Description
A thick and creamy strawberry smoothie bowl with the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. This healthy breakfast bowl is naturally sweetened, packed with nutrients, and topped with fresh fruit, granola, and your favorite toppings. Ready in just 5 minutes for a satisfying start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Smoothie Base:
- 2 cups frozen strawberries (about 10–12 large strawberries)
- 1 large frozen banana, sliced
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt (optional, for extra thickness)
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
For the Toppings:
- ¼ cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 2–3 tablespoons granola
- 1 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
- Other optional toppings: sliced banana, blueberries, kiwi slices, hemp seeds, cacao nibs, edible flowers
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Ensure your strawberries and banana slices are completely frozen. If using fresh fruit, freeze them for at least 3-4 hours or overnight. Having properly frozen fruit is the key to achieving that thick, spoonable consistency.
- Add to Blender in Order: Pour the almond milk into your blender first (liquid always goes in first to help the blades move). Add the Greek yogurt if using, then add the frozen banana slices, and finally top with the frozen strawberries. This order helps create a vortex that pulls ingredients down toward the blades.
- Blend on Low, Then High: Start blending on the lowest setting to break up the frozen fruit. Use your blender’s tamper to push ingredients toward the blades if needed, keeping the tamper in motion to avoid creating air pockets. Once the mixture starts moving, increase to high speed and blend for 30-45 seconds, or until completely smooth and thick. Stop blending as soon as it’s smooth—over-blending will thin it out.
- Check Consistency: The mixture should be extremely thick, like soft-serve ice cream or frozen yogurt. It should hold its shape when you scoop it and not be pourable. If it’s too thick to blend, add liquid one tablespoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add a few more frozen strawberries or ice cubes and blend again.
- Transfer to Bowl: Use a spatula to scrape all the smoothie into your serving bowl. The mixture should pile up slightly rather than spreading out flat, indicating the perfect thickness.
- Add Toppings Artistically: This is the fun part! Arrange your toppings in sections, rows, or patterns for an Instagram-worthy presentation. Slice the fresh strawberries and place them on one section. Add a line of granola, then chia seeds, then coconut flakes. Drizzle the almond butter over the top or create small dollops. Add any additional toppings you desire.
- Serve Immediately: Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed right away while the base is cold and thick. The toppings add textural contrast to the creamy base, making each bite interesting and satisfying.
Notes
- Thickness is Key: The less liquid you use, the thicker your bowl will be. Start with just ¼ cup and only add more if absolutely necessary for blending.
- Frozen Fruit is Essential: Fresh fruit will not create the proper thick consistency. Always use frozen.
- Blender Power Matters: If you have a less powerful blender, you may need to add slightly more liquid or let the frozen fruit thaw for 5 minutes before blending.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste your base before pouring into the bowl. If it needs more sweetness, blend in a pitted date or a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Topping Quantities: Use as many or as few toppings as you like. The nutrition facts include all suggested toppings, so adjust based on what you actually use.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (with all suggested toppings)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg