Following a parade of greens, the acai berry is the newest (and prettiest) star of the superfood craze. Tasty and good-looking, the Brazilian treat is incredibly popular on the West coast.

Acai berries are classified as a superfood due to their abundance of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

One of the most popular ways of serving the fruit is in smoothie form. Blend your ingredients up, scoop ’em into a bowl heaped with toppings, and voila. Luckily, you don’t have to seek out a fancy juice bar in Los Angeles or drool over your Instagram feed to enjoy the treat. With the public’s growing appreciation of superfoods, acai joins the mainstream; you can likely find the coveted fruit it in the frozen section of your local grocery store.

Part of the magic of acai bowls is their customization. Hate fruit? Cut it from the recipe! Chocolate lover? That can be arranged as well.

Classic acai bowl

Raspberries

Granola

Strawberries

Blueberries

Base made with fruit juice

The bright berry hues make the bowl extra pretty. Make sure to stay consistent with amounts so one flavor does not overpower the others.

Chocolate acai bowl

Peanut butter

Banana

Granola

Chocolate chips

Almonds

Almond milk as base

Almond milk makes this bowl creamier. A spoonful of peanut butter added to the acai blend provides a subtle, pleasing taste that compliments the banana and chocolate chips.

Tropical acai bowl

Kiwi

Shaved coconut

Strawberries

Banana

Hemp seeds

Coconut milk as base

The acai berry works exceptionally well with these flavors thanks to its tropical roots. I added granola to the bottom of each bowl for a pleasant, end-of-meal surprise.

Healthy and delicious, there is no better way to start (or end) a summer day.

To make a simple acai base you will need:

Two four-ounce packets of frozen, unsweetened acai berry puree

A banana (fresh or frozen)

1/3 cup almond milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, any other kind of milk substitute or fruit juice

Some form of greens (if you want to be 

extra healthy)

A bit of honey or stevia (to taste)

Ready for the easiest recipe with the most beautiful payoff? Blend all ingredients until smooth. The ideal consistency for acai bowls should be reminiscent of soft-serve.

Now the fun begins.

Collect your toppings. I chose kiwi, chocolate chips, peanut butter, coconut, granola, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, banana, almonds and hemp seed. Any number of combinations does the trick, so it’s really up to you and your preferences.

Whichever you choose, acai is the perfect healthy summer treat.