If you love ordering acai bowls at restaurants, you’re probably wondering how frozen premade bowls from the grocery store stack up.
Chances are, you’ve seen Dole Acai Bowls in a frozen section near you.
But do they taste good? Are they filling? And are they worth the money?
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the Original Dole Acai Bowl for taste, price, and nutrition so you can decide whether it’s the right fit for you.
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Our Verdict
Not as delicious as a fresh acai bowl, but a good snack or breakfast item if you're in a hurry or on the go.
- Tasty and refreshing
- Easy to eat on the go
- Expensive
- Small portion size
What Are Dole Acai Bowls?
Dole acai bowls are individual frozen smoothie bowls topped with fruit and granola.
They come in three flavors: Original, Protein, and Tropical.
While the portions are pretty small, these bowls make a refreshing snack or easy on-the-go breakfast option for people who love acai bowls or smoothies.
Original Dole Acai Bowl Features
Let’s review the individual features of Dole acai bowls.
Taste (4/5)
We think these acai bowls are pretty good for a premade treat!
The acai puree is icy, refreshing, and not too sweet. It has hints of banana and blackberry, with underlying earthy notes. The experience is similar to eating a frozen smoothie in a bowl.
The coconut granola and fruit toppings are a nice crunchy counterpart to the smooth puree and make the bowl feel more satisfying.
Note: If you do not like the flavors of banana or coconut, you may not like these bowls, since you definitely taste both in every bite!
Be careful to store the bowls properly in your freezer and enjoy them quickly, since they can be prone to freezer burn over time.
Price (3/5)
You can find frozen Dole Acai Bowls anywhere from $2.99 to $4.50 per bowl, which is somewhat pricey for a snack or individual breakfast item.
Keep an eye out for buy-one-get-one-free sales to get these bowls for an even better deal.
Portion Size (3/5)
Each bowl is 6 ounces (170 grams) – roughly 1/3rd the size of an acai bowl from a restaurant.
Since the portion is small, this item makes a better snack or dessert, rather than a whole meal. You could easily pair it with hardboiled eggs or other easy proteins for a more satiating breakfast.
The ratio of puree to toppings is well balanced. You get chunks of fruit in every bite, plus some crunch from the granola, but not too much to take away from the smoothie experience.
Nutrition (3/5)
Each bowl contains the following:
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 6 grams
- Carbohydrates: 35 grams
- Fiber: 7 grams
- Added Sugars: 11 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
Dole acai bowls are low in calories, so they’re best as a snack or as one component of a more complete breakfast.
They contain no sodium or dairy, so they can be good for people on special diets.
Acai is naturally high in fat and low in sugar, but since these bowls are sweetened with honey, they contain a good amount of added sugars.
Ingredients (4/5)
The Original Dole Acai bowl contains puree made from acai, bananas, and honey and is topped with frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, and honey-coconut-oat granola.
It also contains citric acid and ascorbic acid to preserve color and taste. But other than that, the ingredients are pretty simple.
Convenience (5/5)
We love how easy these bowls are to grab and go.
Simply pop one in the microwave for 30 seconds if you want to enjoy it right away, or let it thaw at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes – perfect for defrosting during a commute.
When we tested it, 30 seconds in the microwave mostly thawed the puree, but left the frozen berries slightly crunchy, which we enjoyed for the texture contrast.
The granola is packaged separately from the fruit puree so you don’t have to worry about it getting soggy as everything defrosts.
The lid is also resealable, which is very convenient in case you can’t finish the bowl in one sitting.
Just don’t forget to bring a spoon, since these bowls do not come with one.
Are Dole Acai Bowls Worth Buying?
If you enjoy acai bowls, but don’t always have time to make them, then Dole acai bowls could be a great option for you.
However, if you’re tight on cash, the splurge may not be worth it for such a small portion size.
Pros
- Great as a quick snack or dessert
- Easy to defrost while on the go
- Refreshing and light
- Contains no sodium
- Easy resealable container
- Toppings are kept separately so they don’t get soggy
Cons
- Not enough food to be a standalone meal
- Doesn’t taste as good as a freshly made acai bowl
- Expensive for the portion size
- Low in protein (3 grams)
- High in added sugars (11 grams)
- Contains allergens in the topping (coconut)
- Not vegan (contains honey)
- Not safe for babies under one (contains honey)
- Uses a lot of plastic packaging (tray and bag for granola)
- No spoon included
How to Eat a Frozen Acai Bowl
These acai bowls are perfect as a snack, breakfast item, or even a dessert.
They are ready to eat in 3 simple steps:
- Remove from freezer. When you’re ready to eat the bowl, snap open the bottom right corner, take off the lid, and remove the pouch of granola plus the plastic inner tray it sits in. Save the granola pouch for later.
- Defrost the bowl. You can microwave the container on high for 30 seconds or let the bowl thaw at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Mix and enjoy. When the puree has softened to your liking, open the pouch of coconut oat granola and sprinkle it on top. Add extra toppings if desired and enjoy with a spoon.
What to Add for Extra Flavor
You can jazz up your acai bowl with your choice of additional toppings. Popular ideas include:
- Cacao nibs
- Chia seeds
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped nuts
- Extra honey
- Fresh fruit
- Hemp seeds
- Muesli
- Nutella
- Peanut butter
Where to Buy
Dole acai bowls are available in the frozen section of most grocery stores, near the frozen berries.
Availability will vary based on region, but they can be found in many of the following stores:
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Costco
- Sam’s Club
- ShopRite
- Target
- Walmart
You can also buy them on Amazon Fresh.
Try Dole Acai Bowls
Available on Amazon, Instacart, and Walmart.
Dole Acai Bowl Alternatives
If you cannot find Dole acai bowls near you, look for one of the following alternatives:
Conclusion
If you’re craving acai, Dole Acai Bowls make a great on-the-go snack or breakfast option.
They are refreshing, portable, and enjoyable to eat – like having a smoothie in a bowl with extra toppings.
However, they can be pricey, so stock up when they’re on sale if you really love ‘em!
Want to learn more about acai?
Check out our in-depth post:
Acai Berries: History, Nutrition, & Uses
Medical Nutrition Board Member | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Erica Julson is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in sunny California. She has over a decade of experience in food writing and recipe development and is the proud founder of four blogs in the food and nutrition space. Erica has also been part of Healthline's Nutrition Team and is an expert at translating research into helpful information for readers.
Credentials:
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Education:
- M.S in Nutritional Science - Cal State Los Angeles
- B.S in Psychobiology - UCLA
Experience:
- Over 10 years of experience in food and nutrition journalism.
- Former medical nutrition writer for Healthline Nutrition.
- Six years of experience working in research labs at UCLA and Carnegie Mellon University.
- Co-author on four peer-reviewed journal articles.
- Completed 1,200 hours of supervised practice to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
- Interviewed on many popular podcasts, featured on the local news, and quoted in magazines.
