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Do you find yourself watching smoothie bowl videos and wondering how on earth they make them so thick?
I mean, they almost look like ice cream! I was constantly both amazed and frustrated with the fact that I could never make myself a thick smoothie bowl like I saw online. It wasn't until I got a new blender and started experimenting that I was finally able to do it myself - and OMG they taste so good.
Through trial and error, and lots of delicious smoothie bowls, I have learned the top 7 tricks for making a super thick smoothie bowl, and I want to share them with you!
Want to know how you can do it yourself? Just keep on reading!
BONUS!! Every photo in this post has a recipe! And every recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan! So if you see a smoothie bowl you like, just click on the image and find out how you can make it at home!
Tip #1: Use only frozen fruit
This is one of the things I learned quickly when researching what popular smoothie bowl accounts were doing. Frozen fruit only! And when you think about it, it makes total sense. What starts cold and frozen will stay cold and thick when you blend it. What's great is that frozen fruit is sometimes cheaper than fresh depending on the season, and if you have fresh fruit that you may not eat, just throw it in the freezer for your smoothie bowls!
Another key here is the proportions, combined with my next tip. I find that generally a total of 2 cups of frozen fruit produces a smoothie bowl that is a good portion for an individual. So start from there and experiment to see what works best for you!
Tip #2: Use minimal liquid
This tip goes hand-in-hand with tip #1. Using as little liquid as possible in your blender is the key to achieving a thick, spoonable smoothie bowl. You may not even realize how little liquid is just enough - I know I sure didn't!
Per 2 cups of frozen fruit, I recommend starting with ¼ cup of liquid - whether it's almond milk, water, or a fruit juice. Start small! And when it seems like your blender as had enough, try mixing instead of adding more liquid. This is very important. When your blender starts chugging, your first instinct will be to give it some more juice, however stop the blender (unplug!) and try mixing or tamping to get things moving. If you're using a premium blender with a tamper, you can also tamp while it's running (be sure to follow the product instructions!). Only after that should you add more liquid, and only if you really need it.
Tip #3: Use add-ins like protein powder, healthy fats, or caffeine
Using add-ins to fit your mood or what you need at the time is an awesome way to not only add flavours, but increase the thickness of your smoothie bowl and satiate your hunger! Some great smoothie add-ins include:
- Protein powder
- Nut butter
- Frozen avocado
- Espresso shot
- Pre-workout powder
- Chia seeds or hemp hearts (these absorb a lot of liquid and become gelatinous)
Tip #4: Use a high powered blender
This was the change that made the biggest difference for me. Using a high powdered blender that comes with a tamper makes creating thick smoothie bowls as easy as possible. I'm not saying it can't be done in a bullet-style or less expensive blender, but your blend will be significantly easier if you are able to upgrade to a high powered blender. You will also be able to blend using less liquid and less mixing, producing a thicker consistency!
This is the blender I use and I LOVE it. It has truly improved my smoothie bowl quality and I 100% recommend.
Tip #5: Get your greens in
Don't forget your greens! Yes, it is possible to add greens or vegetables to a smoothie bowl. In fact, it may be preferable by you in order to offset some of the sugar from frozen fruit. Remember to use frozen when you can! Some ways to incorporate greens in your smoothie bowl are:
- Fresh spinach, kale, or other green
- Frozen zucchini, cucumber, or broccoli (use enough fruit and you won't taste them!)
- Frozen cauliflower
- Frozen avocado
- Greens powder
Tip #6: Use a superfood powder
Powders are a great way to get flavour, colour, and nutrients into a smoothie bowl without compromising the thick and creamy texture. If you're not familiar with superfood powders, there are lots out there such as:
- Blue spirulina
- Açaí powder
- Dragonfruit powder
- Greens powder
- Activated charcoal powder
- and more!
Each have their own amazing health benefits, as well as a unique colour, giving your smoothie bowls a vibrant vibe.
Tip #7: Have fun with your toppings
Once you've got your smoothie bowl nice and thick, it's time to decorate it! Toppings are where you can add so much more to the smoothie bowl to make it a filling snack or meal. You can do anything you want. Some topping ideas are:
- Fruit
- Your favourite granola (this is my favourite grain-free granola)
- Shredded coconut
- Nuts
- Pepitas
- Chia seeds
- Hemp hearts
- Nut butter
- Cacao nibs
- etc!
Combine all of these tips and tricks and you'll have yourself a thick and delicious smoothie bowl in no time - practice makes perfect!
Like what you see in this post? Here's how to make the featured smoothie bowls:
- Tropical Pink Smoothie Bowl
- The Easiest Acai Bowl Recipe
- Chocolate & Coffee Smoothie Bowl
- Booster Juice "The Original" Copycat Smoothie Bowl
- "The Grinch" Green Smoothie Bowl
- Tropical Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- Pinkie Pie Smoothie Bowl
Did my smoothie bowl tips and tricks help you? Did you make one of these smoothie bowls? Be sure to leave a comment telling me how much you loved it, and tag me on instagram @liv.glutenfree! I hope you enjoy as much as I do!
Looking for more gluten-free & dairy-free snacks? Try these out!
Let us know what you think!