Banoffee Caramel Swirl Smoothie Bowl
Banoffee, but make it functional. This spoonable bowl layers banana-toffee flavor with date “caramel,” soft-serve texture, and a little flaky salt so every bite tastes like dessert—with real food and optional boosters.
What it’s best for
Comfort cravings with balance. Naturally sweet fruit + fiber, optional protein/collagen for satiety, and mineral-rich dates for that caramel vibe.
Yield & time
Makes 1 generous bowl (~400–500g). 5 minutes active.
Base (soft-serve thick)
250 g frozen banana (1¾-2 cups slices)
50–60 g milk (almond, soy, or dairy) (¼ cup) — see thickness notes
60 g plain Greek yogurt (¼ cup) (DF: coconut yogurt)
10 g cashew or almond butter (2 tsp)
10–12 g soft Medjool date, chopped (1 Tbsp) or 5–10 g date syrup (1–2 tsp) in the base
1 g vanilla extract (¼ tsp)
Optional boosters: collagen 10 g (≈1½ Tbsp) or vanilla protein 20–25 g (1 scoop) • lucuma 5 g (1 tsp) for extra caramel notes
Date “Caramel” drizzle
You can use date syrup OR
(Extra-lux “toffee” option: blend 60 g soft dates + 30–50 g hot water + 5 g tahini + 2 g blackstrap molasses + 1 g vanilla + pinch salt.)
Toppings
Banana coins, granola 15–20 g (1½–2 Tbsp), pecan-oat crumb (pulse 10 g oats + 10 g pecans + cinnamon pinch), toasted coconut chips, cacao nibs 5 g (1 Tbsp), micro-pinch flaky salt.
Instructions
Chill the bowl 10–15 minutes. Paint 3–4 vertical lines of date “caramel” around the inside; freeze 2–3 minutes to set.
Blend the base: liquids, powders/salt, yogurt/nut butter, then you ca add frozen fruit last. (I just throw everything in at once) Use the tamper and blend just until it turns satiny and forms peaks (over-blending thins). If it stalls, add milk in 10–15 g dribbles only.
Spoon in the base, add a top swirl of date “caramel,” marble with a skewer, and add toppings. Finish with a whisper of flaky salt.
Make it thicker
Keep total free liquid (milk + runny syrup in the base) to 50–70 g for a 200–250 g banana bowl.
If you add yogurt, trim milk to 40–50 g.
Emergency thickening: +40–60 g ice (⅓–½ cup) and blend 5–10 seconds; or +10–12 g oats (2 Tbsp); or +30–40 g avocado (2–3 Tbsp).
Swaps & special diets
DF/V: plant milk + coconut yogurt; skip collagen.
Nut-free: use tahini; choose soy/oat milk; skip nut toppings.
Lower-sugar lane: hold base syrup to 5 g and move sweetness to the drizzle; or use allulose 6–8 g (1½–2 tsp). You can also drop banana to 180–200 g and add 30–40 g avocado.
Flavor upgrades
“A dirty banoffee”: stir 30 g cooled espresso (1 fl oz) into the drizzle, not the base, so it doesn’t thin the bowl. A drop of butter/cookie emulsion deepens the toffee profile.
One bowl with dairy milk + Greek yogurt + collagen is roughly 450–500 kcal, ~27–32 g protein, ~70–85 g carbs (mostly from fruit/dates), ~7–10 g fat. Calculate with your exact brands for accuracy.
General information only; not medical advice. Supplements are optional.
