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How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

Updated June 24, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

Breakfast, lunch or dessert—this smoothie bowl recipe is a treat any which way you enjoy it! And we’re sharing our ultimate smoothie bowl topping trick, too!

Homemade smoothie bowl topped with strawberries, bananas, granola and coconut oil

The Absolute Best Smoothie Bowl Recipe

This vegan smoothie bowl recipe is inspired by Holly’s favorite smoothie bowl from JuiceLand in Austin. It tastes like a strawberry milkshake and it’s pure, creamy, healthy, heaven in a bowl. We love that smoothie bowls are quick to make and even easier to smother in healthy toppings than regular old smoothies that you’d drink through a straw. Not only do smoothie bowl toppings make things a little more fun, but they also take a slightly-filling smoothie into the actual-meal category.

bowls of strawberries, bananas, granola, peanut butter, milk coconut oil, protein powder on the counter for smoothie bowl

Are Smoothie Bowls Actually Healthy?

You betcha. Smoothie bowls are every bit as healthy as regular smoothies. They’re loaded with fruit, and as long as you keep the toppings healthy, too, they’re maybe even more healthy than old-fashioned, through-a-straw smoothies because they’re delivering even more fiber and good fat and protein. Smoothie bowls satisfy us better than their drinkable counterparts, too, because you can eat them with a spoon. They feel more like a legit meal, particularly when covered with our favorite smoothie toppings.

frozen pieces of strawberries and bananas in a blender

Make It a Protein Smoothie Bowl! Make It With Whatever Fruit You Want! Make It Your Own!

One of the best things about this smoothie bowl recipe is that it’s more a template than a recipe. Don’t mess with the ratios, but do feel free to play around with the ingredients! If you want this as post-workout treat, consider adding protein powder to the mix! Or if you aren’t crazy about strawberries, swap in whatever fruit you love (or happen to have in the freezer)—any berry would be terrific in this, or try mango for a slightly tropical vibe. As for the non-dairy milk, again you can use what you like best! Hemp milk, oat milk, almond milk or soy—whatever you want! Here’s how to think of this smoothie bowl recipe as a template or formula rather than a strict recipe:

  • 1 cup frozen fruit

  • 1 cup frozen banana slices

  • 3 tablespoons of milk-of-choice

frozen pieces of strawberries and bananas blended in a blender
homemade smoothie bowl ingredients in a blender

How To Make a Smoothie Bowl

If you’ve made a smoothie, you can make a smoothie bowl. A smoothie bowl is just a smoothie….IN A BOWL! Nothing tricky here. Here’s how to make the best smoothie bowl on earth:

  1. Blend the frozen fruit and frozen bananas.

  2. Blend in the milk. This is your moment to add the nut butter and protein powder.

  3. Serve! Drizzle with the coconut oil and toppings and dig in!

homemade smoothie bowl made with strawberries and bananas in a bowl on the counter

Smoothie Bowl Toppings 101 (and Our Favorite Smoothie Topping)

You’ve made a smoothie bowl! Now, the question is what do you put in a smoothie bowl? It’s pretty much up to you! What sounds good? Most of us want to keep things on the healthy side, so you might not want to top your smoothie with, say, M&Ms, although you totally could! What we’re trying to say it, truly, the sky is the limit when it comes to what you could put on your smoothie bowl. We’ve got some great topping ideas to get you started:

  • Chia seeds

  • Granola

  • Hemp seeds

  • Dried fruit

  • Pepitas

  • Coconut flakes

  • Crushed cacao

  • And our very favorite?! Melted coconut oil. It becomes gloriously magic shell-like!

a smoothie bowl topped with coconut oil in a bowl sitting on the counter

Tools You’ll Need

More Healthy Bowl Recipes

Homemade smoothie bowl topped with strawberries, bananas, granola and coconut oil

Now You’re a Smoothie Bowl Pro!

If you make our smoothie bowl recipe, let us know how you like it! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

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How to Make a Smoothie Bowl Recipe

  • Serves:  1
  • Prep Time:  10 min
  • Cook Time:  0 min
  • Calories:  434

Description

Breakfast, lunch or dessert—this smoothie bowl recipe is a treat any which way you enjoy it! And we’re sharing our ultimate smoothie bowl topping trick, too!

Ingredients

Smoothie

  • 1 cup frozen strawberries or mixed frozen berries
  • 1 cup frozen banana slices,, from very ripe bananas (see Note)
  • 3 tablespoons milk or nondairy milk, such as almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or peanut butter (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla or unflavored protein powder, (optional)

Toppings

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • ¼ cup granola
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced
  • Fresh bananas, sliced

Method

  1. Add the frozen berries and bananas to a blender and blend on LOW until coarse and sandy in texture.  

  2. Add the milk, nut butter, and protein powder (if using) and blend on LOW, scraping down the sides as needed, until the mixture comes together in a thick “soft serve” consistency.

  3. Scoop the smoothie into a bowl and drizzle with the melted coconut oil. Allow the coconut oil to harden for 1 minute (you can place it in the freezer to speed up this process). Sprinkle with granola and hemp seeds and garnish with fresh fruit.

Notes

For the best results, use very ripe bananas that have been sliced into 1-inch pieces and frozen. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your smoothie bowl will be. When you drizzle melted coconut oil over the cold smoothie, it hardens like magic shell, adding a wonderful texture and satisfying crunch.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 434
  • Protein 21 g
  • Carbohydrates 54 g
  • Total Fat 20 g
  • Dietary Fiber 10 g
  • Cholesterol 0 mg
  • Sodium 108 mg
  • Total Sugars 29 g

How to Make a Smoothie Bowl

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • layla

    do you surve these on a food truck?

    Hi layla, We do not.

  • layla

    so it surveres 5 people.


    This just serves 1. Hope you enjoy.

  • layla

    how many people does it serve?

    Just 1 serving. Hope you enjoy.

  • ST

    How much does this recipe yield?

    About 2 cups.

  • BB

    Hi, for how many hours should the fruits be frozen?

    Should only take a few hours. Hope you enjoy!

  • Stephanie

    Amazing!! I had a a bunch of really ripe bananas I was about to pitch this morning and came across this recipe. Froze them up and made this for dinner. The coconut oil is the MVP! Don’t skip that part! Will be making this again for sure!

    Thanks, so glad you loved it!

  • Shirley

    Oh wow this is delicious! I love the addition of the melted coconut oil on top and the protein powder makes this super filling. Thank you!

    Thanks Shirley, we are so happy you loved it!

  • Isabella

    I just made this, and it tastes phenominal. It adheres to my long list of allergies (gluten, milk and food-triggered eczema). I replaced milk with almond milk and didn't add any protein powder or almond butter in.
    The coconut shell was absolutely amazing, it was so satisfying to crack! I love how simple yet absolutely addicting this recipe is. It fills you up too, so it is my ideal healthy and yummy breakfast. I'll 100% be making this again in the future!

    Thanks Isabella, so glad you enjoyed it!

  • Jenn

    I am all about this coconut magic shell, it was so yummy and so fun!

    Isn't it the best?! Glad you liked it!