If you don't find smoothies very filling, then why not try a smoothie bowl that is loaded with toppings. Smoothies bowls are a great way to get fruit in to your diet, and there are so many different flavour combinations, that you can never get bored. Here you will find how to make a smoothie bowl, with lots of different options.
This Smoothie Bowl is a filling and balanced meal that is packed full of deliciousness. You can use any kind of smoothie as the base, just make sure it is thicker than a normal smoothie that you would drink, and load it with more fruit and crunchy toppings. In this post we will give you lots of options for the smoothie, and the toppings.
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Why you will love it
- Nutrient dense
- More filling than a smoothie
- Easy to adapt
- Kids love them
Step by step
One: Put all of the ingredients in to a blender and blend until smooth.
Two: Pour into a bowl and add toppings.
What fruit to add
There are so many options here when it comes to what fruit to use. We went for a berry mix (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries) and banana. Use a frozen banana if you want a super cold smoothie, or you could just add some ice cubes if your banana isn't frozen. A frozen banana will help to thicken it too.
Any kind of berries work in this, and we also like to add cherries and blackberries. Bear in mind that the fruit you use can effect the colour of the smoothie. Berries will make it a bright pink/purple colour.
If you want more of a tropical flavour to this smoothie, then use pineapple and mango. Try to make sure these are frozen too, and you will have yourself a super refreshing smoothie. Using these fruits will make it a nice vibrant yellow colour.
Using frozen fruit means that you can make this smoothie bowl all year round and use fruits that might not be in season.
Green smoothie
Why not give this smoothie bowl a green boost. If you don't want it to taste "green", then just use a handful of spinach. Bear in mind that it will turn it more of a brown colour. You could also use kale, Swiss chard, pak choi, romaine lettuce or even the green carrot tops, which is a great way to reduce waste. But these will give the smoothie bowl a different flavour.
You need to use a lot of greens to get that super green colour. See our Green Smoothie recipe for a really green drink!
What milk to use
You have lots of options when it comes to the milk used in this recipe. We used standard whole milk, however you could make this a vegan smoothie by using a plant based milk like almond milk, cashew or oat milk and replacing the honey with maple syrup.
To make this smoothie creamier and add some extra flavour, swap 50ml of the milk for coconut milk. This will really help to thicken the smoothie too.
You could use water instead of milk, however I wouldn't recommend doing that because it would make it really thin and won't be spoonable.
What toppings to use
A smoothie bowl is all about the toppings. Whilst the smoothie itself is important, the toppings are where you can get really creative and add lots of texture and extra nutrients.
Extra fruit on top is a must. It adds lots of colour and gives it more of a berry boost. You then want to give it lots of crunch, so some oats, nuts (cashews and peanuts) and some coconut are the way to go.
Give the smoothie bowl a protein boost with a sprinkle of chia seeds. You could also add a drizzle of nut butter to finish it off.
What can you use instead of banana?
I think bananas are kind of essential in this smoothie. Not only to they add lots of sweetness, but they thicken it too. If bananas aren't your thing, then you could use avocado instead. Fruits like mango would help to thicken it also.
Nut butter will also give the smoothie some creaminess if you aren't using banana.
Can it be made in advance?
It's always best to make this just before you are ready to eat it. However, if you have leftovers of the smoothie then you can keep it in the fridge in an air tight container for a day or two.
Don't add the toppings until you are ready to eat it, as they will start to go soggy.
FAQ
We used honey to sweeten the smoothie, however if you want it to be a vegan smoothie then swap it for maple syrup. The riper the fruit used, the sweeter it will be naturally. You don't have to use any added sweetener at all.
More smoothie recipes
If you’ve tried this smoothie bowl recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
How To Make A Smoothie Bowl (in 2 minutes!)
Ingredients
- 1 Banana
- 200 g (1.25 cups) Frozen berries
- 300 ml (1.25 cups) Whole milk
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Optional toppings
- Banana
- Chia seeds
- Cashews
- Oat and bran mix
- Fresh berries
- Coconut
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients in to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour in to a bowl and add toppings.
Notes
- If you don't have frozen fruit, then you can add ice cubes to the blender instead.
- Try to make the smoothie from fresh. However if you want to prep it in advance, then you can put everything except the liquid in a freezer bag and freeze until you need it.
- Don't add too much liquid, as you want to smoothie to be nice and thick, so the toppings don't sink. It should be the texture of soft serve ice cream.
Danielle Wolter
Smoothie bowls are a great way to start the morning. I like mine with bananas and granola. Thanks for the great idea!
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter
Love how vibrant and nutritious this smoothie is! Perfect for the warmer spring weather too!
Kay
Love the colour of this smoothie bowl! I am going to give this a go instead of my usual porridge tomorrow!
Kate
This is SO pretty! You're right that I never really find smoothies that filling, but this sounds like a great way to make them a bit more substantial - and go to town on the toppings! Yum.
Jo
All I can say is this smoothie bowl was amazing! My family loved it!
Beth Sachs
Oh my goodness the colour of the berries is amazing! Love smoothie bowls for breakie.
Wanda
We love making smoothie bowls here! It's such a fun way to be adventurous with smoothies! Bookmarking!
veenaazmanov
Love the smoothie and its combinations and the topping are all so crunchy and yum. Perfect breakfast or a Happy Bowl meal by itself.
Bintu | Budget Delicious
I love a smoothie bowl - especially for breakfast. They're so delicious and filling.
Angela
I am obsessed with smoothie bowls and this one is perfection! Love that I can make this at home and add whatever toppings I like. YUM!
April
What a great way to make a tasty smoothie even better. This is my new go-to breakfast.
Chris @ Shared Appetite
What a fun idea!! I never thought of having a smoothie in a bowl! Loving all the toppings you can add! It's almost like a breakfast soup!