I love cold, creamy breakfast bowls. I’m a huge fan of açaí bowls and banana “nice cream,” but this protein-packed vegan yogurt bowl may be the easiest version of all.
It starts with thick Greek-style plant-based yogurt and takes about five minutes to make. Then I load it with fruit, nuts, chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut, dark chocolate, and chocolate hazelnut butter. It feels like breakfast and dessert somehow ended up in the same bowl, which is exactly the kind of meal I want after a workout or when I need something quick.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Yogurt Bowl
- Ready in five minutes: There is no cooking involved.
- Easy to customize: Use whatever fruit, nuts, seeds, or nut butter you already have.
- Creamy and crunchy: The yogurt and nut butter balance the fruit, chocolate, coconut, nuts, and seeds.
- Naturally plant-based: Every ingredient in this bowl is vegan.
- Great for busy mornings: You can assemble it faster than you could order breakfast somewhere.
Choosing a Vegan Protein Yogurt
The yogurt is the base of the entire bowl, so I prefer one that is thick, creamy, and higher in protein.
I like Kite Hill Greek-Style Plant-Based Yogurt, but availability can vary. If you can’t find a Greek-style vegan yogurt, use your favorite plain or vanilla plant-based yogurt and mix in a little vegan protein powder.
Adding protein powder can thicken a thinner yogurt while making the bowl more filling. Start with a small amount and add more as needed so the texture doesn’t become chalky.
Protein content varies significantly between yogurt brands, so check the nutrition label if reaching a particular protein target is important to you.
Protein-Packed Yogurt Bowl Toppings
The best part of a yogurt bowl is that there really isn’t one correct way to top it. I usually want a mixture of fresh fruit, something crunchy, and something that makes the bowl feel a little more indulgent.
Fresh fruit
Raspberries and banana add natural sweetness and color. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, peaches, or sliced apple would also work.
Use whatever fruit is fresh, in season, or already sitting in your refrigerator.
Nuts and seeds
This bowl uses candied cashews, roasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and hemp hearts. They add crunch, texture, and different sources of plant-based protein and fats.
If you have trouble finding hemp hearts locally, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts are available online and in many grocery stores.
You do not need every nut and seed listed in the recipe. Use the combination you actually enjoy and have available.
Coconut and dark chocolate
Dried coconut and dark chocolate make the bowl taste a little more like dessert. Check the chocolate label because some dark chocolate products still contain dairy.
Cacao nibs are another option if you want chocolate flavor with less sweetness.
Chocolate hazelnut butter
The final drizzle of chocolate hazelnut butter ties everything together. I used Justin’s, but any vegan chocolate hazelnut spread, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower-seed butter will work.
How to Make a Vegan Yogurt Bowl
Spoon the Greek-style vegan yogurt into a bowl. Arrange the raspberries, sliced banana, nuts, seeds, coconut, and dark chocolate over the top.
Finish with the chocolate hazelnut butter and eat it immediately.
That is genuinely the entire process. The toppings make it look elaborate, but it takes about five minutes and requires no cooking.
Easy Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is more of a flexible formula than a rigid set of rules.
For a nut-free bowl, leave out the almonds, cashews, and hazelnut butter. Replace them with extra pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, or sunflower-seed butter.
For more fruit, add berries, mango, kiwi, peaches, or apple. For more crunch, add granola or toasted coconut. For additional sweetness, drizzle the bowl with maple syrup or agave.
You can also add cinnamon, cacao powder, vanilla extract, or a spoonful of fruit preserves to the yogurt base.
Can You Prepare a Yogurt Bowl Ahead of Time?
You can portion the yogurt into a covered container the night before, but I would store most of the toppings separately.
Nuts, seeds, coconut, and granola can soften when they sit in yogurt for several hours. Add those just before eating if you want them to remain crunchy.
Bananas are also best sliced immediately before serving because they brown quickly. Berries can usually be added in advance if they are washed and dried well.
More Easy Vegan Breakfast Recipes
For another cold breakfast option, try my Nutrient-Dense Vegan Yogurt Bowl with Berries, Seeds and Superfoods.
If you want something warm, make this Loaded Vegan Oatmeal Bowl with Peanut Butter and Trail Mix.
For a savory high-protein breakfast, try my High-Protein Tofu Toast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best vegan yogurt for this bowl?
A thick Greek-style vegan yogurt works best, especially if you want a creamy texture and more protein. Almond, soy, coconut, oat, and cashew yogurts can all work, but their protein content varies.
Can I add vegan protein powder?
Yes. Stir a small amount into the yogurt before adding the toppings. Add a splash of plant-based milk if the mixture becomes too thick.
Are hemp hearts the same as hemp seeds?
Hemp hearts are shelled hemp seeds. They have a soft texture and mild, nutty flavor that works well in yogurt, oatmeal, and smoothies.
Can I make this yogurt bowl nut-free?
Yes. Omit the cashews, almonds, and hazelnut butter. Use pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, or sunflower-seed butter instead.
How can I make the bowl less sweet?
Use plain unsweetened yogurt, unsweetened coconut, and regular roasted nuts. You can also replace the chocolate hazelnut butter with unsweetened peanut or almond butter.
Protein-Packed Vegan Yogurt Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan Greek-style protein yogurt
- 1 tbsp candied cashews
- 1 tbsp dark chocolate chunks
- 1 tbsp dried coconut
- 1 tbsp roasted almonds
- 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup raspberries
- 1/2 banana sliced
- 1 tbsp hemp hearts
- 1 tbsp Justin's chocolate hazelnut butter
Instructions
- Spoon the yogurt into a bowl. Arrange the fruit, nuts, seeds, coconut, and dark chocolate over the yogurt, then finish with the chocolate hazelnut butter.
