Drinks · Part 1 of 3: Ingredients
Blackberry Acai Smoothie with Pomegranate and Almond Butter
- Prep
- Cook
- Total
- Serves
- 2
Imagine a thick, deep purple glass with a bright red swirl of pomegranate and a cloud of whipped cream on top. This blackberry acai smoothie is built from a handful of fresh and frozen fruit, blended in one jar and layered in a glass so every spoonful brings a different flavor. It takes about ten minutes from start to finish.
This layered smoothie is a fruit drink built around blackberries and acai, with ripe banana giving it body and ice keeping it thick and cold. The fruit is blended until smooth, then spooned into a glass with almond butter, pomegranate arils and grated white chocolate between the layers.
A final swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings complete the look. Everything comes together quickly, so the work is mostly in the prep: slicing the banana, picking out the arils and grating the chocolate before the blender goes on.
Plan to serve it right after assembly, while the glass is cold and the layers are still distinct.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh blackberries, plus a few more for garnish
- 2 packets (3.5 oz each) frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- 1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced into rounds
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 pomegranate, halved, seeds (arils) removed
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 oz white chocolate or cocoa butter, for grating
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks, for topping
Why this recipe works
The method starts by blending the frozen acai, blackberries, banana and ice together. Frozen fruit and ice give the smoothie a thick, cold texture that holds its shape in the glass. Blending the fruit on its own first gives a deep, even purple color before any garnish goes on.
The layering works because the thick smoothie sits well under the lighter toppings. Almond butter sinks slightly into the purple base, the pomegranate arils stay separate and bright, and the grated white chocolate melts only a little on contact. Chilling the glass beforehand slows that melting, so each layer stays where you placed it.
Notes and substitutions
Choose a ripe banana with small brown spots. It sweetens the smoothie naturally and blends smoothly, so there is no need to add sugar.
Frozen unsweetened acai puree is the easiest form to find in American supermarkets, usually in the freezer section next to frozen berries. If you buy the powder instead, add it to the blender with the other ingredients.
You need a blender that can crush ice, a box grater, a chef's knife and a wooden board, plus a piping bag with a star tip for the cream. Use clear glasses so the layers show.
The white chocolate can be replaced by cocoa butter if you need a dairy-free alternative, but check the label before buying because most white chocolate contains milk. Almond butter can be swapped for peanut butter or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
- frozen acai puree: unsweetened frozen acai smoothie packets, or 2 tbsp acai powder mixed into the blender
- almond butter: peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- heavy cream: ready-made whipped topping
Equipment
- Blender
- Box grater
- Wooden cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Piping bag with star tip
- Clear glasses
- Spoon