A rich, violet sea with thick waves, mountains of glossy fruits, and beaches of crumbly, crunchy granola and coarse seeds make for a beautiful seascape in your bowl. I love açaí bowls, not only because they’re so luxurious to look at, but they’re also fun to create (and eat!) and satisfying as a meal. With full creative freedom over the toppings, you have an endless number of açaí bowl combinations you can make and dig into. Here are some of my favorite açaí bowl toppings and why they’re so incredible!
Açaí base
Purée some açaí berries, and you get the delightfully dense and luscious base for your bowl. This Amazonian “superfruit” is packed with antioxidants that protect your cells from damage and may lower your risk for a whole host of illnesses, especially age-related brain diseases (Medical News Today, 2018). If you’re making your own açaí base, you can also play around with the consistency by adding a splash of water, juice, or milk. Adding a spoonful of protein powder into the blender while you’re at it is also a great way to sneak in some extra fuel and support for your muscles!
Granola
Whether it’s in the shape of a bar or tossed onto an açaí bowl, granola is a crowd-pleasing element to almost any meal or snack. If you need more reason to add this delightfully crunchy topping to your next açaí bowl, you’ll be happy to know that granola is full of fibre and important micronutrients like iron, vitamin D, folate, and zinc! The fibre in granola is great for keeping you full and aiding in digestion. Balance out the creamy consistency of the açai with crumbly granola for the ultimate texture pairing!
Berries
I know what you’re thinking, but no—topping a puréed base of berries with more berries is not excessive! In fact, it is one of the most delicious decisions you can make when it comes to crafting an açaí bowl. My favourite berries are blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, which make the perfect addition to the creamy açaí base because of their added texture and plumpness. With berries on berries, you’re also doubling the benefits you’re getting from antioxidants!
Nut butter
Add a generous spoonful of a nut butter of your choice to blend the tartness from the açaí and the earthy sweetness from the nut butter. I love nut butter on açaí bowls because the rich heaviness from the nut butter works wonderfully with the lighter, sorbet-like consistency of the açaí base. While the smooth açaí goes down easy, the nut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth and gives you something to savour. A good serving of nut butter is also a great source of beneficial fats and protein, which can help your açaí bowl feel more satiating.
Cacao nibs or chocolate
As a huge fan of dark chocolate, I absolutely love and recommend cacao nibs on açaí bowls. They add a crunch, but it’s more of a mini-crunch compared to the chunkier granola. The bitterness from the cacao nibs also balances out the sweetness from the açaí base, making for a beautiful pairing. Cacao nibs also contain compounds that can raise the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your brain, making it a delightful mood-booster. It makes sense—who isn't happier after having a piece of chocolate?