This ultra rich and creamy strawberry banana smoothie bowl is easy, refreshing and loaded with nutrient rich ingredients. Uses only 3 simple ingredients and it comes together very quickly. Then, you can have fun garnishing with all your favorite toppings! Makes for a healthy breakfast, post-workout snack or even a light dessert. Fully vegan, dairy-free, naturally gluten-free and made without added refined sugar.
I can almost smell the spring! We just got hit by another (and hopefully the last) mini snow storm yesterday. But, let's not be intimidated, March is around the corner.
And warmer days definitely call for more smoothie bowls! This strawberry banana smoothie bowl is ultra refreshing, healthy, colorful, energizing and such a tasty way to start the day.
Since smoothie bowls are hard to find here in Maine, I just started making my own. And really, they are so easy to make! It is a matter of blending frozen fruits to a slushy consistency. It feels like eating ice cream!
But what's the point of eating a smoothie by the spoon, you may ask?
I have expressed my passion for smoothie bowl toppings 😂 in my peach oatmeal smoothie bowl post, which is the whole idea behind pouring your smoothie in a bowl, isn't it? But enjoying my smoothie with a spoon also makes me fell like I'm enjoying a real meal. I love a good smoothie to accompany toasts or bagels, but whenever I feel like a solo smoothie, then all the toppings help me feel full longer.
Always keep frozen strawberries and bananas in your freezer so you can make it at anytime. Makes for a healthy breakfast, but also great enjoyed after working out or simply as a light fruity dessert.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick recipe
- Simple and requires only 3 ingredients
- Refreshing
- Easy to customize
- A healthy alternative to ice cream
- Loaded with vitamins and nutrients
- Healthy recipe for when craving sweets
- Kid approved
- Vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients you'll need
- Frozen bananas: Buy extra fresh bananas at the grocery store and let them ripen on the counter. Once done, peel them and transfer to an air-tight container/bag and freeze!
- Frozen strawberries: They are easy to find at any grocery store.
- Plant-based milk: use your favorite!
- Vanilla extract (optional): it adds extra flavor, but optional.
How to make it
Combine
In a blender, combine the milk, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries and vanilla extract (if using). It can help the blending process if you pour the milk first.
Blend
Then, blend until smooth and uniform.
You will have to take a few breaks to scrape the walls and bring the mixture back down to the blades and blend again. Try to avoid adding much more milk as it can make the mixture runny. Use your tamper if you have a Vitamix.
Pour and garnish
Once smooth, pour or scoop in a serving bowl and top with all your favorite toppings. Enjoy right away!
Watch how to make it
Add-in ideas
You can boost your strawberry banana smoothie bowl with extra nutrient dense ingredients such as:
- Raw cacao powder
- Acai powder
- Spinach or kale
- Cinnamon
- Nut or seed butter
Tips
- Feel free to use coconut milk (the one you find in the fridge in a carton, not canned coconut milk) for a more tropical flavor.
- The mixture might look too thick at first, but this is what you are looking for to reach a thick and creamy consistency that's pleasant to eat by the spoon. If you must add more liquid, then add 1 tablespoon at a time.
- I don't normally need to add any extra sweetener since the natural sugar from the fruits is usually plenty sweet for me, but if your fruits are not sweet enough, then add a splash of maple syrup to taste.
How to make it thicker
Making a smoothie bowl is all about the texture! You want a thick consistency that's smooth and spoon-able, but not too thick so you can actually blend it.
To make it thicker:
- Use less milk than when making a smoothie
- Use only frozen fruits
But also, reaching the perfect texture starts with the way you measure the ingredients. Frozen fruits are actually hard to measure, simply because their solid shape makes it harder to fill the cup properly. I recommend to slice the frozen fruits before measuring.
Also, the slushy thick mixture tends to stick to the sides of the blender. Instead of adding extra milk to make it more blend-able, try to take more breaks to stir in and scrape the walls using a spatula and blend again. I'll often take about 5-10 breaks when making a smoothie bowl, even though I have a Vitamix. This allows me not to end up with a slurry kind of smoothie bowl.
And if you feel like it really needs more liquid, then add 1 tablespoon at the time, no more!
Dessert smoothie bowl favorite toppings
There are endless options for smoothie bowl toppings! Aim to add some crunchiness to contrast with the creamy texture.
The classic garnishes include granola (I love my almond vanilla granola for smoothie bowls), coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds and more fresh fruits. The granola seen in the picture is actually from my pineapple chia parfait recipe.
If you want to make your bowl even more substantial and filling, then add chopped nuts such as walnuts and pecans, nut/seed butter and even grains such as rolled oats, cooked quinoa or buckwheat groats. I'll also add a tahini caramel sauce, flaxseed pudding or vegan yogurt if I have some.
I also love to top my bowl with freeze dried fruits, especially strawberries, and vegan chocolate chips or cacao nibs for a chocolatey version.
FAQ's
I don't recommend. It is meant to be enjoyed immediately. You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but know that the consistency will change to a drink-able smoothie.
Top with some nuts, seeds (such as chia or hemps), nut butter, or even cooked quinoa. You can also include a protein powder to the blender when making the smoothie mixture.
You will reach a smoother texture if using a high-speed blender, but can also be done using a regular blender. In that case, you will definitively have to help the blender by taking multiple breaks and scraping the walls and bottom with a spatula. Can also be made using a food processor, although you might not reach a completely uniform mixture.
No, you will need frozen fruits for a thick and refreshing consistency. If you only have fresh fruits, then follow the recipe as is, but drink it just like a regular smoothie.
Other smoothie recipes you might like
- Blueberry pineapple galaxy smoothie
- Strawberry chocolate smoothie
- Banana carrot smoothie
- Watermelon banana smoothie
- Oat milk smoothie
- Banana chai smoothie
- Strawberry, blackberry and banana smoothie
- Chocolate banana smoothie
- Avocado peanut butter smoothie
I hope you like this strawberry banana smoothie bowl as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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Frozen Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 large frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries - sliced
- ½ cup plant-based milk - unsweetened
- ½ tsp vanilla extract - optional
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. You will have to take a few breaks to stir using a spatula and then blend again. Use your tamper if you have a Vitamix.
- Pour or scoop in a serving bowl and garnish with favorite toppings such as granola, shredded coconut, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nuts, nut butter, chocolate chips, etc. Enjoy right away.
Video
Notes
- This smoothie bowl cannot be made ahead and leftovers do not store well as the texture will become runny.
- Try not to add too much extra milk so the smoothie bowl is thick and creamy. Instead, take a few breaks to scoop the mixture back to the blade and blend again.
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