Who says you can’t have a sundae for breakfast? The Banana Split Smoothie Bowl takes one of the most iconic dessert ideas and transforms it into a healthy, nutrient-dense meal.
By using a thick, frozen fruit and yogurt base with a variety of colorful toppings, you get all the fun of a banana split with none of the sugar-laden guilt.
It’s the ultimate weekend breakfast or dessert that feels like a decadent treat but fuels you like a champion.
Why I Love This Smoothie
The banana split smoothie bowl is all about the experience. It feels like an event. I love this recipe for weekend mornings when I want something that looks beautiful and tastes like a treat.
It’s the perfect way to use up those extra-ripe bananas you’ve got in the freezer. The play between the super-creamy, soft-serve base and the bright, crunchy toppings is exactly what I need to break up a monotonous routine.
The Secret to the Perfect Bowl Base
A smoothie bowl is only as good as its thickness. To get that signature scoopable consistency, you need:
- Less Liquid: Start with significantly less liquid than you would use for a drinkable smoothie.
- Frozen Fruit Only: You must use frozen bananas and fruit to get the creamy, frozen yogurt texture.
- The Pulse Technique: Blend on low and use a tamper (or stop to stir frequently) to keep the blender blades moving until the frozen fruit turns into a super thick but smooth consistency.
What’s Inside: The Powerhouse Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to create the blended base, allowing you to express yourself with the toppings. That’s where you can really play with the texture and nutrition to create the bowl of your dreams.
- Milk: Just a small amount is used to blend the frozen ingredients. Go with soy or oat milk to help boost the creaminess while getting a high dose of protein.
- Frozen Banana: The key ingredient to create the sweet, creamy base.
- Frozen Strawberry: Since a typical banana split uses vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, using frozen strawberries gives a hint of that flavor while creating a nice frozen yogurt-like feel.
- Flavor Booster: Add in unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla extract to round out the banana split flavor profile.
- Thickeners: If you want to keep things simple and minimize overall calories, feel free to skip this part. But I love to add a few key ingredients to make my smoothie bowls extra thick, creamy, and luxurious. Add 1 tbsp peanut butter along with 1/4 Greek yogurt and rolled oats. It bulks up the blend a bit and keeps the base super firm as you add your toppings. You may find that using just the frozen banana and berries makes them melt quickly and turn a bit too runny.
- Bowl Toppings: Here’s where you get to have fun experimenting with taste, texture, and nutrition. Here’s what I recommend to mimic the classic banana split toppings:
- Fresh Banana Slices
- Granola
- Chopped Peanuts or Walnuts
- Fresh Pineapple Chunks
- Fresh Tart Cherries
- Chocolate Syrup Drizzle
The Banana Split Smoothie Bowl Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes Servings: 1 large bowl
Bowl Ingredients
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1 large frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries.
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 rolled oats
- 1 tbsp peanut putter
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings
- 1/2 fresh banana, sliced
- 2 tbsp granola
- 2-3 tbsp chopped peanuts or walnuts
- 1/4 cup chopped cherries and/or pineapple
- 1 dollop of coconut whipped cream or Greek yogurt
- Drizzle of chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Liquid & Fresh First: Add everything except for the frozen ingredients to the blender.
- The Frozen Layer: Add the frozen bananas and frozen strawberries on top.
- The Blend: Pulse the blender to break down the frozen fruit chunks. Once they start to incorporate, blend on low or continue to pulse for 3-4 seconds at a time. You will likely need to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula to keep things moving.
- Adjust Sparingly: If it’s too thick and won’t blend at all, add liquid one tablespoon at a time. Too much liquid will turn your bowl into a regular smoothie!
- Serve: Scoop the thick mixture into a wide bowl and arrange the toppings in rows or sprinkle evenly over the base.
Make It A Smoothie
Love this recipe idea, but don’t have time to prepare the bowl? Make it a drinkable smoothie.
- Start by adding the base ingredients to the blender, but adjust the milk to 1 full cup
- Toss in the chopped nuts, fresh pineapple, and cherries
- Blend everything 1-2 minutes until smooth
Pro Tip: For the best results, use Smootheeze Freezer Trays to keep your bananas and strawberries perfectly portioned. Pre-freezing your fruit ensures you get that premium soft-serve texture every single time!
Banana Split Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1 large frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 tbsp peanut putter
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings:
- 1/2 fresh banana (sliced)
- 2 tbsp granola
- 2-3 tbsp chopped peanuts or walnuts
- 1/4 cup chopped cherries and/or pineapple
- 1 dollop coconut whipped cream or Greek yogurt
- drizzle chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Liquid & Fresh First: Add everything except for the frozen ingredients to the blender.
- The Frozen Layer: Add the frozen bananas and frozen strawberries on top.
- The Blend: Pulse the blender to break down the frozen fruit chunks. Once they start to incorporate, blend on low or continue to pulse for 3-4 seconds at a time. You will likely need to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula to keep things moving.
- Adjust Sparingly: If it’s too thick and won’t blend at all, add liquid one tablespoon at a time. Too much liquid will turn your bowl into a regular smoothie!
- Serve: Scoop the thick mixture into a wide bowl and arrange the toppings in rows or sprinkle evenly over the base.
Notes
- Start by adding the base ingredients to the blender, but adjust the milk to 1 full cup
- Toss in the chopped nuts, fresh pineapple, and cherries
- Blend everything 1-2 minutes until smooth
