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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Banana Smoothie Bowl

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This creamy banana smoothie bowl is a naturally sweet, deliciously refreshing, and incredibly easy vegan breakfast that will change your mornings! You only need 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to make this mouth-watering breakfast that tastes more like dessert – with zero guilt and zero added sugar!

Banana smoothie bowl topped with nut butter, banana slices, nuts and herbs in a grey bowl with a spoon.

I love fruit smoothies in the morning. They’re easy to make, sweet, satisfying, and totally delicious! And this healthy banana smoothie bowl recipe is one of my absolute favorites.

It looks like ice cream, but it’s actually a healthy filling meal that you can feel good about starting your day with! Made with frozen banana slices, creamy nut butter, and sweet warm spices, this nutritious breakfast is a great source of fiber and healthy fats.

While you can make this as a regular smoothie, I like to turn it into a banana bowl because then you can add all kinds of fun toppings to it!

Once you try this recipe, you have to try some of my other favorite smoothies that also taste great as bowls like this blueberry pineapple smoothie, bahama mama tropical smoothie, apple carrot smoothie, avocado peanut butter smoothie, and this dragon fruit smoothie! The best part? This quick breakfast is ready in just 5 minutes!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • 5 minutes of prep time
  • Packed with delicious ingredients
  • Simple to customize, tons of substitution options
  • Healthy breakfast with no added sugar, but also tasty any time of day
  • Increase your daily intake of fresh fruit
  • Vegan & gluten free
  • Creamy, thick consistency
  • Add your own favorite toppings
  • Satisfy your sweet tooth with zero guilt
  • Great way to use up ripe bananas
  • Best banana smoothie bowl ever!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

This vegan banana smoothie bowl requires simple ingredients and pantry staples that you can easily find at any grocery store, or you might already have on hand. For detailed instructions and nutritional information, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients for easy banana smoothie bowl recipe on a white background.
  • Ripe Bananas: Who isn’t looking for a way to use those bananas sitting on their counter before they go bad? 3 medium bananas is all you need for this recipe.
  • Almond Butter: Almond butter can be found with peanut butter in your local grocery store. For a healthier option, grab a natural almond butter if you can – the only ingredients should be almonds and salt.
  • Ground Cinnamon: Chances are you already have this in your spice cabinet at home, but if not you can find it in the spice aisle at the grocery store or easily order it online. This adds a warm sweetness to the recipe without needing any sugar.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds sweetness and brings out the flavors of the other ingredients. Vanilla extract is found in the baking aisle of your grocery store. This is another one you might already have on hand. Vanilla extract has a long shelf life and when stored properly will keep indefinitely. For best flavor, it should be no more than five years old.
  • Unsweetened Almond Milk: A splash of milk helps to thin out the bowl just slightly, enough to make it scoopable.

📖 Variations

There are so many different smoothie bowl add-ins and toppings! Here are some of our favorite topping ideas and ways to add different ingredients into your healthy smoothie bowl recipe.

  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl: Give your frozen banana smoothie bowl an upgrade by adding about a cup of frozen strawberries. You can always try starting out with less and doing a taste test to see if you need more.
  • Green Smoothie Bowl: Add 2 cups of baby spinach into this recipe – it’ll turn your banana bowl green, but you won’t be able to taste the spinach at all!
  • Add Protein: A scoop of vegan protein powder, or 1/2 cup of unsweetened Greek yogurt (if you don’t need to keep this recipe vegan) will add up to 20 grams of additional protein to this recipe.
  • Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl: Swapping out the almond butter for creamy peanut butter will give this easy banana bowl recipe that classic, rich nut butter flavor – like a peanut butter banana sandwich! You can also substitute any nut butter you prefer in this recipe instead of peanut or almond butter.
  • Banana Chocolate Smoothie Bowls: Add 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder into the banana mixture, and top with dark chocolate shavings.
  • Use A Different Milk Alternative: Use any milk of choice if you don’t want to use almond milk. Unsweetened oat milk, coconut milk or soy milk would all add a creamy texture.
  • Banana Acai Bowls: Acai berries are packed with antioxidants and can be a tasty addition to your banana almond butter smoothie bowl. You can usually find acai in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store. Add 1/2 cup to the recipe for that popular acai flavor.

Smoothie Bowl Toppings

The possibilities are endless when it comes to toppings. It’s the main difference between a regular smoothie and smoothie bowls! The only question is whether you want a low calorie smoothie bowl or a higher-calorie smoothie bowl. Some of our favorite favorite smoothie bowl toppings are:

  • Different types of seeds: Chia seeds, ground flax seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds
  • Roasted and chopped nuts: Sliced almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, brazil nuts, peanuts
  • Fresh berries: Fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries
  • Other fresh fruit: Sliced or diced banana, apples, pear, mango, pineapples, figs, peaches, cherries, plums, nectarines
  • Dried fruit: Raisins, currants, diced apricots, cherries, blueberries, figs, dates, cranberries, coconut flakes, goji berries
  • Nut & seed butters: peanut butter, almond butter, cashew, walnut, tahini would all taste great drizzled on top
  • Other crunchy and sweet toppings: Toasted oats, high protein granola, low calorie granola, dark chocolate chips (vegan chocolate chips), cacao nibs
  • Sweeteners: Maple syrup, honey (if you don’t need this to be vegan), agave, monk fruit
  • Dessert drizzles: Cookie butter, granola butter, nutella, chocolate sauce, caramel

🔪 Instructions

How To Freeze Bananas

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  2. Slice bananas and add them as a single layer on your prepared baking sheet
  3. Freeze overnight. Once frozen, you can transfer the banana slices to a freezer safe container or zip top bag for easy storage.

How To Make A Banana Bowl

Add Ingredients To High Speed Blender: Add the frozen sliced bananas, almond butter, cinnamon and vanilla extract to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Scrape down the edges as needed.

Bananas, almond butter and spices in a blender.

Add Almond Milk: 1 tbsp at a time, add the almond milk. Continue to blend until smooth until desired consistency has been achieved.

Banana smoothie in a blender.

Evenly Divide: Pour mixture evenly into serving bowls.

Healthy banana bowl on a wooden cutting board.

Add Toppings: Top with a variety of delicious toppings such as crushed nuts, sliced banana, fresh berries, toasted coconut and nut butter. Enjoy immediately.

Banana bowl with toppings - banana slices, nuts, seeds, nut butter in a grey bowl.

❓Recipe FAQs

HOW DO YOU THICKEN A SMOOTHIE BOWL?

There are 3 secrets to creating an extra thick smoothie bowl.
First, use frozen fruits.
The texture of blended frozen fruit ensures a thicker smoothie since the water content of the frozen fruit has already turned to ice.

Second, adjust the amount of milk to achieve the consistency you want. Adding more almond milk will create more of smoothie consistency and less milk will keep a thicker consistency.

Third, use a high powered blender that will completely blend all of the ingredients together, so you don’t end up with any chunky bits.

ARE SMOOTHIE BOWLS ACTUALLY HEALTHY?

Yes, smoothie bowls can be very healthy, but it depends on what you put in them! The specific ingredients you add will dictate just how healthy your bowl is.

If you’re using whole fruits & veggies, no added sugar, plant protein, and unsweetened milks, you’ll end up with a very healthy smoothie bowl that’s great for breakfast, lunch or a snack.

However, toppings and mix-ins can add extra sugar, healthy fats, or both. If you add in syrups, too much dried fruit, chocolate chips, granola, etc. then your bowl will be more like dessert than a healthy meal.

IS A BANANA SMOOTHIE GOOD FOR YOU?

Typically yes, banana smoothies are healthy. But just like with a smoothie bowl, it depends on what other ingredients you add in!

Bananas themselves are healthy as they contain many important vitamins and minerals. As long as you stick to whole foods, no added sugars, unsweetened milks, a banana smoothie can be very good for you and can cure dessert cravings in a healthier way.

DOES A SMOOTHIE BOWL COUNT AS A MEAL?

Yes! A smoothie bowl can be a satisfying meal if it has the right macronutrients. Make sure it contains healthy fats, add some oats for healthy carbs, make sure it has lean plant protein, load it up with your favorite fruits and vegetables, and you’ll be full and satisfied when you’re finished.

HOW TO STORE A SMOOTHIE BOWL?

The best way to store a smoothie bowl is actually in the freezer in an airtight freezer container. You can keep a smoothie bowl in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to eat it, let it thaw a little in the refrigerator to your desired consistency.

I don’t recommend storing a smoothie bowl in the fridge for more than 12 hours as it will start to separate and change consistency.

💭 Expert Tips

  • Use frozen bananas from the store instead of slicing fresh bananas. You could also prep your fresh bananas and keep them good longer by slicing them into small chunks and freezing them in a freezer bag until you’re ready to make your smoothie. This will make your smoothie bowl available immediately after it’s prepared.
  • For that perfect, thick texture, use a powerful blender that can completely pulverize the ingredients in your banana nut smoothie bowl.
  • This recipe is already quite sweet naturally, but if you need to add more sweetness you can – by adding 1/2 tsp maple syrup when blending.
Banana smoothie bowl topped with nut butter, banana slices, nuts and herbs in a grey bowl with a spoon.

🥤 More Tasty Smoothie Recipes!

📋 Recipe Card

🎥 Watch How to Make It

https://youtu.be/XqxYCeJUtHM
Banana smoothie bowl topped with nut butter, banana slices, nuts and herbs in a grey bowl with a spoon.
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Banana Smoothie Bowl

This banana smoothie bowl is a naturally sweet, deliciously refreshing, and incredibly easy vegan breakfast that will change your mornings! You only need 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to make this mouth-watering breakfast that tastes more like dessert – with zero guilt and zero added sugar!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 2
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

Smoothie Bowl Ingredients

Optional Toppings

  • Chia seeds, Sliced banana, Berries, Oats, Toasted pumpkin seeds, Nut butter

Instructions

  • Freeze your banana slices by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, slicing your bananas and adding them to the baking sheet in a single layer, covering with plastic wrap and freezing overnight.
  • Add the frozen sliced bananas, almond butter, cinnamon and vanilla extract to a high speed food processor and blend until smooth. Scrape down the edges as needed.
  • Add the almond milk, 1 tbsp at a time. Continue to blend until smooth until desired consistency has been achieved.
  • Evenly divide into serving bowls.
  • Top with your favorite toppings such as crushed nuts, sliced banana, fresh berries, toasted coconut and nut butter. Serve and enjoy immediately.

Notes

  • Frozen banana from the store can be used instead of slicing fresh bananas and freezing them to cut down on prep time.
  • Adjust thickness to suit your desired tastes by adding more almond milk for more of a smoothie consistency or less almond milk for a thicker consistency.
  • Any nut butter can be used instead of almond butter.
  • To add a little more sweetness add ½ tbsp maple syrup when blending.
  • All of the sugar in this recipe is natural sugar from the bananas, this recipe has zero added sugar! Nutritional information doesn’t include optional toppings. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1smoothie bowl | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 696mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 22g

12 responses to “Banana Smoothie Bowl”

  1. This is such a good idea. I love smoothie bowls and have never thought to do one with just bananas. I can’t wait to try this! I will probably add a little peanut butter and nutella too 🙂5 stars

  2. Adding frozen bananas was so awesome! I’ve made breakfast bowls before but not like this. This was so refreshing and easy for breakfast.5 stars

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