Banana Smoothie Bowl

This easy Banana Smoothie Bowl is luxuriously creamy and perfectly sweet. Add toppings like granola and peanut butter for a healthy breakfast!

Smoothie bowls are my favorite way to feel like I'm eating dessert for breakfast while fueling up on something healthy!

This Banana Smoothie Bowl is impossibly creamy, perfectly thick, and loaded with toppings for contrast in texture. A little nut butter and cinnamon added while blending take this bowl to the next level!

Reasons to love this recipe!

• Made with just 4 ingredients!
• A super quick and easy breakfast for busy mornings.
• Customize it with your favorite toppings or add-ins!
• Vegan and gluten free!

Ingredients and substitutions:

• Frozen banana - frozen is a must to achieve the thick texture of a smoothie bowl. Fresh bananas with create a thin smoothie. See tips for freezing bananas below.
• Milk - almond, soy, dairy, etc. Use your favorite!
• Nut butter - peanut, almond, or tahini are delicious!
• Cinnamon - a pinch adds great flavor but is optional.
• Add ins - anything you like to add to your smoothie bowls. See ideas below!
• Toppings - the best way to jazz up a smoothie bowl. Think granola, nut butter, fruit, etc. A lot more ideas are included below.

How to make a banana smoothie bowl:

Blend on low: Add your fruit to the blender. Let it sit in the blender for 2-3 minutes to soften slightly. Turn the blender on low and let it slowly chop up the fruit into small pieces.

Add liquid: Add in the milk and blend, starting on low and working the speed up slowly, until smooth. Use a tamper or scrape down the sides as needed.

Top and serve: Spoon the smoothie into a bowl and add on your desired toppings.

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Storage?

Smoothie bowls are meant to be eaten fresh! Enjoy asap :)

How to make extra thick smoothie bowls

There are 3 keys to easy thick smoothie bowls. All of which are explained in more detail here. Here's the cliffnotes!

First, use frozen fruit. Reach for frozen banana over fresh. To make sure I always have frozen banana on hand, I buy extra at the store and freeze them once ripe.

Second, add your frozen fruit to a high speed blender. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes to let the fruit soften slightly. Star the blender on low and blend until the fruit is chopped up into small bits.

Third, add your liquid and continue blending, using a tamper, or scraping the sides, as needed until it is completely smooth. Add more liquid as needed, a little at a time.

How to freeze bananas

Frozen bananas are the base of so many smoothie bowls and smoothies. They add richness, creaminess, and of course, sweetness. To ensure you always have them on hand when you need them, here are a few ways to freeze bananas!

Option 1: Peel ripe bananas, cut them into 1-inch slices, place them on a parchment lined sheet tray and place in the freezer until frozen solid. Once frozen, remove from the sheet pan and store in a zip top bag.

Option 2: This is how I freeze my bananas, I find it quicker and easier, although a bit unconventional. Take your ripe bananas and place them directly in the freezer as they are. No need to peel. When you're ready for a smoothie, take a frozen banana and run it under hot water. I place it in the bottom of the sink and let the water run over it while I gather the other smoothie ingredients. After a few minutes, the peel will soften and will slice right off. Break into a few pieces and you're smoothie ready!

Optional add-ins

This Banana Smoothie Bowl recipe is a flavorful base that is delicious as is, or it's an opportunity to build flavor (or benefits) with a few add-ins.

• 2 tablespoons nut or seed butter
• 1-2 scoops protein powder
• 2 teaspoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Superfood powders – greens powder, mushroom powder, adaptogens, etc.
• ½ cup yogurt – regular, greek, or dairy free.

Banana Smoothie Bowl Toppings 101

In many ways, toppings can make the smoothie bowl! The combination of crunchy, creamy, and fresh with the ice cream-like consistancy of the smoothie bowl is perfection! Here are some favorite smoothie bowl toppings:

• Granola – any flavor is great! I especially love vanilla or peanut butter.
• Fresh fruit: sliced banana, berries, kiwi, mango, etc.
• Frozen fruit: frozen berries are great!
• Freeze dried fruit: a new find for me, freeze dried fruit adds amazing crunch to smoothie bowls! Freeze dried berries, banana, pineapple, and mango, are favorites. I usually purchase them at Trader Joe’s or online.
• Nuts: almonds, walnuts, coconut, toasted coconut…
• Nut butters: peanut butter is almost always a must for me! Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter, etc. are all great!
• Seeds: chia seeds or hemp seeds.
• Chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
• A drizzle of honey or agave.

More satisfying smoothies and bowls!

• Easy Acai Smoothie
• Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
• Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
• Acai Smoothie Bowl
• Freezer Smoothie Packs - 3 ways!

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