These creamy tropical smoothie bowls are packed with luscious fruit, a creamy texture, and nutritious toppings that will transport your taste buds to a sun-soaked beach with every spoonful.
On most weekdays, I grab a quick breakfast on my way out the door like my make-ahead breakfast burritos or blueberry flaxseed muffins. But on days when I have the luxury of a little more time, I like to give myself a little extra treat like these tropical smoothie bowls.
A little heartier and more substantial than a smoothie, smoothie bowls have a thicker consistency. As the name suggests, you eat them in a bowl with a spoon instead of drinking them with a straw.
While smoothies are usually something you take on the go, smoothie bowls are a little more special because you can sit down and enjoy them as a meal. Plus, you can also top them with a bunch of delicious and nutritious toppings.
These tropical smoothie bowls will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a tropical paradise, all in the comfort of your own home. You can also try my tasty mango smoothie bowl!
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Why You'll Love This Dish
- Tropical flavors- indulge in the tropical flavors of mango and coconut
- Nutrient-rich ingredients- packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these tropical smoothie bowls offer a nutritious boost to your day.
- Customizable and creative- unleash your creativity and tailor these bowls to your preferences with toppings like fruit, granola, chia seeds, and more!
- Refreshing and hydrating- a refreshing way to stay hydrated, especially during hot summer days.
- Adaptable- these tropical smoothie bowls can easily be made vegan.
How To Make A Smoothie Bowl Thick
Achieving the perfect thickness for your smoothie bowl is key to creating a satisfying and spoonable texture. Here are a few tips to help you make your tropical smoothie bowl thick and creamy:
- Frozen fruit- start by using frozen fruit as the base of your smoothie bowl. Whether it's frozen mango chunks, pineapple, or bananas, these icy ingredients add thickness and help create a chilled, creamy consistency.
- Less liquid- when blending your smoothie bowl, use less liquid than you would for a regular smoothie. This helps to keep the mixture thick and scoopable. Start with a small amount of liquid, such as coconut milk or almond milk, and gradually add more if needed.
- Use a high-powered blender- invest in a high-powered blender, if possible (see my recommendation below). It will help break down the frozen fruit and create a smoother texture. Blend on a low speed initially, using a tamper if you have one, to push the ingredients towards the blades and ensure a thorough blend.
- Add thickening agents- to further enhance the thickness of your smoothie bowl, you can add ingredients like yogurt, avocado or a frozen banana. You can also consider adding thickening agents such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, or oats. These ingredients absorb liquid and create a gel-like consistency, resulting in a thicker and more substantial bowl.
- Frozen toppings: you can opt for frozen toppings like frozen berries or frozen chunks of fruit. This will help keep the overall temperature of the bowl colder for longer.
My Favorite Blender
Looking for a blender? I've had this high-speed Vitamix blender for 10 years and it's still going strong!
Ingredients
- Mango- frozen mango will give the smoothie bowls a thicker, creamier consistency than fresh mango, If using fresh mango, you can dice it up and freeze the pieces.
- Vanilla yogurt- you can use Greek yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt alternative to keep these smoothie bowls vegan.
- Coconut milk- adds a tropical flair; mango and coconut complement each other perfectly.
- Toppings- I top these bowls with diced mango and kiwi, coconut flakes and chia seeds, however you can use whatever toppings you like!
Doctor's Tip
Chia seeds are an excellent topping for smoothie bowls. They add texture as well as a boost of omega-3s, fiber, protein, and antioxidants! They also have a satiating effect and will help keep you feeling full for a long time. I also use them in my overnight oats recipes.
How To Make Tropical Smoothie Bowls Step-By-Step
- Step 1- Place yogurt, mango, and coconut milk in a high speed blender.
- Step 2- Blend on high until smooth. If your blender has a tamper, you can use it to push the ingredients down towards the blades and help it blend easier; otherwise you can stop the bender and scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed. Then, pour the mixture into a bowl and have fun adding your toppings!
Chef's Tips
- One secret to the best smoothie bowls is to use frozen ingredients. Use frozen mango rather than fresh- this will make your smoothie bowl thick and creamy. If you use fresh mango, I would recommend dicing it up and freezing it until firm before adding it to the blender.
- Use a high-powered blender to get to get the best consistency. If your blender has a tamper tool, you can use it to push the ingredients down towards the blades. This will help it blend easier and give a smoother consistency. Otherwise, you can stop the bender and scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed.
- Top your smoothie bowl with a variety of your favorite toppings to add nutrients, color, and texture. See "Smoothie Bowl Toppings" section below.
- To add an extra boost of protein, you can add a scoop of protein powder to the blender.
- To add vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein, you can also toss some fresh spinach into your smoothie bowl.
- To make this a vegan smoothie bowl, use a dairy-free yogurt alternative.
Smoothie Bowl Toppings
Smoothie bowl toppings are the cherry on top of your tropical creation! They add a delightful crunch, contrasting textures, and eye-catching appeal. This is where you can express your creativity!
Here are some ideas for toppings to take these tropical smoothie bowls to new heights:
- Fresh fruit- sliced bananas, juicy berries, and vibrant tropical fruits like kiwi or dragon fruit bring a burst of freshness and natural sweetness to your bowl.
- Toasted coconut flakes- add tropical flair with toasted coconut flakes, which lend a satisfying crunch and a rich, nutty flavor that perfectly complements the fruity base.
- Chopped nuts and seeds- sprinkle some chopped almonds, walnuts, or seeds like chia, hemp, or flax for added protein, healthy fats, and a delightful crunch.
- Granola- homemade or store-bought granola adds texture, whole grains, and a hint of sweetness to your bowl.
- Cacao nibs- for a touch of indulgence and a hint of chocolatey goodness, sprinkle antioxidant-rich cacao nibs over your smoothie bowl.
- Nut butter- whether it's almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter, drizzling a spoonful over your smoothie bowl adds creaminess, richness, and a boost of healthy fats.
- Edible flowers- elevate the beauty of your smoothie bowl by adding edible flowers.
- Superfood powders- boost the nutritional value of your smoothie bowl by dusting it with superfood powders like matcha, acai, or maca powder.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can easily make this smoothie bowl vegan by using a yogurt alternative instead of Greek yogurt. You can use yogurt made with soy, coconut, almonds, cashews, flaxseed or oats. They are great options for those who are lactose intolerant, vegan or anyone avoiding dairy products in general.
There are various ways to make your smoothie bowl thick. Using frozen fruit, smaller amounts of liquid, a high-powered blender, and thickening agents can all help to thicken your smoothie bowl to a perfect, spoonable consistency.
This recipe is part of my 10 Healthy Smoothie Recipes For The New Year Collection
More Smoothies and Smoothie Bowls
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Recipe
Tropical Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 container (5.3 ounces) vanilla Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt alternative
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- Toppings: diced mango, sliced kiwi, chia seeds and unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Puree the dairy-free yogurt, mango, and coconut milk together in a blender until smooth. Pour into a bowl. Top with diced mango, sliced kiwi, chia seeds and coconut flakes.
Nutrition
sonaliruder says
Thanks so much Natalie! Keep it in my mind for the summer 🙂
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder says
I love smoothies, but never had a smoothie bowl before! Yours is so artfully displayed. It's tough to find tropical fruit now though
Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says
I've just entered the smoothie world and I LOVE the idea of a smoothie bowl!
sonaliruder says
I think you'll really love it!
Farrah says
Yay! A combination of so many of my favorite things! <3 I just realized that I haven't had kiwi in forever! 😡 I'm gonna need to make this!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Farrah! I hope you love it!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
How gorgeous is this!! Love all things smoothie bowls!
sonaliruder says
Yay! Thanks Sam!!
Dixya says
for some reason, i want to drink my smoothie and dont have a patience for this spoon and bowl situation, clearly not in the morning.
sonaliruder says
Haha, I can definitely relate 🙂
Unknown says
I love my smoothies but I have yet to dive into the smoothie-bowl world. This looks delicious! I might have to give it a try 🙂
sonaliruder says
Take the dive- you'll love it! Thanks 🙂
Tara Rochford says
Smoothies are just so much better in a bowl!! 🙂 This looks delish!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Tara!
athletic avocado says
This looks so refreshing! I love tropical flavors like this! pinned 🙂
sonaliruder says
Thank you! So do I 🙂