Sometimes all you want in life is a thick and creamy smoothie bowl. Something to channel your inner Instagram pilates princess. Something cooling and refreshing, topped with the moreish crunch of homemade granola.
This blueberry smoothie bowl is all that and MORE.
We’re sharing all the tips to make your smoothie bowls perfect, from the best blender to use for that thick ice cream-like consistency, to my tips for adding toppings to make your smoothie bowls look Instagram worthy!
What is a smoothie bowl?
A smoothie bowl is a bowl of thick and creamy blended frozen fruit, which is usually enjoyed with toppings such as granola, nut butters and fruits.
Smoothie bowls are very similar to the sipp-able smoothies we all know and love, but prepared with less liquid and a lot of frozen fruit yielding a moreish ice cream-like texture which can be enjoyed with a spoon!
They’re basically a healthier frozen treat made with all natural ingredients. Sign me up!
Why you’ll love this recipe
I just know you’re going to love this healthy breakfast recipe! It’s:
- Made with just 3 simple ingredients!
- Naturally high in fibre and protein to keep you full throughout the day
- Vegan-friendly and perfect for kids too!
How to make a blueberry smoothie bowl
This recipe is made with just three simple ingredients: frozen blueberries, frozen bananas and a tiny amount of liquid.
To prepare a smoothie bowl, you want to first prepare your toppings. That’s because we need to work quickly once the smoothie itself is blended. See below for my tips and tricks on how to make your smoothie bowl look aesthetically pleasing.
There’s a small window where smoothie bowls are addictively thick before they melts in the Summer heat, so we want to be ready to snap that quick Instagram photo before enjoying the fruits of our labour!
Once your toppings are prepped and set aside, add the frozen fruit to your blender along with a tiny amount of liquid of your choice – water, juice, milk or plant based milk are all good options.
You want to keep the blender on a relatively low speed then slowly increase to about medium speed. If your blender stops running, add a tiny amount of liquid and use the tamper to move the unblended fruits around the jug.
As soon as all your fruit has blended with no lumps or skins visible, the smoothie bowl is ready!
Blending smoothie bowls can require some patience but it is worth it for the final result! Make sure you slowly add liquid as needed to achieve a thick texture – you don’t want to add too much liquid or the smoothie will be too runny.
Where to find frozen fruit for smoothie bowls
You can purchase packets of pre-frozen blueberries in most supermarkets – occasionally I will encounter a packet of frozen wild blueberries which taste delicious in this blueberry almond butter smoothie!
You’ll have to freeze your own bananas at home ahead of time. This is a great way to use up any bananas you have lying around that are looking a little too brown for packing in your handbag. Another good way to use them up: chai banana bread.
I like to slice each spotty banana into 8-10 chunks and freeze them overnight in a freezer-safe sandwich bag or container.
What’s the best blender for making smoothie bowls?
I use and love my trusty Vitamix blender for making smoothies. Vitamix blenders are incredibly powerful and come fully-equipped with a jug, lid and tamper for seamless smoothie-bowl making.
I’ve had my Vitamix for years and its one of my most trusted kitchen items! It’s definitely a worthwile investment for any serious smoothie bowl maker😎
If you are just getting started with smoothies and smoothie bowls, you may wish to purchase a lower-end blender. You will find these don’t yield the same thick and smooth consistency as a higher power blender like Vitamix, but still a great option for smoothie novices.
How to make your smoothie bowl look Instagram-worthy
Once your smoothie bowl is blended, it’s time for my favourite part: the toppings!
Here are a few of my favourite topping ideas:
- Granola – a classic smoothie bowl topping which provides a delicious crunch. Try my homemade chocolate orange granola recipe if you’re feeling in a baking mood.
- Nut butters – almond butter is one of my top choices but this pistachio version is sure to go down well also.
- Fresh fruits – if you’re a fruitaholic like me, you’ll want to top your smoothie bowl with extra fruits! Some of my favourites are sliced bananas, berries and coconut flakes.
- Seeds – hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are all tasty choices!
When it comes to toppings, placement is key. Rather than piling everything on top of each other, the trick to an aesthetically pleasing bowl lies in getting creative with your topping placement.
For example, an easy method is to place all your toppings in lines e.g. a line of sliced bananas, next to a line of shredded coconut, next to a line of cacao nibs. Simple but effective!
Feel free to get creative with different placements and shapes on your blueberry smoothie bowl!
Level up: How to become a smoothie bowl pro
Once you’ve made a few smoothie bowls, you’re ready to enter professional territory! Here are a few hacks that take you to a next level smoothie bowl maker:
- Experiment with different frozen fruits: This blueberry version is a personal favourite, but I know you’ll also love my matcha smoothie bowl, featuring mango, banana and spinach.
- Pre-prepare your smoothie bowls: To be next-level prepared, slice lots of different fruits at the weekend and portion out into sandwich bags for easy preparation. Think strawberry, banana and dragonfruit, or mango, pineapple and coconut – the combinations are endless!
- Protein-boost your smoothie bowl: Add a scoop of your favourite flavoured or unflavoured protein powder to this smoothie bowl before blending for an extra boost.
- Create your custom toppings station: Purchase a few aesthetic-looking glass jars and add your favourite toppings to them. Think granola, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. When you’re looking to top your smoothie bowls or oatmeal, you’re ready to go.
FAQ
You can prepare smoothie bowls using any blender. The trick is to be patient with blending and gradually add water as needed so as to keep the smoothie thick. I like to use a Vitamix blender, however if you are using a cheaper blender, you may find that the final result is not as thick or smooth.
Ideally, yes, as frozen bananas yield a thick ice cream-like texture. However, if you are in a pinch, you can use a fresh banana so long as you are using frozen blueberries. You may also want to add a handful of ice to your blender to achieve a thicker consistency.
You can use any liquid of your choosing and depending on what goes well with the fruits in your smoothie. I use water in this recipe but almond milk and orange juice are also good options!
Yes – feel free to add a scoop of your favourite protein powder to this smoothie bowl for an extra protein boost!
More blueberry recipes:
I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you make it, please leave a rating + review below and share your photos on Instagram tagging #shivanilovesfood!
Blueberry Smoothie Bowl
Leave a Review Print Recipe SaveIngredients
- ½ cup /100 grams Frozen Blueberries plus a extra for decoration
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 3 tbsp Water you may not need it all, you can use almond milk or orange juice if you prefer
Toppings (optional):
- 1 teaspoon Almond Butter or nut/seed butter of choice
- 1/4 cup Granola
Instructions
- First prepare your toppings ahead of time. This maximises the time you have to consume your smoothie bowl once its blended! If you are using bananas for your topping, slice into thin circles and set aside. Prepare any other fruits, nuts or seeds as desired.
- Add the frozen blueberries and frozen banana to the jug of a high-speed blender along with a splash of water.
- Start your blender on low speed and gradually increase the blender speed until the fruit becomes creamy. If your fruits are not blending, add a tiny splash of liquid and use the tamper to move the unblended fruits around the jug. Only add extra liquid if it is necessary.
- Once the smoothie is thick and creamy with no lumps or skin visible, decant the blueberry smoothie bowl into your favourite bowl and add your pre-prepared toppings. Snap a quick Instagram picture before enjoying immediately!
Notes
- Best served immediately as the smoothie bowl will melt.
what blender do u use?
Hi Addision! I use the Vitamix S30 blender and highly recommend this model. Hope this helps you 🙂