Description
This thick and creamy banana smoothie bowl is the perfect healthy breakfast that tastes like dessert! Made with frozen bananas, a splash of milk, and optional Greek yogurt for protein, this easy smoothie bowl recipe creates an ice cream-like base that’s thick enough to hold beautiful toppings. Customize with fresh fruit, granola, nuts, and seeds for an Instagram-worthy breakfast that’s naturally gluten-free, packed with nutrients, and ready in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Smoothie Bowl Base:
- 2–3 medium frozen bananas, peeled and sliced before freezing
- ¼ cup milk of choice (dairy or non-dairy), plus more if needed
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt (optional but recommended)
- 1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew) – optional
- Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: pinch of cinnamon
- Optional: handful of spinach (you won’t taste it!)
Suggested Toppings (choose your favorites):
- ¼ cup granola
- ½ banana, sliced
- ¼ cup fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- 2 tablespoons coconut flakes
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon sliced almonds or other nuts
- 1 tablespoon nut butter drizzle
- Fresh mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare frozen bananas: If you haven’t already, peel very ripe bananas, slice them into coins, and freeze in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet for at least 2 hours or overnight. Transfer frozen banana slices to a freezer bag for storage. This step should be done ahead of time!
- Add ingredients to blender: Place frozen banana slices in your high-powered blender. Add milk, yogurt (if using), nut butter (if using), and any optional add-ins like spinach, vanilla, or cinnamon. The key to thick smoothie bowls is minimal liquid—resist the urge to add more!
- Start blending on low: Begin blending on the lowest speed setting. The mixture will seem impossible to blend at first—this is normal! Be patient. Use your blender’s tamper to push frozen banana toward the blades while blending. Stop and scrape down sides if needed.
- Increase speed gradually: Once the mixture starts moving, gradually increase to high speed. If your blender has a pre-programmed “frozen dessert” or “smoothie bowl” setting, use that. Blend for 30-60 seconds total, stopping to scrape sides and use the tamper as needed.
- Check consistency: The perfect smoothie bowl should be thick like soft-serve ice cream—thick enough that a spoon stands up in it. If it’s too thick to blend at all, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. If it’s too thin (pourable), add more frozen banana or a handful of ice and blend again.
- Transfer to bowl: Scoop the thick smoothie base into your serving bowl (or two smaller bowls). Use a spatula to get every bit out of the blender. The mixture should be thick enough that it mounds in the bowl rather than spreading flat.
- Add toppings artfully: This is the fun part! Arrange your chosen toppings in sections or rows across the surface. Popular arrangements include: granola on one side, berries in the middle, banana slices on the other side, with nuts, seeds, and coconut sprinkled over everything. Get creative and make it beautiful!
- Serve immediately: Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed right away while the base is still thick and cold. If you wait too long, it will start to melt and become soupy. Grab your spoon and dig in!
Notes
- Frozen bananas are essential: Fresh bananas will not create the thick texture needed for a proper smoothie bowl. Always use frozen.
- Less liquid = thicker bowl: Start with minimal liquid. You can always add more, but you can’t remove it.
- Ripe bananas taste better: Use bananas with brown spots before freezing for maximum sweetness.
- Blender power matters: High-powered blenders work best. Standard blenders may struggle with thick mixtures.
- Toppings add texture: Don’t skip toppings! They add essential crunch and make the bowl more satisfying.
- Eat immediately: The bowl will melt if it sits too long at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl (base only, toppings not included)
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 36g (naturally occurring from fruit)
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 5mg