The acai berry has risen in popularity and for good reason. Not only does it pack a powerful punch of antioxidants for a healthy immune system, it tastes good. And can disguise almost the flavor of any “undelightful” fruit or veggie you’d like to consume. The secret lies in the frozen acai bowl, a delicious meal my daughter and I discovered on a recent trip to Los Angeles. As we strolled down the boulevard, we noticed an entire business dedicated to the acai bowl.

“Acai bowl?” We looked to each other. “What’s that?”

A delicious rendition of frozen fruit and granola, topped with a drizzle of honey–or any number of combinations. I like to think of it as a smoothie in a bowl. My daughter eyes the purple treat as more of a dessert. Either way, the acai bowl is a healthy meal for any time of the day.

Acai Bowl Ingredients

To make an acai bowl, begin with the basics. Frozen acai berries. You can find them in the freezer section of your grocery store, conveniently packaged for individual servings. You can also buy a bag of them combined with numerous other fruits and veggies, like mango, pineapple, blueberries, kale, apple, and more. Mixing frozen smoothie blends of frozen fruits also work well.

Combine your ingredients of choice in a blender and mix until thick and creamy. We use a small counter blender, because it’s the perfect size for individual servings. Breakfast in a jiffy with easy cleanup! However, any powerful blender will suffice, so long as it can handle the tough duty of chopping frozen fruit. I wouldn’t have thought frozen fruit equated to “tough job” but it does.

We add a tablespoon or two of liquid to help our blender do the job and create a creamy blend. Orange juice, pomegranate or even melted acai berry packs are my go-to options.

Once blended, we like to add slices of fresh fruit on top, granola, and a drizzle of honey, agave syrup or even maple syrup–you decide the flavor combo! I prefer no syrup topping, because my bowl is sweet enough with the fresh fruit. My daughter also has the audacity to add Nutella. Did I mention she has a sweet tooth?

Acai Blends

Because the acai berry blends so well with just about everything (read: can hide the flavor of just about anything), feel free to go crazy with your imagination. We add mango, pineapple, banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, kale, spinach, carrot and even broccoli to ours.

Toppings

For a variety of flavors, top with granola, coconut flakes, wheat germ–even chocolate chips! Syrups include honey, agave, maple, and yes, chocolate. Consider it a healthy dessert!