Cranberry Smoothie Bowl

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This cranberry smoothie bowl is thick, creamy, and lightly tart with just enough sweetness to balance it out. It is made with homemade cranberry sauce, frozen bananas, and oat milk, then finished with simple toppings for texture and contrast.

Cranberry smoothie bowl topped with almond butter, pomegranate arils, granola, and a swirl of cranberry sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Smoothie Bowl

If you love smoothie bowls that feel fresh but still satisfying, this one is perfect for winter breakfasts, holiday leftovers, or anytime you have cranberry sauce in the fridge.

A great way to use leftover homemade cranberry sauce
Naturally sweetened with fruit and maple syrup
Thick and scoopable, not runny
Fully plant-based and dairy-free
Easy to customize with your favorite toppings

This bowl hits the sweet spot between refreshing and cozy.

Ingredients

This is a brief overview of the ingredients used in this recipe followed by substitution ideas. Read the recipe card for measurements.

Homemade cranberry sauce: This is the star of the bowl. Homemade cranberry sauce gives you better flavor and control over sweetness. If your sauce is very thick or heavily sweetened, you may want to adjust the maple syrup slightly.
Frozen bananas: Frozen bananas make the smoothie bowl thick and creamy without ice. Always use fully frozen bananas for the right texture.
Oat milk: Oat milk keeps the bowl creamy and neutral in flavor. You can substitute another plant-based milk if needed, but oat milk works well.
Almond butter: Almond butter adds a touch of protein and nutty flavor.
Maple syrup: A small amount rounds out the tartness of the cranberries. Start with less and add more if needed. You can also drizzle the bowl with extra maple syrup as needed.

Optional Garnishes

These toppings add texture and make the bowl more filling.

Extra cranberry sauce
Almond butter for healthy fats and richness
Pomegranate arils for crunch and brightness
Granola for texture

Use one or combine a few depending on what you have.

How to Make a Cranberry Smoothie Bowl

Add the cranberry sauce, frozen bananas, oat milk, almond butter, and maple syrup to a high-speed blender.
Blend until very thick and smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.
If the mixture is too thick to blend, add oat milk one tablespoon at a time.
Spoon into a bowl and smooth the top.
Add your desired garnishes and serve right away.

For the best texture, avoid over-blending once everything is smooth.

How to Make Extra Thick Smoothie Bowls

Use frozen fruit, not fresh. Frozen fruit is what gives a smoothie bowl its thick, scoopable texture. Frozen bananas work best for this bowl.
Add more liquid slowly if needed. If your blender struggles, pour in a small splash of plant-based milk and blend again. Go slowly. Too much liquid too fast will thin everything out and you cannot fix that easily.
Don’t overblend. Keep everything super cold and thicker by blending only as long as is needed.
Taste and adjust. Always do a quick taste test before pouring. If the flavor feels too tart, balance it with a bit of maple syrup.
Serve immediately. Smoothie bowls are meant to be eaten immediately. Once they sit, they soften and lose that thick, creamy consistency that makes them enjoyable.

Storage

Smoothie bowls are best made fresh! Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays to blend in future smoothie bowls.

Frequently asked questions

Is this smoothie bowl very tart?

It has a noticeable cranberry flavor, but the bananas and maple syrup balance it out. You can always add more sweetener if needed.

Can I make this without a high-speed blender?

You can, but you may need to add more liquid and blend longer to get it smooth.

If you’ve made this Cranberry Smoothie Bowl recipe or another recipe on My Plant-Based Bowl, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment with a recipe rating. I’d love to know how you enjoyed it, and ratings help other people know that the recipe is worth trying.

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Cranberry smoothie bowl topped with almond butter, pomegranate arils, granola, and a swirl of cranberry sauce with the text cranberry smoothie bowl.

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My Plant-Based Bowl | Jacqueline

Hi, I’m Jacqueline. I write this website and create plant-based recipes that are easy to make and taste great. I love cooking and making elaborate bowl recipes, gardening and taking care of my little cabin, and I’m happy reading or watching a new show on Netflix.