Acai Bowl (Paleo, Whole 30, & Vegan)

Acai bowls are all the rage right now and for good reasons. They are packed with antioxidant rich ingredients, easy to make, and so refreshing. This Acai Bowl recipe is Paleo, Whole 30, and vegan friendly and does not contain any gluten, grains, dairy. or refined sugar.

Someday when I tell my kids about quarantine and they ask what I did at home for almost 3 months, I will tell them that I perfected this Paleo and Whole 30 approved Acai Bowl. I made it more times than I can count during these past few months and I am not even mad about it. I tend to make it for breakfast but the great thing is that you can enjoy this smoothie bowl for lunch, dinner, dessert, or even a snack! It’s made with real ingredients that are great sources of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. It’s thick and creamy almost like ice cream and packed with rich berry flavors. Just add your favorite toppings for a healthy and delicious bowl full of taste.

Let’s Talk Ingredients

This plant based acai bowl is made from simple ingredients and can be easily customized to meet your preferred taste.

• Acai: If you are not familiar with acai, it’s a berry that tastes like a mix between raspberries and blackberries. This is the foundation of the recipe and so it’s the only part that isn’t customizable. I buy frozen acai puree packets that I just defrost and add to the blender.
• Frozen fruit: I use a combination of frozen strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries but you can leave out any of these that you don’t like. You can also add other frozen fruit. The best part about acai bowls is that you can get creative and experiment. I would just suggest sticking to the same ratios of frozen fruit regardless of what you decide to add or leave out so the consistency stays the same.
• Banana: The banana helps make this acai bowl thick and creamy. You can opt out of using the banana but it may change the consistency. I use half of the banana in the acai bowl and then top the bowl with the remaining half.
• Coconut milk: This can be swapped out for regular milk if you can handle dairy or any other plant based milk (almond milk, oat milk, etc.). The amount this recipe calls for gives you a thick and creamy consistency, so if you prefer it to be thinner just add additional milk.
• Toppings: My favorite toppings are bananas, strawberries, and cacao nibs. But you can literally top this bowl with anything you would like! Some other options are nut butter, nuts, blueberries, granola, kiwi, and shredded coconut. There are unlimited options when it comes to toppings and it really just comes down to your personal preference and what you have available.

How to Make this Paleo & Whole 30 Acai Bowl

The steps to make this delicious Acai Bowl are super simple and only take 5 minutes! To start, defrost the acai packet by running it under warm water. It does not need to be completed defrosted, just enough to be able to get the puree out of the packet. Add the frozen fruit, half of the banana, acai puree and coconut milk to the blender and blend until it is thick and creamy. If you prefer it to be a thinner consistency, add more coconut milk. I use the Ninja Blender (check it out here) that comes with the 16 ounce blender cups. This makes the perfect amount to fit in one of these personal sized cups. Pour the acai mixture into a bowl and add your favorite toppings.

This Acai Bowl is what breakfast dreams are made of! It’s healthy, easy to make, and so delicious. If you make this recipe or your own version, make sure to tag me on Instagram @theglutenfreegrasses so I can see your creations!

-Kelsey