There’s one thing all smoothie bowls have in common: they’re served in a bowl. But after that, the variations are endless! Whether you’re a gourmet chef or barely know what a muesli/smoothie bowl is, these healthy smoothie bowl tips and delicious breakfast bowl recipes are here to infuse your next breakfast with a little more color. In the following article, I’ll show you step-by-step instructions for creating easy, 100% plant-based breakfast smoothie recipes. Get ready for videos, pictures, and infographics to help you master this vegan breakfast trend!
How to Make a Smoothie Bowl 101: Overview
- Healthy Smoothie Bowl Toppings + Base Ingredients
- 5 Easy Steps to Creating a Healthy Breakfast Bowl
- How to Make Thick Smoothie Bowls
Healthy Smoothie Bowls:
The Base & The Toppings
Smoothie bowls consist of two parts. One is the soft base, and the other is toppings. The base is similar to a regular smoothie, except for that it has a thicker consistency. Most smoothie bowl bases include vegetables, fruit, and a liquid of some sort. Liquids range from coconut water to hemp milk to yogurt. It all depends on the recipe. Sometimes the base also contains “superfood” supplements, like spirulina.
Browse Muesli Packages Now
In contrast, smoothie bowl toppings have a myriad of distinct flavors and textures. Organic muesli, flax seeds, almonds, and sliced kiwi are common toppings. But these examples are just the tip of the iceberg. You can experiment with many different ingredients as long as you follow the basic formula!
How to Make a Smoothie Bowl Base
The important part when making your base is to include a fruit or vegetable that helps create a creamy consistency. Bananas are the most popular base ingredient, but avocados work just as well. Both of these foods have impressive nutritional values. Researchers agree that bananas are some of the best foods for a natural energy boost. And avocados, of course, are perhaps the most popular superfoods of all! They’re a fabulous source of healthy fats, dietary fiber, B Vitamins, and sustained energy.
Don’t like avocados or bananas? No problem! You have plenty of options. For example, coconut cream and yogurt both provide the same kind of creamy consistency. So does sweet potato, which opens the door to some rather funky breakfast bowls!
Smoothie Bowl Base Recipe Examples:
- Kale, blueberries, banana, acai, and strawberries
- Pitaya, bananas, frozen blueberries, almond milk, and protein powder
- Almond milk, banana, mango, and coconut cream
- Mashed sweet potato, banana, medjool dates, coconut butter, and almond milk
- Chopped mango (frozen), canned coconut milk, sweet potato, and pecans
Some popular “superfoods” include:
- Matcha Powder
- Spirulina (An energizing and ultra-healthy algae)
- Protein Powder
- Chlorella (Another nutrient-rich fresh water green algae)
You’ll love seeing the wide selection of smoothie bowl ingredient combinations in 18 Easy Vegan Smoothie Bowl Recipes, and even more on the Mu Mu smoothie bowl Pinterest board!
Smoothie Bowl Toppings
Smoothie bowl toppings are the “yin” to the smoothie bowl base “yang.” I love them because they add such a medley of flavors! Seeds, granola*, nuts, a dash of spirulina or protein powder, and fresh fruit are great basics to start out with.
Popular Smoothie Bowl Toppings:
- Chia Seeds
- Organic Nut Butter
- Muesli Breakfast Cereal
- Protein Powder
- Dash of Cinnamon
- Hemp Seeds
- Pitaya
- Walnuts
- Cacao
- Basil
- Mint
- Nonpareil Almonds
- Flax seed
- Bee Pollen
- Berries
- Cherries
- Goji Berries
- Kumquat
- Dragon Fruit
- Quinoa
There’s no strict measurements for toppings. Simply put, the purpose is to add nutrient-rich foods that turn a bowl of blended fruit into a well-rounded, hearty meal. As you begin to make your own smoothie bowls at home, remember there aren’t strict rules. Just experiment and have fun!
How to Make a Breakfast Bowl in 4 Easy Steps
Bon Appetite!
1. First, assemble your base ingredients. They’ll probably need to thaw for about 10 minutes. (If they were frozen.)
2. Next, pour your liquid into the blender. After that, add any soft foods like kale, avocado, banana, etc.
3. If you’re adding frozen fruit or ice, make sure this is the final ingredient. In other words, keep it at the highest layer of the blender.
4. Once you’ve thoroughly blended the ingredients, pour into a bowl and add the toppings. If you’re hosting guests and want something extra special, then you’ll love these inspirational gorgeous smoothie bowl pictures!
DIY Breakfast Bowl Recipe Example
How to Make a Smoothie Bowl Practice
If you want to go off the beaten path and create your own muesli bowl, try following the “template recipe” below.
- 2 cups of your choice of frozen fruit (Try to include a thickening fruit, such as banana or avocado.)
- 1.25 cups of yogurt or liquid (Such as hemp seed milk or coconut milk.)
- A tablespoon of seeds (Both chia and flax seeds help thicken smoothie bowls, but other types of seeds work well too.)
- 1/4 cup of organic Mu Mu Muesli breakfast cereal
- Garnishes or spices of your choice (Cinnamon, mint, etc.)
Healthy Eating Video: DIY Smoothie Bowls
Think You Know How to Make a Smoothie Bowl?
Homemade Breakfast Bowl Tips for Beginners
Tip #1: Something I often forget to do is honor my food by using nice bowls and cups. But if you’re taking the time to create something beautiful from whole, raw foods – then why not use breakfast as a little self care time? Assemble your homemade smoothie bowl, fix yourself a cup of hot tea or coffee, and relax. Another word for this is mindful eating.
Feel free to bookmark this page and come back to these tips when you’re ready. They’ll be here!
Tip #2: How to Make Thick Smoothie Bowls
- Use less liquid than the recipe recommends.
- Remember to use frozen fruit for your smoothie bowl base.
- Freeze about half of your liquid ingredient in an ice cube tray.
- Add more hearty ingredients, like muesli or oats
- Put a tablespoon of chia seeds into your mixture. After all, chia seeds are nature’s thickening agents!
- When arranging toppings, put the lightest ones on first.
- If you want to go all out, use a hollowed out coconut or pineapple as your “bowl.”
I hope you enjoyed those tips! Have you tried out any of these recipes yourself? Please, feel welcome to leave a picture or a few notes on your own favorite way to make a breakfast bowl.
Ciao!
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*In order to understand the lnutrition of granola, see Granola vs Muesli.
