HOW TO MAKE AN ACAI BOWL: HOMEMADE ACAI BOWL RECIPE
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) bowls are an ideal refreshing meal or snack, packed full of nutrients and fresh tropical flavors. These brightly colored smoothie bowls are customizable to your tastes and allow you to explore new flavor combinations in the smoothie itself and in your toppings of choice. Acai berries are also rich in healthy fats and packed full of antioxidants, making them a nutritious and tasty addition to your smoothie.
Acai bowls were first popular in Brazil and are made from acai berries, which are native to South America. However, many smoothie shops and cafés serve variations on the traditional Brazilian acai bowl, mixing in different fruits and toppings. Read on to learn how to make an acai bowl at home.
WHAT IS AN ACAI BOWL?
An acai bowl is a delicious type of smoothie bowl that uses acai berries that are usually frozen and puréed. Its vibrant purple hue and tart flavor are a unique twist on your traditional smoothie bowl. It is often topped with granola, sliced banana, coconut flakes and other toppings for added texture and flavor.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN AN ACAI BOWL?
The typical acai bowl you would find at your local smoothie shop or café is usually made with frozen acai, some type of milk or juice and a blend of frozen fruit. However, there are many ways to customize an acai bowl to your liking. Experiment with various fruits like blueberries, bananas, strawberries, papaya or mango, use a different liquid base like almond or coconut milk, and add a wide variety of toppings from chia seeds to honey.
ACAI BOWL RECIPE
With your blender, you can easily create a decadent and nutritious acai bowl at home. Follow the steps below to learn how to customize your acai bowl while incorporating your favorite fruits or smoothie bowl toppings.
YIELDS
- 2 servings
TOOLS
Blender, like a KitchenAid® blender
PREP TIME
- 3 minutes
TOTAL TIME
- 7 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- Unsweetened acai puree
- Frozen blueberries
- Frozen banana
- Milk or juice of your choice
- Sweetener, like honey or agave (optional)
- Nut butter, greek yogurt or protein powder (optional)
- Toppings (granola, shredded coconut, fresh fruit, chia seeds, etc.)
STEP 1: PREP FRUIT
For a thick and spoonable consistency, you should use frozen fruit for your acai bowls. You can put fresh fruit in the freezer until fully frozen or buy bags of frozen fruit.
STEP 2: ADD FRUIT TO BLENDER
Once your fruit is fully frozen and ready to be blended, add in your frozen blueberries, acai puree and banana.
STEP 3: ADD LIQUID
You can add many different types of liquids to your acai bowl, all of which will yield slightly different consistencies and flavors. For a thinner texture and more simple flavor, you can simply add water. If you’d like a creamier smoothie bowl, use the milk of your choice.
Using richer milk like coconut milk will give the bowl a full texture and tropical taste, while adding oat or almond will add creaminess but with a more neutral flavor. You can also use coconut water, or apple or orange juice for added sweetness and fruity flavor.
STEP 4: ADD A PROTEIN OR FAT (OPTIONAL)
For a more filling smoothie bowl, you can add a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter, a scoop of your favorite protein powder or a dollop of Greek yogurt. However, these additions may slightly mask the flavor of the acai.
STEP 5: BLEND AND STIR
Once you have added all the ingredients to your blender, start to blend on a low speed. Select models include a tamper, which you can use to push the unblended fruit toward the blades. If the blender stops blending, you may need to add more liquid to achieve your desired consistency.
Be sure to taste your smoothie and adjust the sweetness to your liking. If you would like a sweeter smoothie, you can add honey, agave or another sweetener to your blender. Continue to blend until the acai bowl is completely smooth.
STEP 6: ADD TOPPINGS
Pour the smoothie into two bowls and top off with your add-ons. You can add granola, nuts, hemp or chia seeds, honey, almond butter, or fresh fruits like strawberries, bananas and kiwis. Toppings add crunch and a more complex flavor profile to your acai bowl and are completely customizable to your preferences.
ACAI BOWL TOPPING IDEAS
Sliced fruit (strawberries, kiwi, banana, mango, raspberries, pineapple, etc.)
Nut butter (almond, peanut, etc.)
Coconut flakes
Granola
Cereal
Honey
Chia seeds
- Goji berries
Hemp hearts
Chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc.)
Chocolate chips
Cacao nibs
Condensed milk
HOW DO I MAKE AN ACAI BOWL THICK?
The key to a thick acai bowl is using frozen fruit and adding a small amount of liquid until you get your desired consistency. Use the tamper as you blend to move the ingredients toward the blades. If your blender doesn’t have a tamper, you can also stop blending, scrape the sides and stir with a spoon.
Over time, your acai bowl will melt. For a thicker consistency, you’ll want to enjoy it as soon as you’ve added all your favorite toppings. Some blenders, like the KitchenAid® K400 Variable Speed Blender, come equipped with preset recipe programs for your perfect smoothie texture.
CAN I MAKE AN ACAI BOWL AHEAD OF TIME?
Acai bowls are incredibly easy to add to your weekly meal prep. If you’re crunched for time, you can pre-freeze a container or plastic bag of fruit with the ingredients of your choice. When you’re ready to make your smoothie, simply put the frozen ingredients into your blender, add the milk or juice of your choice and blend.
HOW LONG DOES AN ACAI BOWL LAST IN THE REFRIGERATOR?
While acai bowls are best enjoyed immediately after making them, they can last overnight in your refrigerator for the next morning or for up to three days in the refrigerator when stored in an air-tight container. However, the toppings will likely get mushy, and the smoothie will lose its thickness.
If you wish to store your smoothie, place it in a covered container in your freezer. However, you may need to thaw your acai bowl for a few minutes before it will be soft enough to eat.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® BLENDERS FOR MAKING ACAI BOWLS
Making a delicious acai bowl can be a breeze with KitchenAid® blenders. Quickly blend your favorite frozen ingredients and create a wide range of smoothie textures. Select models include the Intelli-Speed® Motor Control that senses the contents of your blender and maintains the optimal power and speed to thoroughly blend all the ingredients and help you create all your favorite smoothie recipes with ease.
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