This Acai Smoothie recipe is healthy and packed with nutrients! It comes together in just 5 minutes for a refreshing smoothie that can be enjoyed for breakfast, a snack or even a dessert! Enjoy it on its own or top it off with your favourite granola. 

An acai smoothie in a glass topped with granola

What is acai?

You’ve probably seen acai bowls on the menu at some healthy breakfast spots. But besides being super trendy, acai is packed with nutritional benefits. 

Acai (pronounced aa-saa-ee) is a berry considered to be a superfood that is grown in South American Rainforests. Acai is rich in antioxidants, packed with fibre, heart-healthy and calcium. Acai has a very earthy taste. Some people describe it to taste similar to a blackberry mixed with dark chocolate. It’s not as sweet as other berries and is very low in sugar. 

Because of its earthy flavour, acai pairs great with ingredients like nut butter and cocoa, but is also delicious mixed with berries or tropical fruits.

Where to buy frozen acai

Acai is sold in frozen acai puree packets or as a freeze-dried powder. You won’t likely find actual acai berries anywhere. 

You can find frozen Acai packs or Acai powder at most health-food stores in North America. There are also some online health-food stores where you can have Acai shipped directly to you. The brand I use for this smoothie is called Sambazon and they also deliver from their website.  

Can I use acai powder?

Yes. If you can’t get your hands on frozen acai, you can use acai powder in this recipe. Just keep in mind that if you do, it will alter the finished taste and consistency of the smoothie.

If you use acai powder in this smoothie, I would recommend adding an extra half cup of berries to the smoothie to replace the frozen acai puree. You also want to make sure not to use too much acai berry powder. (It can be quite concentrated and have a strong taste.)

Use just one teaspoon of acai berry powder per serving.

Acai smoothie ingredients

A flat lay of ingredients for an acai smoothie

  • Frozen Acai: Acai smoothies or acai bowls are best made with frozen acai packets as opposed to powdered acai. The packets are made with 100% pure acai and blend up into a delicious smoothie
  • Banana: This is a classic fruit to pair with acai that will make the smoothie thick and creamy. If you don’t like bananas you can also substitute frozen mango cubes. 
  • Berries: I use mixed frozen berries. You can any combination of berries you like or just one type of berry here.
  • Peanut butter: nut butter pair so well with acai and make this smoothie creamy and nutty. This also adds some healthy fats and protein to the smoothie. 
  • Chia seeds: For some added nutrients and to thicken the smoothie 
  • Almond milk: or any other plant-based milk you love. Coconut milk works really well in this recipe too. 

How to make an acai smoothie

Step 1

Start by letting the frozen acai packet defrost just a bit. (they can be very hard when fully frozen and a bit hard to blend.) Then add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender with the almond milk on the bottom and fruit on the top. 

  • bananas, peanut butter, acai and chia seeds in a blender
  • bananas, Acai, berries and almond milk in a blender

Step 2

Blend until smooth and creamy. If the smoothie seems too thick as you’re blending, pause the blender and add a little splash of almond milk. Serve on its own or topped with your favourite granola!

  • an acai smoothie in a blender
  • a glass of acai smoothie on a marble board

Expert tips for a perfect smoothie

  • Add liquids to the blender first, followed by fresh ingredients and frozen ingredients on top. This will help your blender blend everything more easily.
  • Use some frozen fruit. Make sure to use at least a frozen banana or frozen berries in the smoothie. If you use all fresh fruit the smoothie won’t turn out to be thick and creamy.
  • For a sweeter Acai Smoothie use ripe bananas. The Acai packs aren’t very sweet, so you’ll want to get the sweetness in the smoothie from the bananas. 
  • For a richer and creamier Acai Smoothie, use coconut milk instead of almond milk. This will also give the smoothie a more tropical flavour and the fat in the coconut milk will create a really creamy smoothie.
  • Want to make this recipe into a smoothie bowl? Double the amount of banana and acai packs and use just ¼ cup of almond milk. You’ll also need to use a strong blender or food processor to blend into a thick consistency. 

Are acai smoothies healthy?

Yes. Homemade Acai smoothies are healthy, as long as you don’t overdo it with the ingredients. Some store-bought smoothies can be very large servings and have added sugars to them, making them not so healthy.

That’s why it’s always a great idea to make your smoothies at home so you can control what ingredients go into them! Each serving of this Acai Smoothie has 310 calories, 9 grams of fibre and 7 grams of protein!

More smoothie recipes to try

two glasses of acai smoothie topped with granola

If you tried this Acai Smoothie or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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An acai smoothie in a glass topped with granola

Acai Smoothie

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  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Blend
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This Acai Smoothie is packed with acai, berries and bananas for a delicious and healthy breakfast!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 frozen acai pack
  • 1/2 cup berries (fresh or frozen, any kind you like)
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 3/4 cup–1 cup almond milk

Instructions

  1. Let the frozen acai pack defrost slightly for 5 minutes. (This will make it easier to blend.) 
  2. Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour into a glass and enjoy topped with your favourite granola 

Equipment

Notes

Depending on how frozen your fruit is, you may need slightly more or less almond milk for the smoothie to come together. Start with 3/4 cup and add more if needed. 

I like to let all my frozen fruit thaw for 5-8 minutes so it’s easier to blend, but still frozen enough to create a thick and creamy smoothie.

If you want to make this recipe creamier and more tropical, you can use coconut milk instead of almond milk.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 smoothie
  • Calories: 310
  • Sugar: 23g
  • Fat: 12g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 9g
  • Protein: 7g