How to Make an Acai Bowl (5 Ingredients and 10 Minutes!)

Aug 10, 2020 (Last updated Oct 10, 2025) by Hannah Sunderani

Learn How to Make an Açaí Bowl just like your local juice bar with just 5 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of your time! This homemade açaí bowl recipe is perfect for a summer breakfast or afternoon snack when you’re craving something cool and refreshing. 

It’s thick, naturally sweet, and packed with frozen açaí berry for a bold flavour you’ll love. This recipe in particular is sweetened naturally with fruit and fruit juice only – no additional sugars required! Finish with fresh fruit and your favourite toppings for the best açaí bowl at home. 

So, let me tell you exactly how to make this recipe so that you can learn how to make a thick smoothie bowl and indulge in this sweet summer treat!

What is Açaí?

Açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) is a deep dark berry found in South America. They look a bit like blueberries, or small dark grapes, and are responsible for giving açaí bowls their infamous deep purple hue. 

Açaí is famously known for being a superfood because it’s packed with antioxidants. Which in my opinion is probably why these bowls are so popular (in addition to how picturesque these bowls look when served, of course!). 

This Açaí Bowl Recipe is…

• Vegan, gluten-free, low-fat and dairy-free
• Perfect recipe for beginners
• Easy to customize
• Toddler-approved

Ingredient Notes

• Berries: I like to use frozen mixed berries, but I also recipe tested with frozen strawberries and frozen blueberries and it was also delicious. Frozen blueberries in particular will help you achieve that beautiful, deep purple colour that we love about an açaí bowl. 
• Banana: Key to the creamy texture of your smoothie bowl. I recipe tested this without banana and it wasn’t as creamy or thick in texture. I recommend using frozen bananas over fresh bananas for the thickest smoothie bowl texture.
• Coconut yogurt: Makes the acai base extra thick, velvety, and adds a nice tanginess. Try my Homemade Coconut Yogurt or use your favourite store-bought brand. 
• Frozen açaí packet: These are frozen packets that you can find in grocery stores, typically made with açaí berry puree or a mix of açaí and other berries. I recipe tested this using acai powder instead of the packets, but I much preferred the frozen packets for best flavour and texture.

Flavour Variations 

• Protein açaí bowl: If you want to make your açaí bowl more filling, a scoop of your favourite plant-protein powder is a great addition. I recipe tested with vanilla vegan protein powder and it was yummy! It did increase the sweetness however.
• Apple juice variations: If you’re out of apple juice, try a non-dairy milk such as my homemade almond milk, or my homemade oat milk, or coconut milk. Or, for a lighter, sweeter flavour use coconut water.

How to Make Açaí Bowls at Home 

Popular Toppings for Açaí Bowls

The best part of making homemade açaí bowls is adding on a variety of toppings. Load up your smoothie base with your choice of toppings. Below are a few of my favourites, but don’t be afraid to choose your own!

• Fresh berries Bring out the fruity flavours of this açaí berry bowl and top with fresh berries like sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. 
• Tropical fruit: Try sweet banana slices, sliced mango, pineapple chunks, passion fruit, etc. 
• Granola and nuts: I personally love this crunchy addition to my açaí smoothie bowl!
• Nut butter: Adding a drizzle of nut butter is a great way to add nutty flavour and additional creaminess to your smoothie bowl. My favourites are peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter.
• Seeds: Sprinkle on hemp hearts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, or any favourite seeds of choice.
• Chocolate chips: If you’re wanting to make your açaí bowl more like a dessert-like then add your favourite dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs.

Recipe FAQs

Where do I buy açaí?

Açaí berries can be found at most grocery stores in the freezer section. I typically purchase my açaí at my specialty health food stores, like Whole Foods.

For the best, thick açaí smoothie bowl, I recommend using the frozen packets of açaí puree over powdered varieties. (Using frozen bananas also aids in thickness. If you’ve ever made my Matcha Nice Cream, you’ll know exactly what I am talking about).

Is an açaí bowl just a smoothie?

While similar, smoothie bowls and smoothies are not quite the same. The ingredients in smoothies and smoothie bowls is usually the same, but smoothie bowls contain significantly less liquid. For this reason, smoothie bowls are notably thicker and eaten with a spoon. 

Can I make an açaí bowl without açaí?

An açaí smoothie bowl made without açaí wouldn’t be considered an açaí bowl. Howeer, frozen acai packets can sometimes be hard to find, and you can definitely achieve the same vibe of an açaí bowl without the açaí. To do so, replace the açaí in the recipe below with 1 cup of frozen mixed berries. I recipe tested this and it was delicious!

How do I make a thick açaí bowl?

If you like extra thick smoothie bowls that are similar to the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, start with just 1/4 cup of apple juice. You’ll need a high speed blender and to use the tamper to press the frozen fruit into the blade, which will help achieve a creamy texture without additional liquid. If you need additional liquid to blend, add a few tablespoons at a time until creamy. 

I hope you love this Açaí Smoothie Bowl as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think and check out The Two Spoons App for more wholesome vegan recipes and meal plans featuring recipes just like this! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. 

And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations. 

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See more step-by-step instructions by visiting the recipe story here!