Smoothie bowl next to fresh fruit

HOW TO MAKE A THICK SMOOTHIE BOWL WITH A BLENDER

Smoothie bowls can be a delightful breakfast or a satisfying snack, and you can create your own thick, fruity blends at home with the help of your blender. Unlike traditional smoothies, smoothie bowls have a velvety, spoonable texture similar to frozen yogurt and can be topped with a variety of ingredients to add texture, flavor and additional nutrients.

Use this guide to learn more about smoothie bowls, how to make them in a blender and get inspired with different variations and toppings to create your own unique recipe.

Red KitchenAid® blender with personal blender jar

WHAT IS IN A SMOOTHIE BOWL?

Smoothie bowl ingredients vary by recipe, but the base of the bowl starts with a liquid like water, yogurt or milk blended with frozen fruits and vegetables. Then you can add your favorite toppings like chia seeds, sliced fruit, nuts or granola to create an enticing combination of textures and flavors.

CAN YOU MAKE A SMOOTHIE BOWL WITH A REGULAR BLENDER? 

You can create vibrant and delicious smoothie bowls with almost any blender, however, it may be easier to use a powerful blender on low speed with a tamper that you can use to push frozen produce down toward the blade to help ensure a silky smooth consistency.

If you don’t have a blender with a tamper, you may need to add your fruit in stages to prevent any unwanted chunks in the smoothie base.

REFRESHING SMOOTHIE BOWL RECIPE

With the help of your blender, you can easily create fresh smoothie bowls at home whenever a craving strikes. Use the following steps to learn the basics of making a smoothie bowl and then customize your recipe to your taste.

YIELDS

  • 2 servings

 

TOOLS

 

PREP TIME 

  • 3 minutes

 

TOTAL TIME

  • 7 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • Cold liquid, like milk, yogurt, juice or water

  • Fresh or frozen produce, like strawberries, bananas, oranges, mangoes, spinach or kale

  • Toppings, like chia seeds, toasted coconut, granola, sliced fruit, nuts or cacao nibs

  • Nut butter (optional)

  • Sweetener, like honey or agave (optional)

 

Sliced citrus on a plate next to a KitchenAid® blender

STEP 1: PREP INGREDIENTS

Before you start blending your smoothie bowl, set up your workstation and prep your ingredients. Place your blender on a flat, stable surface and plug it into a nearby outlet. If you’re using fresh fruit as a topping, slice it into bite-sized pieces.

Red KitchenAid® blender next to sliced bananas on a cutting board

STEP 2: ADD INGREDIENTS TO YOUR BLENDER

When you’re blending anything in a blender, you should always start by adding liquid ingredients first and end with solid ingredients. Place your yogurt, cold water, milk or juice in your blender, then add your frozen fruit and vegetables. Secure the blender lid on the blender jar.

Person pouring a smoothie bowl from a KitchenAid® blender jar

STEP 3: BLEND SMOOTHIE BOWL BASE

Start blending your smoothie bowl base at a low speed. If your smoothie base is too thick, it may stop blending. Add a small splash of your milk or juice to thin the base out slightly and continue blending.

 

If you’re using a blender with a tamper, use it to carefully push any unblended produce toward the blender blades. Once a velvety texture has been achieved, give your blended base a taste and add your sweetener of choice, if necessary.

 

Select KitchenAid® blenders have a smoothie pre-set recipe program that takes the guesswork out of blending your favorite smoothie combination.

Mango smoothie bowl topped with sliced berries

STEP 4: ADD TOPPINGS AND SERVE

Once your smoothie base is smooth and creamy, pour it into your serving bowl. Make sure your bowl is large enough to accommodate your toppings. 

 

Top your smoothie bowl with toppings such as sliced fresh fruit, chia seeds or granola. To make this recipe taste even more luxurious, you can also drizzle silky nut butter or honey over the top.

SMOOTHIE BOWL VARIATIONS

There are several ways to turn a standard smoothie bowl into a creation customized to your personal preferences. Get inspired with the following smoothie bowl variations.

  • Acai bowl: Pureed tropical acai berries give this bowl its vibrant purple hue and tart flavor.

  • Green smoothie bowl: This recipe is packed with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, but tastes rich and decadent when topped with sliced kiwi and shaved coconut.

  • Apple pie smoothie bowl: Enjoy comforting fall flavors like cinnamon, maple syrup, toasted walnuts and apples with this fresh twist on the classic dessert.

If you’re still looking for mouthwatering inspiration, consider topping your smoothie bowls with dried fruits like goji berries or figs, or turn your smoothie bowl into dessert by adding chocolate shavings and toasted coconut. You can even add fresh or dried herbs to your bowls like warm cinnamon and ginger or bright mint and soothing culinary lavender.

Hibiscus KitchenAid® blender making smoothies Alt Text Needed

HOW DO YOU THICKEN A SMOOTHIE BOWL?

If your smoothie bowl base looks more like a classic smoothie, you can thicken it by blending in extra frozen fruit until you achieve a spoonable consistency. You can help prevent a thin base by starting with a small amount of liquid in your blender and adding small splashes throughout the blending process until it reaches your desired consistency.

CAN YOU FREEZE SMOOTHIE BOWLS?

If you want to make your smoothie bowls ahead of time, you can store the smoothie base in an airtight container in your freezer. Don’t store the base with your toppings, as this can cause the toppings to become mushy.

To enjoy your smoothie bowl after freezing, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes, then top with your garnishes.

EXPLORE KITCHENAID® BLENDERS

KitchenAid® blenders are designed to help you create the most unique smoothie bowls. Browse the entire line of powerful blenders to find the best tool for your favorite smoothie bowl recipes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLENDERS WITH KITCHENAID BRAND