Everything You Need To Know About Açaí Bowls + 17 Recipes

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The Ultimate Guide to Making An Açaí Bowl

UPDATE: Follow me into the açaí rainforest in Brazil to see how acai grows & learn about its benefits: Açaí 101: Why It’s My Top Superfood + I’m In The Amazon Jungle!

A traditional dish eaten on the beaches of Brazil, açaí bowls are crazy popular around the world, and for a good reason.

A delicious way to start your day with clean energy and one of my all-time favorite breakfasts, an açaí bowl is super easy to make. The best part is that you can make it completely your own – depending on what you have available. Here is a little more about açaí, some of my favorite ingredients and toppings, and top recipes for you to try!

Be sure to tag #breakfastcriminals if you post your creations on Instagram.

What is açaí?

The açaí (ah-sigh-EE) berry is a grape-like fruit harvested from açaí palm trees, native to the rainforests of South America. You can find açaí in the form of frozen smoothie packs or freeze dried powder. We explain why frozen puree packs are always preferred over powder in this video.

What is an açaí bowl?

Açaí smoothie bowls – simply frozen açaí pulp blended with fruits and berries, and topped with banana, granola, coconut and other goodies, is one of my all-time favorite breakfasts.

Looking for acai bowl recipes? Not sure how to make an acai bowl? You're in the right place! Click through for 17 acai bowl recipes and get started! #acaibowlrecipes @acaihowto

What makes a great açaí bowl?

There are 5 things you need to know to make a great açaí bowl every time. I share all of them in this video:

Açaí + Breakfast Criminals Story

I tried my first açaí bowl in Hawaii, where it’s also now big part of the food culture favored by surfers, since it provides clean energy and a feeling of satisfied lightness (you’ll know what I mean when you try it!)

When I came back to New York, I realized that there’s no place that makes açaí bowls the way they’re meant to be – with soul. So I started making my own and posting them on Instagram. That’s how Breakfast Criminals was born!

Two years later, when Breakfast Criminals became a global movement, I led a Goddess Dance, Yoga & Acai Bowls retreat in Brazil. That’s when I had my first authentic açaí bowl in the berry’s motherland, and my life changed forever. I’m sharing videos from my hunt for the best açaí bowl in Brazil on Breakfast Criminals YouTube channel.

What are the health benefits of açaí?

Açaí is an amazing source of antioxidants, fiber, heart-healthy fats, and minerals. It’s also low on sugar – just make sure you grab the unsweetened version. You can find açaí at health food stores and online. My favorite brand is Tambor – their açaí products are wild harvested and non-GMO project verified.

How do you make an açaí bowl?

Now let’s get to the fun part. The cool thing about an açaí bowl is that you can make it completely your own.

After tasting açaí bowls in their most pure, fresh form in Brazil with nothing added but some guarana and feeling their healing, grounding power, I like to have my açaí bowls naked, with nothing added (except for a splash of water to get the blender going and some raw cacao nibs on top).

On days when I want to get crafty, I do have my staple açaí bowl ingredients: banana, berries, coconut water, raw cacao to blend, and granola, coconut chips, almond butter, goji berries and blueberries to top the bowl. You can experiment and increase anti-inflammatory benefits by adding greens (spinach, kale) and superfoods and adaptogens such as maca, lucuma, mesquite and ashwagandha.

Adding avocado for satisfying creaminess will make your bowl… açaí-mazing! Here are a few of my favorite açaí recipes – feel free to follow the instructions, and add your own twist for more fun!

Açaí bowl ingredients

Here are all my favorite ingredients to make an açaí bowl. Mix, match, and use what you have to make it your own, or scroll down to follow my exact recipes.

15 Best Açaí Bowl Recipes:

1. Simple & Authentic Acai Bowl Recipe:

2. Purple Love Bowl: Açaí + Overnight Oats Recipe:

3. Blackberry Avocado Açaí Bowl Recipe:

4. Mango Açaí Bowl Recipe:

5. Paleo Friendly Açaí Berry Loaf Recipe

6. Gut-Friendly Açaí Bowl With Kefir

7. Creamy Açaí And Cauliflower Smoothie

8. Pumpkin Pie Açaí Bowl Recipe:

9. Strawberry Nectarine Açaí Bowl Recipe:

10. Beaming Protein Açaí Bowl Recipe:

11. Chocolate Mango Açaí Bowl Recipe:

12. Raw Vegan Cherry Açaí Bowl Recipe:

13. Berry Lucuma Açaí Bowl Recipe:

14. Cinnamon Spice Cookie Açaí Bowl Recipe:

15. Pumpkin Papaya Açaí Bowl Recipe:

16. Raspberry Kiwi Açaí Bowl

Blend:

1 açaí smoothie pack
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup raspberries
1 kiwi
1/2 cup coconut water

Toppings:

Raspberries
Macadamia nuts
Flax seeds
Hemp seeds
Mulberries
Raw cacao nibs
Optional: amond butter, granola

17. Açaí Parfait In A Jar

Blend:

1 açaí smoothie pack
1 banana
2 tablespoons raw cacao
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
2/3 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon maca
1 scoop raw chocolate protein powder for an extra kick (optional)

Toppings:

chocolate granola
strawberries & blueberries
hemp seeds
raw cacao nibs
dried coconut flakes

Want more? Check out the Breakfast Criminals eBook for a ton more delicious breakfast recipes:

Here’s what people are saying:

Jessica Sepel, Qualified Nutritionist & Wellness Coach (Sydney, Australia) | @jshealth:

“I get such inspiration from Breakfast Criminals’ beautiful recipes. They’ve motivated me to whip up countless smoothies, oatmeals and pancake creations.”

Sasha Nelson, Yoga Instructor and Holistic Health Coach (New York, USA | @sashayogawellness:

“The gorgeous Breakfast Criminals ebook will inspire you to get creative in your kitchen, nourish your body [so it nourishes you back], and have fun while doing it.”