If you’ve been part of the Beauty Detox and Solluna Community for a while, then you know how we love our smoothies, especially my glowing green smoothie (GGS)! A creamy smoothie or smoothie bowl is sooooo delicious, refreshing and great for any occasion. But let’s face it Beauties, sometimes your sweet tooth may be feeling more in the mood for ice cream than a GGS. It happens to us all. :)
That’s why I think you’re going to love my creamy banana cacao smoothie bowl recipe.
This beautiful vegan smoothie bowl recipe is packed with healthy vitamins and nutrients, fiber and antioxidants, and it’s amazing for satisfying your sweet tooth! The creamy bananas, invigorating cacao, and warming spices are such a beautiful combination and can satisfy all of those dessert cravings. Best part, it’ll keep you feeling beautiful inside and out.
What is a Smoothie Bowl?
Upon first glance, there may not be a lot of major differences between your typical smoothie and a smoothie bowl. After all, smoothie bowls are made the same way as any other smoothie— with wholesome and delicious ingredients blended to creamy perfection. The main difference is how you eat them.
Smoothie bowls are essentially really thick smoothies. You can easily drink a smoothie, but smoothie bowls are meant to be eaten with a spoon!
Your thick smoothie mixture is added into a bowl, where it can be topped with fresh or dried fruit, mixed berries, nuts, coconut flakes, a drizzle of nut butter, granola, or anything else you want! Think of it like an ice cream sundae, but in smoothie form, or a healthier alternative to frozen yogurt. :)
How Healthy are Bananas, Really?
I know that a lot of people are wary about including bananas in their diet, especially if they’re watching their sugar or carb intake. But as long as you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, you have nothing to worry about with bananas. In fact, I encourage you to include them in your diet.
Honestly, Beauties, I think that bananas are a perfect food for humans. They’re delicious, nutritious, and easy to eat whether you eat them by themselves or in recipes— in other words, perfection!
Bananas are nutritional powerhouses. These complex carbs are packed with potassium, as well as vitamins K, A, C, and B. They’re also full of folic acid, which helps keep your blood cells healthy and is an absolute must-have nutrient during pregnancy to keep you and your baby healthy.
Bananas are also amazing for your digestion. They contain a prebiotic called fructooligosaccharide, which helps increase your healthy gut bacteria. When combined with a good soil-based probiotic (SBO), you’ll have no problem keeping your gut flora in balance and your digestion healthy.
Why Use Frozen Bananas?
I specify using frozen bananas in this recipe— there’s a reason for that! In some foods, there actually is a difference in how they taste if you eat them frozen. If you’ve ever eaten a frozen candy bar or a frozen slice of cheesecake, then you will know that it is not the same!
Chilling some foods in the freezer not only firms them up, but it can give them a whole new, amazing texture or taste that you may not expect.
This is especially true when you’re making smoothies. If you opt to use frozen fruit versus fresh fruit, you may taste some pleasant surprises. Some foods, such as frozen berries, have more concentrated flavors when frozen compared to their fresh counterparts. You also get some extra moisture from frozen fruit, which can add a beautiful creamy texture to any recipe you use them in.
This is especially true with frozen bananas and even frozen avocados. Freezing them makes them so beautifully creamy, which makes them even better suited towards recipes like smoothies, puddings, and dairy-free “nice cream.”
Chia Seeds: Big Nutrition in a Small Package
Seeds are an amazing and healthy part of any diet— and there are so many different kinds out there! From the Autumn favorite pumpkin seed to the growing popularity of hemp seeds, there’s no shortage of amazing seeds to eat. Let’s take a look at one of my favorites though, the chia seed.
Chia seeds pack a lot of benefits into such a tiny package. Chia seeds are a complete protein, and they contain many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep you healthy. They’re also rich in fiber and are a great source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.
How to Make Chia Seed Gel
An amazing fact about chia seeds is that when you soak them in liquid, they create a nutritious gel— which we’re using in this recipe! Like the seeds themselves, this simple gel keeps you energized and full, and is great for your health and digestion.
Chia seed gel is so easy to make— all you need are chia seeds and a liquid of your choice. I normally use water, but coconut water can work too.
I find that using 1 part chia seeds to 3 parts water gives me a nice gel consistency. All you need to do is combine them in a bowl, and mix them well to ensure all the seeds are covered. Chia seeds like to clump up when they get wet, so mixing well helps keep them separated. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes— it doesn’t take very long for the gel to form! You can mix again after this to break up any new clumps that may have formed.
And ta-da! An easy, delicious, and nutritious gel you can add to all sorts of recipes like smoothies. :)
If you’re a smoothie lover, then I think you’ll love this recipe. It’s so creamy, delicious, and perfectly sweet— it’ll make you feel amazing and oh so satisfied.
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your beautiful creations! If you love this recipe or know other smoothie lovers who would too, please add it to your Pinterest board.
Lots of love,
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¾ cup sliced frozen banana
- 1 Tbsp. chia seed gel
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. maple syrup (optional to sweeten)
- Pinch sea salt
- 2 Tbsp. cacao nibs
- ½ sliced banana (optional)
- Shredded coconut (optional)
- In an upright blender, combine unsweetened almond milk, frozen banana slices, chia gel, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Blend on high until you have a creamy and smooth mixture.
- Pour into a small bowl and garnish with desired toppings. Serve cold.
More Satisfying Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Can’t get enough of smoothie bowls? Neither can I! Here are a few of my favorite healthy smoothie bowl recipes that look as beautiful as they’ll help you feel.
The post Creamy Banana Cacao Smoothie Bowl appeared first on Solluna by Kimberly Snyder.
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