Mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt

Whether it‘s summer or winter, a mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt never disappoints. The beautiful creamy texture, rich in berry flavours and topped with your favourite granola and fruit is the perfect addition to any day. 

For mums like me, whose kids are still in the fussy eater phase, smoothie bowls are a real life saver. I can‘t even count the amount of times my children have refused dinner anymore. Thankfully, my mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt is an alternative they gladly accept and even ask for. 

And what‘s not to like? A base of filling bananas and creamy yoghurt? Added in with nourishing mixed berries and topped with a dash of hydrating coconut water. It‘s so simple, healthy and delicious, no wonder family members of all ages ask for it. 

One of the best kitchen appliances I have ever invested in was a high quality blender. While my stick blender did a great job in my younger years to puree simple soups, the introduction of little people to our family called for something more powerful. I wanted something to eliminate the last chunks and clumps. Something that would make the bits of green disappear. Strong enough to blend those nuts and seeds so fine, my family had no idea they were there. It‘s one of these things that make sense to invest in. 

For me and my family, our blender makes an appearance on the kitchen bench almost daily. We use it to not only whip up our mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt, but also for pasta sauces, soups, batter and any other creamy liquid on the menu. The only regret I have is that I bought the medium size bowl attachment where I should have opted for the large one. In a family where portion sizes are considered a guide for children and recipes are often doubled to freeze, a large blender attachment would save me a few rounds of tipping and pouring. So if you are in the market for a blender, consider my advice and opt for the largest bowl. 

Once whipped up, a mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt is the ideal base to get some extra nutrients in your family‘s diet. Served with some homemade granola to keep the little ones full for longer, a handful of chia seeds or nuts, and freshly sliced fruit will turn your casual snack into a full meal. My kids love to sprinkle a few chocolate flakes over their smoothie bowl, which makes it both delicious and a filling treat without much compromise. 

However you like to have yours, try this mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt today and share your favourite toppings in the comments.

Ingredients

• Bananas
• Frozen mixed berries
• Plain natural yoghurt
• Coconut water
• Your favourite toppings

Tools you may need

Large blender like a VitaMix

Beautiful bowls for serving

Spoons for serving

How to make my mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt from scratch

Smoothie bowls are incredibly quick and easy to make. To begin with, place your stand mixer onto a clear and solid surface. 

Add the bananas, mixed berries and coconut water. Secure the lid and blend until smooth.

Serve with your favourite toppings and enjoy.

Handy tips and tricks

For hot summer days, try to use frozen bananas instead of fresh ones. It just helps keep your smoothie bowl cold and creamy for longer without impacting the flavour profile. 

Freezing bananas is also a great way to preserve those poor fruits that are becoming a little too rips and mushy. If you are like me and don‘t enjoy super ripe bananas, freeze them as you go to use in smoothie bowls. 

Serving suggestions

• Serve with fresh homemade granola and fresh banana slices
• Add a handful of nuts for extra crunch
• Sprinkle with chocolate flakes for a more dessert your kids will love
• Use up ripe fruit and leftover seeds to reduce waste and boost nutrition
• For hot summer days, top your smoothie bowl with more frozen fruit for an ice cream like experience

Frequently asked questions

Are yoghurt berry smoothies healthy?

Yoghurt berry smoothies are generally healthy, yes. The key consideration are of course the ingredients you put into your smoothie. If you follow a simple recipe like my mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt, you will find yourself with a very healthy and super satisfying meal. If you do however choose to add lots of processed foods, sugars or large amounts of fat, the health levels of your smoothie start to become a little questionable. For me personally, a smoothie is a quick and easy way to get good food into your system. I stay clear of any refined sugars or fats and work with whatever fresh produce my fridge has to give. 

Is it normal to put yoghurt in smoothies?

Normal, yes, necessary, no. Nowadays, many smoothie recipes suggest to add a little yoghurt to the mix. While it makes your smoothie extra creamy, the addition of yoghurt also adds an extra bit of protein and probiotics, which is especially useful if your usual diet doesn‘t include a lot of yoghurt. We often make our own yoghurt and aim for a sour flavour profile. This goes incredibly well in smoothies, as it makes them a little less sweet, meaning you drink more of it. 

What makes a smoothie bowl thick?

There are a number of ways to create thickness in your smoothie bowls. Some of the most common ones are:

• Using little liquid – Using only a little bit of liquid allows the smoothie bowl to rely on the pureed consistency of your other ingredients, like bananas, berries or yoghurt. Think of it like a soup, where more liquid makes the end product more runny. The same thing happens when making smoothie bowls. 
• Using frozen fruit – The benefit of using frozen fruit in smoothie bowls is that any liquid your produce may contain got solidified. While blending your ingredients will create a creamy consistency, your smoothie bowl will only slowly become more runny as the frozen fruit thaws and releases its water content. 
• Using oats – Adding a handful of oats to your smoothie bowl can make a huge difference to its consistency. Especially for recipes without bananas or frozen ingredients, the pure blending of fruit and liquids won‘t result in the creamy consistency smoothie bowls are commonly known for. Adding an ingredient like oats to absorb any excess moisture can make all the difference.

How to make a smoothie bowl with berries?

Berries are an excellent addition to any smoothie bowl, whether mixed into the base or as a delicious topping. To use berries in the base, combine them with filling items like banana, oats and yoghurt and add as much liquid as you need to achieve a smooth, creamy texture.

What not to put in a smoothie?

When it comes to smoothies, any produce goes as a general rule. While it is obvious not to add hot ingredients or processed foods to a smoothie, I like to stay clear of a few pieces of produce also. Please keep in mind that this is based on my personal preference and may not be aligned to your taste. 

Produce I do not put in a smoothie:

• Vegetables – beetroot, celery, lettuce, carrots, cauliflower, capsicum, onion, garlic, mushrooms, eggplant, corn, tomatoes
• Fruits – apples, pears

Why do my smoothie bowls melt so fast?

If your smoothie bowl melts shortly after pouring it, it‘s probably a little too warm where you are at. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep your smoothie bowl creamy for longer. The easiest way to keep your smoothie bowl from melting is by serving it in a thermos, instead of a bowl. Using a container that keeps the room‘s warmth at bay is usually enough to keep your smoothie bowl from melting. Another thing I like to do is to use as many frozen ingredients as possible. In my mixed berry smoothie bowl with yoghurt recipe I use room temperature bananas, but you can easily replace them with frozen bananas. The same goes for yoghurt, there is no reason why you wouldn‘t be able to freeze a few serves. It‘s worth experimenting a little to see what works best for you.

What fruits not to mix in a smoothie?

There are only two fruits I avoid when making smoothie bowls – apples and pears. While I love to crunch on both raw and always have them available in my home, I simply don‘t like their texture in a smoothie. Blending apples or pears turns them into fine fibrous particles, which more often than not irritate my tongue. Instead of blending my apples and pears into my smoothie I usually just slice them up and serve them on top of a smoothie bowl.