Acai Bowl with Fresh Fruit and Coconut Chips

The acai bowl has become one of the defining breakfast trends of recent years—and for good reason. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berries are native to the Amazon rainforest, prized for their antioxidant content, deep purple color, and unique flavor. As people ask what is in an acai bowl, the answer often includes frozen acai, fruit, plant milk, and a careful balance of toppings. But with so many versions out there, there’s also a lot of confusion over are acai bowls healthy, how many calories in an acai bowl, and whether they can really satisfy hunger without overloading on sugar or carbs.

This version from Thrive Market—Acai Bowl with Fresh Fruit & Coconut Chips—strikes a sweet balance. It uses acai powder, frozen bananas, apple, almond milk, and sweeteners like honey or agave, topped with homemade coconut chips and fresh fruit. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free, and you can tweak it to be lower in sugar or higher in protein if you want. It gives you both that creamy texture people love and the bright, crunchy toppings that make acai bowls visually pleasing and fun to eat.

Below is the exact recipe, including the ingredients for both the bowl base and the coconut chips topping, followed by Variations & Tips so you can adapt it to your taste, dietary goals, and nutritional preferences.

Acai Bowl with Fresh Fruit and Coconut Chips

Recipe Details

Serves 2

Recipe Ingredients

For the coconut chips topping

• 6 tablespoons large unsweetened coconut flakes
• 2 teaspoons 2 teaspoons natural honey
• 3 tablespoons amaranth
• 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the acai bowl base

• 3 to 4 bananas, frozen
• 1 large apple, peeled
• 3/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 tablespoon natural honey or agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon stevia
• 2 tablespoons acai powder

Recipe Instructions:

1. Make the coconut chips topping: In a medium saucepan, combine coconut flakes, honey, amaranth, and vanilla. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and well coated. Remove from heat and spread on a plate; let cool completely so chips become crisp.
2. Make the acai base: In a blender, add the frozen bananas, peeled apple, almond milk, natural honey (or agave), stevia, and acai powder.
3. Blend until very smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a dash more almond milk to reach desired consistency.
4. Pour the smoothie base into bowls.
5. Top with the coconut chips and fresh fruit. Some favorite topping combos include sliced kiwi, banana, mango, or crunchy granola.
6. Serve immediately to preserve crunch and freshness.

Variations & Tips for Acai Bowls

• Lower Sugar Option: Reduce or omit honey/agave; rely on the natural sweetness of bananas and apples. Substitute stevia or monk fruit for sweetener, or skip altogether.
• Protein Boost: Add a scoop of vegan protein powder, or stir in nut butter (peanut, almond) to increase protein content; this helps make the bowl more filling.
• Paleo Version: Use coconut-based milk and replace sweeteners with raw honey, avoiding grains in your toppings (choose seed granola or chopped nuts instead).
• Extra Creamy Texture: Use more frozen banana or even add frozen plant yogurt; ensure all fruit is frozen to avoid watery base.
• Fruit Topping Ideas: Try switching fresh fruit toppings with berries, mango, pineapple, or passion fruit; mix in seeds like chia, flax, or hemp for texture and nutrients.
• Crunchy Vegan Popcorn Style Twist: For texture surprise, sprinkle lightly salted popcorn or popcorn flakes as a topping—fun, crunchy, and totally vegan popcorn flavor fusion.
• Serving Size & Calories Insight: A bowl made using this recipe (with base + toppings as shown) likely contains ~400-500 calories, mostly from fruit, acai, and honey; toppings can push it higher. Adjust portion size or topping amounts if you’re watching calorie intake.

Photo credit: Nadia Damaso