Best Bionicos Recipe (Mexican Fruit Salad Bowls)
If you’re looking for a simple recipe for bionico or bionicos Mexican fruit salad, you’ve come to the right place! Bionicos is a sweet treat that is a popular Mexican street food showcasing fresh fruit topped with a sweet cream mixture, granola, coconut, and raisins. It makes for a special treat for any time of the day and is a true crowd favorite!
When I first heard of bionicos I kinda thought okay, it’s just yogurt, fruit, and granola. What’s so great about that? Then a coworker brought some in and I was shocked at how amazingly delicious it was. It’s definitely not just yogurt!
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What is Bionicos (Mexican Fruit Bowls)?
Bionicos is a sweet dessert and popular street food found at many a street vendor in the city of Guadalaraja, Jalisco, Mexico. I’ve also seen it offered at restaurants here in Southern California. Bionicos is made with a sweet cream sauce, fresh fruit, granola, coconut, and raisins but you can easily customize it with lots of toppings!
Ingredients for Bionicos Recipe (Mexican Fruit Salad Bowls)
Sweet Cream or Mexican Crema
There are different ways to make the sweet cream or crema mexicana (My husband is a Spanish teacher, so I’m learning!). Some include plain yogurt and some include sour cream. Some include both but all of them include sweetened condensed milk. That’s what makes the crema extra luscious and sweet.
- sweetened condensed milk
- Greek yogurt (full fat)
- vanilla extract
Fresh Fruit
A variety of fruits could work for this recipe! Any fresh, seasonal fruit can be used, or use your favorite fruits. I used strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, mango and starfruit. I wanted to say you should use fruit that is at its peak – the best of the best – because this is a simple recipe and simple recipes require the best, freshest ingredients since there isn’t much for them to fall back on. But I don’t know if that’s entirely true. I’m not saying you should use rotting fruit and yes, most things taste better fresh (fruit included), but the sweet cream, granola, coconut and raisins could definitely distract from slightly underripe fruit or fruit that is maybe a tad past its prime. You could also thaw frozen fruit or use a fruit cocktail and still have a very delicious dessert on your hands.
My Favorite Fruits for these bionico bowls:
- kiwi fruit
- blackberries
- mango (cubed)
- strawberries (sliced)
- starfruit
Toppings for bionicos
Granola
I’m including a recipe in this post for a simple granola made with oats, pecans, pepitas, and flax. You could use any other granola you like though. Maybe it’s my apricot ginger granola?
- rolled oats
- raw pecans (chopped)
- ground flaxseed
- raw unsalted pepitas
- olive oil
- brown sugar
- maple syrup
- salt
Shredded Coconut
I used an unsweetened shredded coconut (or coconut flakes) because the mixed fruit is sweet, the granola is a little sweet and the sweet crema is obviously very sweet. I don’t like a sugar overload but if you do, by all means, used the sweetened kind of coconut. Since I used an unsweetened kind, I toasted it to add some depth of flavor to the whole thing. It was perfect.
Raisins
Not much to say here. Raisins are raisins. If you don’t like them, leave them off! You could also swap them for golden raisins or another type of dried fruit you like.
How to make bionicos
Let’s get to it now guys! Making bionicos is so easy and customizable so feel free to experiment or you can follow my recipe exactly and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
First, make the crema. My recipe for bionicos uses greek yogurt, sweetened condensed milk and a splash of vanilla. You simply combine these ingredients, and set aside in the fridge while you prep the rest.
If you are making your own granola, work on that next! Mix the oats, pecans, pepitas, flax, sugar, syrup and oil until well combined. Sprinkle granola onto a baking sheet in an even layer and bake for thirty minutes. Set this aside to cool while you wash and cut fruit and toast coconut.
You are now ready to assemble my friends!
If you are serving a crowd, set out the fruits, toppings and crema and let guests make their own bionicos! This would work splendidly for a brunch or breakfast buffet. It’s a ridiculously easy way to put a tasty twist on something that most people have had a million times.
Additions and Substitutions
If you don’t like the taste of greek yogurt or cannot find it, it can substituted with plain yogurt. Granola and coconut shavings are my favorite toppings, but if you’d like it a bit sweeter still, try drizzling a bit of honey on top. I’ve also seen bionicos in my area with a bit of chile power on top or even sprinkles! It is a dessert, after all, so go wild!
When should I eat Bionicos?
Bionicos make for a great dessert, a delicious treat for after lunch and can also be a pretty healthy breakfast item as well. No matter when you choose to enjoy this bionicos recipe, your taste buds will not be disappointed!
TRIED THIS RECIPE?
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More easy dessert recipes
Best Bionicos Recipe (Mexican Fruit Salad Bowls)
Bionicos is a popular Mexican street food but can also be found in restaurants in Southern California. It’s made with sweet cream, fresh fruit, granola, coconut and raisins but you can easily customize it!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Crema
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (full fat)
- splash of vanilla
Granola
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup raw pecans (chopped)
- 1/3 cup ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted pepitas
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
Other toppings & fruit
- 1 kiwi fruit (sliced)
- 1/3 cup blackberries
- 1 mango (cubed)
- 5 large strawberries (sliced)
- 1 starfruit
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup raisins
Instructions
Crema
- Place Greek yogurt, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a bowl and stir until fully combined. Place in the fridge while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Granola
- Preheat oven to 325F. Combine oats, pecans, pepitas, flax, salt, brown sugar, syrup and olive oil in a large bowl and stir until dry ingredients are fully coated with oil and syrup. Place in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes.
Final steps
- Wash and cut fruit. Arrange on a tray or serving dish and set aside.
- Place shredded coconut in a shallow saucepan over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes until lightly golden. Stir frequently. All the coconut does not need to be entirely golden. Place in a serving dish when finished.
- Serve bionicos in ramekins or small bowls. Place about 1/3 cup of sweet cream in a dish, and top it with fresh fruit, granola, coconut, and raisins. Drizzle more crema on top.
