Make this thick and creamy no banana smoothie bowl for delicious and healthy breakfast or snack. It’s vegan, dairy free, naturally sweet and made with whole ingredients.
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What is a smoothie bowl?
A smoothie bowl is basically a very thick smoothie served in a bowl and eaten with a spoon. Smoothie bowls are often served in coconut bowls (it makes you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation!) and topped with granola, fresh fruit and nuts. This frozen treat a great alternative to ice-cream that’s equally satisfying but much healthier and lower in calories, sugar and fat.
If you’re looking for more smoothie bowl ideas, try these:
- Nutella Smoothie Bowl
- Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
- Coconut Vanilla Smoothie Bowl
- Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- Snickers Smoothie Bowl
- Strawberry Rhubarb Smoothie Bowl
- Oatmeal Smoothie Bowl
Or, try my refreshing, green Spinach Cucumber Smoothie, which is a perfect midday snack!
Why this recipe works
- This smoothie bowl takes almost no time to make
- Great for a quick and healthy delicious breakfast, snack or dessert
- It’s super thick and creamy, even without banana
- A great source of fiber and antioxidants (from the berries)
- Kid and family friendly recipe
- Low-cal and good for weight loss (if that’s your thing)
- Easily customizable – use your favorite fruit and liquid of choice
Ingredient notes
To make this no banana smoothie bowl, you will only need 2 simple ingredients:
Frozen Fruit Mix: I used Wyman’s Mango Berry frozen mix which contains mangoes, strawberries and wild blueberries from Maine.
Milk of Choice: I like using non-dairy milk for a touch of creaminess. Any plant milk will work (unsweetened or sweetened): oat, almond, coconut or hemp. Coconut water or just plain water will also do!
How to make a smoothie bowl without banana
Step 1: Prep the ingredients. Fruit should be frozen solid and plant milk (or water) should be very cold.
Step 2: Pour ⅓ cup of plant milk in the jug of a high powered standup blender and add frozen fruit.
Step 3: Blend until smooth and creamy, stopping the blender as needed to scrape the sides. Add more liquid only if your blender is stuck.
Step 4: Transfer to a bowl, add your favorite toppings and serve!
Serving suggestions
The most fun part about smoothie bowls is definitely the toppings! For this smoothie bowl I decided to keep it simple and topped it with fresh diced mango, sliced strawberries, frozen wild blueberries and toasted coconut.
You can top your smoothie bowl with whatever you have and like – any fruit, nuts or seeds will work! Here are some ideas for smoothie bowl toppings:
- Cut up or whole fruit: fresh berries, banana, pineapple, peaches, pear, cherries or melon.
- Nuts: walnuts, sliced almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts or peanuts
- Seeds: pepitas, hemp seeds or chia seeds
- Your favorite granola (for a little crunch)
- Coconut flakes
- Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- A drizzle of almond butter, peanut butter or Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
- A pinch of cinnamon or turmeric
How to store it
Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed right after making them. If you make it and suddenly have no time to eat it (I’ve been there!), put it in the freezer for up to 24h. Let thaw slightly before enjoying.
Tips for thick smoothie bowls
- Use only frozen fruit (or veggies). Frozen fruit will give you the soft serve ice cream texture.
- Add only small amounts of liquid. Start with just a little bit of milk or water (¼ to ⅓ cup). You can always add a bit more later, if you need to.
- Use a high-speed blender. If it can cut through ice, it’s good for a smoothie bowl!
- Be patient! If your blender gets stuck, turn it off, scrape the sides and under the blades and turn it on again. Repeat as needed until smooth.
- Don’t blend for too long. Once your smoothie bowl is blended and creamy, stop the blender. If you blend it for too long, it may loose its thick consistency as the frozen fruit thaws.
Variations and substitutions
- To add some protein to your bowl, you can use a scoop of neutral tasting vegan protein powder or collagen peptides. Sometimes I also add ½ silken tofu and it works great, too.
- If you’re looking to eat more vegetables, you can replace some frozen fruit with neutral tasting frozen veggies. My go to choices are frozen cauliflower or zucchini. Spinach is great, too.
- Adding some frozen avocado chunks give the smoothie bowl wonderful creamy texture. I’ve used avocado in this epic Snickers Smoothie Bowl and it tastes like the creamiest chocolate peanut butter ice cream!
- For a chocolate smoothie bowl, add a tablespoon or two of raw cocoa powder.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, absolutely! I tend to stay away from regular milk in my recipes but it will definitely work. Plain yogurt or kefir will also do well and will produce a creamier smoothie bowl
You will need a powerful blender to make a thick smoothie bowl. My go-to blender is my Vitamix because it cuts through anything but for a more economical option try this Ninja Smoothie Bowl Maker. You can also use a food processor.
No. Fresh fruit will not produce the creamy, ice-cream like consistency. If you use fresh fruit, you will end up with saucy pureed fruit (think baby food consistency).
Pretty much! I like to use at least one fruit that’s “creamy”. Since this recipe does not use banana, other creamy fruit choices are mangoes or peaches. Frozen strawberries also work exceptionally well in thick smoothie bowl recipes.
No. Refrigerator is not cold enough and your smoothie bowl will melt and become runny.
I got mine on Amazon for about $15 for two.
If you try my Smoothie Bowl Without Banana recipe, be sure to leave me a comment and give this recipe a rating. I would love to hear from you and see how it turned out for you! You can also share and tag me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Super Thick Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen fruit such as bananas, strawberries, mangoes, pineapple
- ¼ cup unsweetened plant milk or other liquid such as dairy milk, coconut water, fuit juice or water
- Optional add ins: protein powder, cocoa powder, nut butter, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon
Instructions
- Pour ¼ cup plant milk or liquid of choice in the jug of a high powered standup blender. A high speed blender with a tamper works best.
- Add frozen fruit and any other ingredients, if using
- Blend until smooth, stopping the motor and scraping sides and bottom as needed. Add a little more plant milk, but only if you need it.
- Transfer the contents to a bowl and serve with your favorite toppings, such as fresh fruit, nuts, nut butter or seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
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