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Bionicos, also known as Mexican fruit salad bowls, are a quick, easy, and refreshing way to start your day. Lightly sweetened crema is combined with layers of tropical fruit, granola, and extra garnishes. Enjoy them for an energizing and refreshing breakfast or a light afternoon treat.
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🩷 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Healthy: Bionicos are packed with nutrients like vitamin C, digestive enzymes, fiber, and other important antioxidants.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the fillings or toppings to your liking. Mix and match different fruits, granola flavors, or garnishes — the possibilities are endless!
- Refreshing: With a variety of hydrating fruits, this treat is the perfect way to cool off on a hot day.
- Vegan-friendly: No dairy? No problem! We’ve crafted a vegan-friendly version that’s just as creamy and delicious as the original.
If you love bionicos, you should really check out our high-protein overnight oats, strawberry overnight oats, and vegan granola.
🍉 What are bionicos?
Originating from the bustling streets of Guadalajara, Mexico, bionicos are like classic fruit salad on steroids! Since moving here, they have become one of our go-to treats as we have such an incredible tropical fruit selection at our fingertips.
At its core, this dish is a combination of fresh fruits, sweet cream, crunchy granola, dried fruits, and nuts. While the traditional recipe is made with a blend of condensed milk and sour cream, our vegan version uses a silky-smooth cashew base.
This hydrating snack is kid-friendly, simple to make, and extremely customizable to your preferences! Serve it for a grab-and-go breakfast, include it in a brunch spread, or enjoy it as a light and healthy afternoon pick-me-up!
🌱 Are bionicos traditionally vegan?
Bionicos are traditionally made with a base of condensed milk and sour cream rather than cashew cream, which means they’re not vegan-friendly.
However, we’ve used cashews to emulate the taste and texture of the original mixture. Once you take your first bite, we promise you won’t miss the dairy one bit!
🛒 Ingredients & substitutions
- Raw cashews: Form the base of the vegan crema, creating a rich and creamy consistency that complements the fresh fruits. If cashews are unavailable, you can use blanched almonds in a pinch, but the texture will be more grainy.
- Plant milk: Enhances the cream’s rich flavor and texture. You can use soy, coconut, cashew, pea, or almond milk interchangeably here. Water will also work!
- Lime juice: Adds a tangy freshness. Make sure to use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor. Lemon juice can be a substitute as well.
- Cane sugar: Lightly sweetens the cashew cream. If you don’t have cane sugar, use agave, maple syrup, or date syrup in its place.
- Fruits: Feel free to experiment with any local, in-season fruits near you like pineapple, papaya, grapes, honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, mangoes, nectarines, strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, apples, and pears.
- Toppings: Mix and match different toppings like raisins, dried mangoes, craisins, dates, shredded coconut, granola, pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
📝 How to make bionicos
Step 1: Make the cashew cream
Ensure your cashews are soaked well until they split easily. This step is essential for creating a smoother cream. Add the drained nuts, plant milk, lime juice, and cane sugar to a high-power blender, then mix everything until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Prepare the fruit
Whichever type of fruit you choose to use, aim for uniform sizes to ensure every bite has a bit of everything. Gently toss the fruits together to maintain their shape and freshness.
Step 3: Layer the bionicos
When you’re ready to eat, start with fruit at the base of a cup or container, then add cream, and repeat. Add as many toppings as you like before digging in. Happy eating!
If you have questions about this bionicos recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!
🌡️ Storage
If you end up with any leftover bionicos ingredients, follow these simple storage tips:
- Fridge: You can store the fruit and cashew cream separately for up to 3 days. Keep both of them in airtight containers or jars.
- Freezer: The cashew cream can be frozen for up to a month. Just keep it in a freezer-safe container or jar with some room at the top for expansion.
- Prep ahead: We recommend preparing the cashew cream the day before so it has time to chill and set in the fridge. You can also chop the fruits a day in advance, then assemble everything right before serving.
♻️ Variations
- Nut-free: Use sunflower seeds instead of cashews, and make sure the granola doesn’t contain any chopped nuts.
- Citrus: Add orange and grapefruit segments for a zesty punch. You can even add a sprinkle of citrus zest to the cashew cream to further elevate the flavors.
- Exotic: Toss in lychee, rambutan, and dragon fruit for a unique taste experience.
- Sweeter: Drizzle it with maple syrup or agave for a more pronounced sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Add a pinch of cinnamon to the cashew cream for a warm touch.
- Chocolate: Use cacao nibs or chocolate shavings as a topping. You can also mix a little cocoa powder into the cream for a more chocolate-forward treat.
🧑🍳 Top tips
- Ripe fruits: Ensure your fruits are ripe but not overripe for the best results.
- Consistency: Increase or decrease the plant milk for a thicker or thinner cashew cream depending on what you prefer.
- Serving immediately: Bionicos are best enjoyed fresh. The longer they sit once assembled, the more the fruits release their juices, turning the dish soggy.
- Used chilled ingredients: Chill the fruit and cashew cream overnight in the fridge for an extra refreshing experience.
- Avoid soggy granola: Add the granola just before serving so it maintains its crunchy texture to balance the cream and fruit.
💬 FAQ
You’ll know your cashews are soaked well when they split easily when you press them between your fingers.
While we suggest using fresh fruits for the best texture, you can use frozen fruits in a pinch. Just make sure to thaw and drain them to prevent watery bionicos.
It’s best to chill the cashew cream for at least an hour before serving. This helps it thicken and cool down, but you can also use it immediately after blending in a pinch.
If your cashew cream is too thick, gradually add more plant milk while blending until you reach your desired consistency.
🍴 More breakfast recipes
If you enjoyed this bionicos recipe, take a peek at some more quick and easy breakfasts like these:
- Vegan Fresas con Crema: A rich, refreshing, and easy-to-make treat.
- Mexican Oatmeal: A simple, no-fuss, and healthy breakfast idea.
- Enfrijoladas: Veggie-stuffed corn tortillas coated in creamy bean sauce.
- Summer Fruit Salad: A juicy, sweet, and secretly protein-packed dish.
10-Minute Bionicos Recipe
Equipment
- High-speed blender
- Knife & cutting board
Ingredients
Cashew cream
- 1 cup raw cashews (soaked)
- ¾ cup plant milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 3 tablespoons cane sugar
Fruit
- 1 ½ cups papaya
- 1 ½ cups pineapple
- 1 ½ cups honeydew melon
- 1 ½ cups watermelon
- 1 cup grapes (red or green)
Toppings
- 1 cup granola
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup pecans
- Agave syrup
Instructions
Cashew cream
- Drain the soaked cashews and place them in a blender with the plant milk, lime juice, and sugar.
- Blend the mixture on high until it's completely smooth, about 3-10 minutes depending on the blender. Make sure to stop and scrape down the sides a few times. Transfer it to your fridge to chill while you prep the fruit.
Fruit
- Peel and cube the papaya, pineapple, watermelon, and honeydew into ½-inch cubes. Slice the grapes into halves. Add all the fruit to a mixing bowl and give it a gentle stir.
Assembly
- When you are ready to eat, add a scoop of fruit to a cup or container, then some cashew cream, then more fruit, and so on. Top with granola, chopped pecans, raisins, coconut shreds, or agave. Happy eating!
Video
Notes
- Ripe fruits: Ensure your fruits are ripe but not overripe for the best results.
- Consistency: Increase or decrease the plant milk for a thicker or thinner cashew cream depending on what you prefer.
- Serving immediately: Bionicos are best enjoyed fresh. The longer they sit once assembled, the more the fruits release their juices, turning the dish soggy.
- Used chilled ingredients: Chill the fruit and cashew cream overnight in the fridge for an extra refreshing experience.
- Avoid soggy granola: Add the granola just before serving so it maintains its crunchy texture to balance the cream and fruit.
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
Nutrition
Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.
