOVE these!! The tropical one is my favorite! They are a great, filling, & healthy way to start the day!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      Yay! So happy to hear that! Thanks Natalie ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Toni says:

    5 stars
    I love each of these!! They all taste SO good!

  9. Jean says:

    Once made, can it be frozen?

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I wouldn’t recommend re-freezing once it’s made (especially if its been topped)

  10. Nancy says:

    5 stars
    Do you know if there is a substitute for bananas? Otherwise, the recipes sound awesome! Thank you!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      I’ve never personally tried anything else in these acai bowl recipes, but you could try half of an avocado to get a similar creaminess and thickness.