Cinnamon Apple Pie Smoothie Bowl

Directions

1. 1Whisk together the applesauce, apple juice, coconut milk, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and protein powder in a large bowl until fully combined and smooth.
2. 2Pour the base into a Ninja Creami pint container, filling it to the max fill line. Place the lid on the pint and set it on a flat, level surface in your freezer.
3. 3Freeze for 24 hours until the base is completely solid throughout.
4. 4Remove the pint from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. Install the pint into the Ninja Creami outer bowl and lock it into the machine.
5. 5Select the SMOOTHIE BOWL preset and allow the full cycle to complete.
6. 6Check the consistency after the cycle. If the texture appears crumbly or powdery, add a splash of apple juice to the center of the pint and run the RE-SPIN function until the bowl is creamy and smooth.
7. 7Scoop the finished smoothie bowl into a serving bowl and top with granola, diced fresh apple, a caramel drizzle, and crushed graham crackers as desired. Serve immediately.

Tips

• Freeze your pint completely flat for at least 16 hours so it processes evenly into that creamy texture you're after; a tilted or partially frozen pint will give you crumbly results.
• If your smoothie bowl comes out too powdery after spinning, add a splash of coconut milk or regular milk and run it through the Creami again to get that soft scoop texture.
• Let the frozen pint sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes before inserting it into the Creami if you're having trouble getting it to process smoothly.

Variations

• Swap half the apple juice for unsweetened almond milk to lighten it up and add a different flavor profile while keeping the freeze time the same.
• Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of granola, sliced almonds, or chopped pecans right before eating for crunch, or layer them in the pint before freezing for texture throughout.

FAQ

Can I use sweetened applesauce instead of unsweetened?

You can, but it will be noticeably sweeter since the recipe already has honey. I'd cut the honey back to 2 tablespoons if you go that route.

Why did my frozen pint come out crumbly instead of creamy?

This usually means it wasn't completely frozen solid before spinning, or the pint had frozen unevenly. Make sure it's flat in the freezer for a full 16-24 hours, then add a small splash of milk and re-spin to fix the texture.

Can I make this without the protein powder?

Yes, just leave it out. The smoothie bowl will be a bit less filling but will still freeze and process normally.

How long can I store the frozen pint before spinning it?

You can keep it frozen for up to a week without quality loss. After that, freezer burn can affect the texture, so I'd spin it within 3-4 days for best results.

Nutrition

Per serving · makes about 2 servings · estimated