21 Best Smoothie Bowl Toppings

by Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN | Jul 10, 2023 | Education, Nutrition

21 Smoothie Bowl Toppings

Smoothie bowls have become increasingly popular as a delectable and healthful option for breakfast, a snack, or even a sweet treat. A healthy smoothie bowl is a thick smoothie base served in a bowl with various nutritious toppings and served with a spoon.

What Toppings Can You Put on A Smoothie Bowl?

You can add numerous ingredients and toppings to a smoothie bowl. Check out my top 21 toppings below!

Fresh Fruit 

01/21 – Banana Slices

Fresh banana sliced and topped over a refreshing and vibrant smoothie base are an excellent addition to a smoothie bowl.

I personally enjoy my banana with a touch of green before slicing and placing them over my smoothie bowls. However, I prefer my smoothie base, if it includes a banana, for the banana to be very very ripe. I like lots of brown spots!

Choose your banana sweetness. As the banana ripens, the flavors and sweetness develop. As for color, the degree of yellowing can be an indicator of ripeness.

Furthermore, bananas are rich in vitamin C, B6, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.

02/21 – Berries

Popular berries for smoothie bowls include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and goji berries (among others). Each berry has its own combination of nutrients making each berry unique.

Berries are often best known for their high antioxidant content. Moreover, berries are also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s beneficial to include a variety of berries in your diet.

03/21 – Cherries

Cherries can be sweet, tart, or a combination of the two. My favorite cherries are Rainier Cherries. They are a cross between sweet and tart cherries with a golden-yellow skin with a pink blush. Additionally, cherries are a delicious source of nutrition. They are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber.

Some research suggests cherries aid in exercise recovery by reducing muscle soreness and inflammation. Consuming cherries or cherry juice after exercise may enhance recovery.

Other research suggests cherries can be a natural sleep aid. Data suggests consuming cherries or cherry juice may help improve sleep quality.

04/21 – Peaches

Peaches are sweet, juicy, and tangy. This flavor makes peaches a wonderful addition to your smoothie-making.

Peaches are rich in several essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins C, A, E, and a range of B vitamins. This fruit, along with all other fruits, contain fiber thus supporting healthy digestion and feelings of fullness.

Peaches contain beta-carotene a precursor of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for eye health making peaches a great fruit to consume to help maintain good vision.

05/21 – Pears

Hood River, Oregon (my stomping grounds) is known for its pear production. The Hood River Valley is known for its wonderful growing conditions for pears.

What’s more, Pears are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and have a high water content. Hydration is important for overall health and wellness. Eating pears can help replenish fluids and maintain proper hydration levels.

Pears are also non-acidic in nature compared to other fruit. This makes pears a good choice for individuals with sensitive stomachs or conditions such as acid reflux.

Dried Fruit 

06/21 – Dates

Dates are one of my favorite additions to a smoothie beverage or smoothie bowl base. Moreover, dates make for fantastic toppings for smoothie bowls.

Dates are rich, sweet, and caramel-like in flavor. Some varietals may even have hints of vanilla, nuttiness, or even a citrusy tang. As well, dates contain fiber, micronutrients, antioxidants, and natural plant compounds, along with all those natural sugars.

Dried dates can provide a quick and concentrated source of energy and nutrients making them a wonderful option for individuals engaged in exercise or physical activities and need an energy boost.

07/21 – Raisins

Raisins are dried grapes! They are rich, chewy, sweet, and fruity. My favorite raisins are golden raisins. I use them in a variety of culinary applications both sweet and savory.

Plus, raisins offer several nutritional benefits. They are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients.

Also, raisins are especially rich in iron. Iron is important for the production of red blood cells in the body. Adding raisins to the diet can be a beneficial tool for individuals needing to increase their iron intake.

08/21 – Cranberries

Cranberries are probably most known for the sauce often accompanying turkey at Thanksgiving. However, cranberries have a delightful tartness setting them apart from other fruit.

Moreover, cranberries offer a range of nutritional benefits; they are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and micronutrients.

Cranberries have potential urinary tract health benefits. Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs). These compounds may help prevent certain bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls reducing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Nuts & Seeds

Research suggests, Incorporating nuts into a healthy balanced diet may contribute to various health benefits including improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and better blood sugar control.

09/21 – Pecans

Pecans are rich, buttery, sweet, and earthy. They are commonly used in desserts such as pies, cookies, and cakes. However, I love this as a smoothie bowl topping.

Pecans offer several health benefits; they have healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, micronutrients, and protein.

Pecans are among the nuts with the highest content of monounsaturated fats. These fats (such as oleic acid) help lower LDL cholesterol levels when consumed in moderation.

10/21 – Almonds

Almonds are often described as having a mild sweet and nutty taste.

They are high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients like vitamin E. In one ounce serving of almonds, you can receive about 37% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that aids in protecting the body from oxidative damage and supports healthy skin and immune function.

11/21 – Pistachios

The taste of pistachios is described as rich, sweet, savory, buttery, and fruity. They are rich in healthy fats, fiber, protein, and antioxidants.

Additionally, Pistachios are lower in calories compared to many other nuts and are high in plant-based protein providing 6 grams of protein per one-ounce serving.

To enhance the protein quality and ensure you receive a complete range of amino acids (pistachios are an incomplete protein source), consider combining pistachios with other protein sources.

In a smoothie bowl, combine pistachios with seeds such as chia seeds, hemp, or flax seeds, nut butter such as almond butter, or whole grains like toasted quinoa.

12/21 – Coconut

Enjoy coconut in your smoothie bowl toppings repertoire. It is often found in the form of shredded coconut or coconut flakes.

Coconut tastes tropical and is sweet, creamy, nutty, with hints of vanilla. It is high in healthy fats, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients. Coconut has various essential minerals including manganese, copper, selenium, and iron.

13/21 – Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are small, black or white seeds that come from the salvia plant and they are packed with nutrition. They have a pretty neutral taste making them excellent for absorbing the flavor of liquids.

Chia seeds are particularly high in fiber providing both soluble and insoluble fibers to support a healthy gut and feelings of fullness.

Besides making for a delicious smoothie bowl topper, chia seeds make excellent chai pudding because they absorb liquid and form a gel-like consistency.

In addition to chai pudding, you can use chia as a thickening agent or as an egg substitute in baking.

14/21 – Flax seed and Flax seed meal

Also known as linseeds, flax seeds are small, brown, or golden seeds that come from the flax plant. The taste is nutty, earthy, and mild. Flax seeds are highly nutritious.

To enhance flax seed’s nutrient availability, I recommend grinding flax seeds or purchasing flax seed meal. This helps to break down the tough outer shell and makes the nutrients more accessible for absorption in the body.

Flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, lignans, protein, micronutrients, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens. Furthermore. Flax seeds also make for an eggcellent egg substitute in recipes

15/21 – Hemp Hearts (Hemp Seeds)

Hemp hearts, also known as hemp seeds, taste mild, nutty, earthy, and sweet. They are safe and legal to consume.

Hemp hearts are the edible part of the hemp seed. Important note, hemp hearts do not contain significant amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant.

They have a nutty flavor and can be incorporated into a variety of dishes and have a rich nutritional composition.

Nut and Seed Butter

16/21 – Peanut Butter

Many are familiar with the rich, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor of peanut butter. But did you know, peanut butter contains healthy fats, protein, fiber, and micronutrients?

Peanuts are a good source of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin is important for energy production, proper nervous system function, and the metabolism of macronutrients.

The combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber in peanut butter can contribute to feelings of fullness, possibly reducing overall caloric intake.

17/21 – Sunflower Seed Butter

Compared to peanut butter, sunflower butter has a milder flavor. Its flavor is nutty similar to that of sunflower seeds. (well duh!)

Sunflower seeds are a nutrient-dense food and offer various health benefits. Rich in healthy fats, fiber, micronutrients, and protein. Additionally, sunflower seeds are a great source of plant-based protein. They provide 5-6g of protein per one-ounce serving.

Combine sunflower seeds with soy products, like soy milk in the smoothie bowl base, or other seeds like hemp hearts (seeds) or chia seeds to create a complete protein meal or snack.

Other 

18/21 – Granola

I often enjoy my smoothie bowl topped with granola. Granola has a pleasant toasty and nutty taste. Crispy crunchy granola makes for a delicious smoothie bowl topping.

Granola often has ingredients such as oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit which are all good sources of fiber. Oats are a whole grain cereal thus an excellent source of fiber, supporting a healthy gut and feeling of fullness. One cup of cooked oats contains approximately 4g of fiber.

Do note, while granola can be nutritious it can also be high in calories, added sugars, and fat depending on the brand or preparation method. Portion control is important in avoiding excessive calorie intake for granola can be pretty calorie-dense.

19/21 – Cacao Nibs

Cacao Nibs, the healthier chocolate chips!

While slightly bitter, cocao nibs are intense and rich in flavor. Cacao nibs are small broken-up pieces of cocoa beans. They are the purest form of chocolate with no added sugar, dairy, or fat. Cacao nibs are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese.

Additionally, cacao nibs are exceptionally rich in flavonoids. These antioxidants are associated with various health benefits, i.e. reducing inflammation and improving heart health.

20/21 – Cinnamon

Many are familiar with the warm and aromatic flavor of cinnamon. With its sweet woodiness, it is often used in baking.

Moreover, cinnamon is a spice known for its aromatic, and spicy-sweet flavor. Some of the nutritional benefits of cinnamon include anti-inflammatory properties, blood sugar regulation, and potential improvements to heart health.

Research suggests cinnamon could improve heart health by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides. However, more research is needed to fully understand the extent and the mechanisms of these benefits.

21/21 – Crushed-up cookies, brownies, candy!

While crushed-up cookies, brownies, and candy are not the most nutrient-dense addition to a smoothie bowl, it sure is delicious! Furthermore, adding a little sweet treat to your smoothie bowl can still be part of a balanced and healthy diet.

Craving ice- cream? Try a loaded smoothie bowl. With healthy ingredients like fruit, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, a little bit of a cookie, brownie, or crushed candy can be a fun way to eat healthy while enjoying some of your favorite sweet treats!

FAQ – Ask A Dietitian!

How do you decorate a smoothie bowl?

To decorate your smoothie bowl, follow these 4 simple steps.

1. Pour the base layer: Pick your smoothie base and bowl, make, and pour.
2. The topping arrangement: Choose your toppings, then arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing way. Consider color, size, and even texture.
3. Opt for the drizzle: Drizzles and sauces can add another element to the presentation. You could use honey, nut butter, yogurt, kefir, chocolate, caramel, or fruit purees/sauces.
4. Pick your utensil: I have a favorite smoothie bowl spoon, it’s wooden, small, and super cute. The utensil is the final smoothie bowl decorating decision to create a beautifully presented smoothie bowl.

Are Smoothie Bowls Healthy?

Yes, smoothie bowls are healthy however, depending on your nutritional needs and the add-ins and toppings, calories and added sugar can add up quickly.

When creating a smoothie bowl, consider the balance of nutrients that can keep your smoothie bowl healthy.

Some factors to consider:

• Using nutrient-dense ingredients
• Monitoring for Added Sugars
• Using mindfulness and moderation with toppings
• Consider portion size

The bottom line, consider your personal dietary requirements when creating your ideal smoothie bowl. Each person has unique preferences and nutritional needs, so tailor your smoothie bowl to align with your diet and taste.

Smoothie Bowl Versatility: Oh, the Possibilities!

Don’t feel held back by these 20-ish ingredients, you can get creative and come up with your own favorite smoothie bowl recipes and toppings.

Smoothie bowls are incredibly versatile. Check out these 3 other interesting variations below!

• Green Smoothie Bowl topped with dried goji berries, and sunflower seed butter.
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl topped with sliced banana and crushed freeze-dried strawberries.
• Tropical Smoothie Bowl topped with pineapple tidbits, big hunks of coconut, and crushed brazil nuts.

Recipes You May Enjoy

Check out my most recent smoothie and smoothie bowl recipes!

Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

Berry Bliss Smoothie