Tropical Smoothie Bowl

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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!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Dish
How To Make A Smoothie Bowl Thick
Ingredients
Doctor's Tip
How To Make Tropical Smoothie Bowls Step-By-Step
Chef's Tips
Smoothie Bowl Toppings
Recipe FAQs
More Smoothies and Smoothie Bowls
Recipe
Reviews

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

Steps for making tropical smoothie bowls.

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.

Tropical smoothie bowl in a black bowl with a mango and kiwi in the background.

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

Can I make this smoothie bowl vegan?

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.

How do I make my smoothie bowl thick?

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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