I developed a two-ingredient approach to achieve a super thick smoothie bowl from frozen fruit, and my Thick Smoothie Bowls Recipes will leave you wondering what the two ingredients are.

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I make this thick smoothie bowl when I want something that feels like dessert but is stupidly simple. It only needs frozen fruit and a frozen banana, but the texture you get will make you do a double take.

I mess around with different fruit combos and swear by how the cold and density change everything, its almost science. I toss it into my Morning Smoothie Bowls routine more than I admit, and it’s exactly the kind of thing you see in Thick Smoothie Bowls Recipes that makes people ask what the secret is.

Try it once and you’ll wanna experiment nonstop.

Ingredients

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Frozen fruit gives natural sweetness, vitamin C and fiber, can be tart or sweet depending.
Frozen banana adds creaminess, lots of carbs and potassium, makes it sweeter and thicker.
Plain Greek yogurt brings protein, tangy flavor and creaminess, less sweet than banana.
Milk or plant milk loosens blend, adds calcium, a bit of protein, varies by type.
Nut butter gives richness, healthy fats and some protein, makes bowl extra creamy.
Chia or ground flax thickens, adds fiber and omega 3s, helps you feel fuller.
Honey or maple syrup sweeten fast, add simple sugar and flavor, use sparingly though.

Ingredient Quantities

2 cups frozen fruit, like strawberries mango or mango and berries mixed (use whatever you got)

1 medium frozen banana, about 3/4 cup chopped, or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt if you dont want banana

2 to 4 tablespoons milk or plant milk (almond oat soy or cow)

1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut or almond) optional for extra creaminess

1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup optional, if you like it sweeter

1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax optional for thickness and fiber

1 scoop protein powder optional, if you want more protein

How to Make this

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1. Gather your stuff: 2 cups frozen fruit (strawberries, mango, or a mix), 1 medium frozen banana chopped to about 3/4 cup or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt if you dont want banana, 2 to 4 tbsp milk, 1 tbsp nut butter optional, 1 tsp honey or maple syrup optional, 1 tbsp chia or ground flax optional, 1 scoop protein powder optional.

2. Toss the frozen fruit and the banana or yogurt into a high speed blender or food processor. Start with only 2 tbsp milk. Add the nut butter, sweetener, chia or flax and protein powder now if using.

3. Pulse a few times to break up the big chunks, then blend on low. Stop every 8 to 12 seconds and scrape the sides with a spatula so everything moves toward the blades.

4. If the blender stalls or it looks dry, add just 1 tablespoon more milk at a time and scrape, dont dump a lot of liquid or you will thin it out. If you need extra creaminess a spoon of nut butter helps a ton.

5. Keep blending in short bursts until the texture is like soft serve ice cream, thick enough that a spoon stands up in it. If its still too thin, add a little more frozen fruit or 1 tbsp chia and let it sit 2 to 5 minutes to thicken.

6. If you overdid the milk, rescue it by stirring in a few frozen berries or a bit more frozen banana and refreezing for 5 to 10 minutes, then reblend briefly.

7. Spoon the thick smoothie into a chilled bowl and smooth the top with the back of the spoon.

8. Top with whatever you like fresh fruit, seeds, a drizzle of nut butter or honey, granola if you want crunch. Eat right away for best texture, leftovers will thin in the fridge so freeze or eat within a day.

Equipment Needed

1. High-speed blender or food processor
2. Rubber or silicone spatula for scraping sides
3. Measuring cups and measuring spoons
4. Chef’s knife and cutting board (for the banana)
5. Chilled serving bowl and a spoon
6. Freezer-safe container or tray for quick refreeze or leftovers
7. Ice cream scoop or large spoon for portioning
8. Small bowl and spoon for mixing optional add-ins (nut butter, protein, honey)

FAQ

2 cups frozen fruit, like strawberries mango or mango and berries mixed (use whatever you got)

1 medium frozen banana, about 3/4 cup chopped, or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt if you dont want banana

2 to 4 tablespoons milk or plant milk (almond oat soy or cow)

1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut or almond) optional for extra creaminess

1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup optional, if you like it sweeter

1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax optional for thickness and fiber

1 scoop protein powder optional, if you want more protein

How do I fix a runny smoothie bowl? Add more frozen fruit or 1 tablespoon chia or flax, then pulse. You can also pop it in the freezer for 10 to 20 minutes to firm up.

Can I use fresh fruit instead of frozen? Fresh will make it watery unless you add ice or freeze it first. Better to freeze fresh fruit for a few hours then use it.

What if my blender cant handle frozen stuff? Chop the frozen fruit into smaller pieces or let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to soften slightly. Use the pulse setting and add a tiny bit of liquid at a time to help the blades move.

Can I skip the banana or yogurt? Yes use 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or extra frozen fruit. Banana adds natural creaminess so expect a slightly different texture without it.

How do I make it sweeter without sugar? Add a little honey or maple syrup, or use a ripe frozen banana. A few pitted dates blended in will also sweeten naturally.

Can I make this ahead of time? The blended bowl is best fresh. You can make the frozen base and store in the freezer, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before reblending to eat.

How To Make A Thick Smoothie Bowl Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Frozen fruit: swap for frozen peaches, frozen cherries, an acai packet, or use fresh fruit plus a cup of ice if you dont have frozen
Frozen banana / plain Greek yogurt: use 1/2 avocado for creaminess, 1/2 cup silken tofu for protein, or 1/2 cup cottage cheese if you want a tangy thicker bowl
Milk or plant milk: try coconut water for a lighter bowl, canned coconut milk for extra richness, or chilled green tea or juice for a flavor twist
Chia seeds or ground flax: replace with 2 tablespoons rolled oats (they swell and thicken), 1-2 tablespoons nut butter, or 1 tablespoon ground psyllium husk for a very thick texture

Pro Tips

– Freeze fruit flat on a tray so it dont clump into one big brick. then you can grab just what you need and it blends way smoother, less hammering your blender.

– Mix protein powder into a tablespoon or two of milk or yogurt first so it becomes a thin slurry, then add to the blender. stops that chalky, powdery texture.

– A tiny pinch of fine salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime makes the fruit taste sweeter without adding sugar, and a spoon of nut butter plus a little salt turns the texture ultra creamy.

– Chill your serving bowl and spoon in the freezer for a few minutes before plating, and for crunch, toast seeds or granola briefly so they stay crunchy on top instead of going soggy.

How To Make A Thick Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I developed a two-ingredient approach to achieve a super thick smoothie bowl from frozen fruit, and my Thick Smoothie Bowls Recipes will leave you wondering what the two ingredients are.

Servings

servings

Calories

250

kcal

Equipment: 1. High-speed blender or food processor
2. Rubber or silicone spatula for scraping sides
3. Measuring cups and measuring spoons
4. Chef’s knife and cutting board (for the banana)
5. Chilled serving bowl and a spoon
6. Freezer-safe container or tray for quick refreeze or leftovers
7. Ice cream scoop or large spoon for portioning
8. Small bowl and spoon for mixing optional add-ins (nut butter, protein, honey)

Ingredients

2 cups frozen fruit, like strawberries mango or mango and berries mixed (use whatever you got)
1 medium frozen banana, about 3/4 cup chopped, or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt if you dont want banana
2 to 4 tablespoons milk or plant milk (almond oat soy or cow)
1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut or almond) optional for extra creaminess
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup optional, if you like it sweeter
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax optional for thickness and fiber
1 scoop protein powder optional, if you want more protein

Directions

Gather your stuff: 2 cups frozen fruit (strawberries, mango, or a mix), 1 medium frozen banana chopped to about 3/4 cup or 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt if you dont want banana, 2 to 4 tbsp milk, 1 tbsp nut butter optional, 1 tsp honey or maple syrup optional, 1 tbsp chia or ground flax optional, 1 scoop protein powder optional.
Toss the frozen fruit and the banana or yogurt into a high speed blender or food processor. Start with only 2 tbsp milk. Add the nut butter, sweetener, chia or flax and protein powder now if using.
Pulse a few times to break up the big chunks, then blend on low. Stop every 8 to 12 seconds and scrape the sides with a spatula so everything moves toward the blades.
If the blender stalls or it looks dry, add just 1 tablespoon more milk at a time and scrape, dont dump a lot of liquid or you will thin it out. If you need extra creaminess a spoon of nut butter helps a ton.
Keep blending in short bursts until the texture is like soft serve ice cream, thick enough that a spoon stands up in it. If its still too thin, add a little more frozen fruit or 1 tbsp chia and let it sit 2 to 5 minutes to thicken.
If you overdid the milk, rescue it by stirring in a few frozen berries or a bit more frozen banana and refreezing for 5 to 10 minutes, then reblend briefly.
Spoon the thick smoothie into a chilled bowl and smooth the top with the back of the spoon.
Top with whatever you like fresh fruit, seeds, a drizzle of nut butter or honey, granola if you want crunch. Eat right away for best texture, leftovers will thin in the fridge so freeze or eat within a day.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.