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How to make a smoothie bowl (thick enough for a spoon)

A smoothie bowl is a smoothie thick enough to eat with a spoon, with toppings on it. The difference from a drink is mostly two things: much less liquid and more frozen fruit. That’s exactly what makes a blender struggle, so the technique depends on which blender you own. This guide covers how to get a thick base in a jug with a tamper, a jug without one, and a personal cup, plus a starting base and topping ideas.

Bowl vs drink: what changes

A drinkable smoothie has enough liquid for the blades to keep everything moving. A bowl has as little liquid as the blender can cope with, and most of the fruit is frozen. Our load order and ratio guide gives a “thick or spoonable” starting ratio. Start there and use the techniques below to get the blender through it.

Technique by blender type

Jug with a tamper

This is the easiest set-up for bowls. Vitamix says the tamper is for very thick or frozen mixtures and prevents air pockets forming. It should be used only through the lid plug while the machine is running, with the lid in place (Vitamix UK FAQ). It also suggests moving the tamper around the container wall rather than holding it in the middle, and not forcing it, because the blades do the chopping (Vitamix Europe tips).

  1. Liquid in first, then any soft ingredients, frozen fruit on top.
  2. Start on a low speed and turn it up quickly. Vitamix advises working up from speed 1 so a vortex forms (Vitamix Europe tips).
  3. Use the tamper to keep the mixture moving. Stop as soon as it’s smooth. Blending for longer warms the mixture and loosens it.
  4. Only ever use the tamper made for your container.

Jug without a tamper

You can still make a bowl, but you’ll need to stop and help it.

  1. Load the same way, liquid first and frozen fruit last.
  2. Use the pulse button, or short bursts, so the ingredients settle back onto the blades between pulses.
  3. When it stops moving, switch off and unplug, wait for the blades to stop, then take the lid off and scrape the mixture down with a spatula. Never put a spoon or spatula in while it’s running or plugged in.
  4. Add liquid a tablespoon at a time only if it really won’t move. Each addition takes you closer to a drink.

NutriBullet’s full-size blender comes with a tamper, and its guide says not to use anything other than that tamper to push ingredients towards the blade (NutriBullet Blender user guide). If yours has no tamper, always stop and unplug before you scrape.

Personal cup

Personal cups are the hardest place to make a bowl, because you can’t stir while blending and the cup is sealed.

  • Don’t fill past the MAX line. NutriBullet warns that overfilling can cause leaks and dangerous pressurisation (NutriBullet 600/900 user guide). Ninja says that if you feel resistance when attaching the blades, you should remove some ingredients (Ninja BN495UK inspiration guide).
  • Don’t skip the liquid. NutriBullet says its blenders aren’t intended to be used without liquid (NutriBullet 600/900 user guide).
  • Blend in short bursts. If it stops catching, take the cup off the base, give it a shake, and try again. NutriBullet also says not to run continuously for longer than necessary, generally under a minute (NutriBullet 600/900 user guide).
  • Follow the load order in your cup’s own guide. It may differ from a jug.

If you’re choosing a blender with bowls in mind, see personal vs full-size vs portable blenders and how to choose a blender for smoothies.

A base to start from (untested idea)

Untested idea: starting quantities to adjust. We haven’t tested this base in our own kitchen yet. Adjust it to your blender and your taste. It makes one bowl and doesn’t use banana.

  • 60 to 80 ml milk, plant drink or juice
  • 2 tablespoons thick yogurt or plant-based yogurt
  • 150 g frozen mango chunks
  • 100 g frozen mixed berries

Start with the smaller amount of liquid. Only add more if the blender genuinely can’t move the mixture. For more banana-free swaps, see smoothie without banana, and for help with frozen fruit that won’t blend, see how to make a frozen fruit smoothie.

Açaí bowls at home

Açaí bowls are usually made with frozen açaí purée packs. If you use them, prepare them exactly as the pack directs, then use them in place of some of the frozen fruit above. You don’t need açaí to make a smoothie bowl: any frozen fruit base works.

Toppings

Toppings are mostly about texture: something crunchy against the smooth base.

  • Crunch: granola, toasted oats, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes.
  • Fresh fruit: sliced strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, passion fruit, pomegranate.
  • Something smooth: a spoon of yogurt or nut butter.

Add toppings just before eating so they stay crisp. If you’re making bowls for other people, ask about allergies first. Several common toppings contain ingredients on the UK’s list of 14 regulated allergens: tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, milk (in yogurt), and cereals containing gluten such as wheat, rye, barley and oats (in many granolas) (FSA: food allergy and intolerance advice). Check the label on anything shop-bought.

Fixes

  • Too runny: too much liquid, or it’s been blended so long it has warmed and loosened. Add more frozen fruit and pulse briefly. Next time, use less liquid and stop sooner.
  • Won’t blend: an air pocket has formed. Use the tamper through the lid, or switch off, unplug and scrape down. Add liquid a tablespoon at a time as a last resort.
  • Icy: blend a little longer, or let the frozen fruit stand for a few minutes before blending.
  • Melting fast: chill the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before you blend.

FAQ

Why is my smoothie bowl runny?

Usually too much liquid, or the fruit had thawed too much. Use mostly frozen fruit, start with very little liquid and stop blending as soon as it’s smooth.

Can I make a smoothie bowl in a NutriBullet or Ninja cup?

It depends on the model, so check its manual. Keep below the MAX line, don’t blend without liquid, and blend in short bursts. Never use a sealed cup for anything hot (NutriBullet 600/900 user guide). Expect a looser result than from a jug with a tamper.

Can I make it the night before?

The base will soften and lose its thick texture in the fridge. If you do make it ahead, don’t leave it in a sealed blending cup. Cover it and keep it in the fridge at 0 to 5°C, and keep the toppings separate (FSA: how to chill, freeze and defrost food safely). It’s usually better to measure the frozen fruit into a container the night before and blend in the morning.

Do I need açaí?

No. Any frozen fruit base works. Mango and berries are an easy place to start.

More guides and ideas are collected on our smoothie guides and recipe ideas page.

Sources