Base Recipe (serves 1)

  • 2 frozen bananas (freeze ripe bananas in chunks overnight)
  • 1 cup frozen berries (acai, mixed berries, mango or strawberry)
  • 2–3 tablespoons liquid only (coconut milk, almond milk or juice)
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon nut butter, 1 tablespoon protein powder or a handful of spinach
  1. 1

    Use frozen fruit — not fresh

    This is the non-negotiable rule of smoothie bowls. Fresh fruit makes a watery drink. Frozen fruit makes a thick, spoonable base. Freeze your bananas when they are very ripe (spotty) — they are sweeter and blend more smoothly.

  2. 2

    Add minimal liquid

    Start with just 2 tablespoons of liquid. You can always add more but you cannot take it away. The goal is a consistency thicker than a regular smoothie — it should hold toppings without them sinking.

  3. 3

    Blend on high, stopping to scrape down

    Use a high-powered blender or food processor. Stop and scrape down the sides frequently. Do not add more liquid — let the blender work. It takes 60–90 seconds of blending to get the right texture.

  4. 4

    Pour into a cold bowl

    A chilled bowl keeps the base firm longer. Pour the mixture in and work quickly with your toppings.

  5. 5

    Add toppings in sections

    Arrange toppings in neat rows or sections: granola, sliced fresh fruit, coconut flakes, chia seeds, nut butter drizzle, honey. Eat immediately.

Best topping combinationsTropical: mango base + fresh kiwi + coconut flakes + macadamia nuts. Berry: mixed berry base + granola + fresh blueberries + almond butter. Chocolate: banana base + cacao powder + sliced banana + cacao nibs + peanut butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Too much liquid and not enough frozen fruit. Reduce liquid to 2 tablespoons maximum and make sure all your fruit is fully frozen — not partially thawed. Also blend as quickly as possible and eat immediately before it melts.
A regular blender works but you may need to let the frozen fruit soften for 5 minutes first and stop/scrape more frequently. A food processor works well too. Avoid using a stick blender — it does not have enough power for frozen fruit.