It’s about this time of year, when we’ve hit a few 90 degree weather days, that my children start clamoring for frozen popsicles. I’ll admit that it’s easier to just buy them. You can just buy frozen fruit bars, call it a popsicle, and consider yourself a good mother for having bought a nutritious snack. However, you can equally squeeze in nutritious homemade frozen pops and get a surprising amount of fruit into your children’s tummies. Here are just a few ideas for those hot summer days.
Note: I actually have frozen popsicle molds for each of my children and then they can choose what types of things to add in. Depending on your situation, you might not want to let your kids get that creative!
Monkey Mojo
Start with frozen mashed banana. We buy bananas in big bunches. Whatever ever doesn’t get eaten, can get used for frozen pops or smoothies. When they are ripe and my kids won’t eat them any more, I put them in a plastic bag and mash them up. Then I just stick them in the freezer. When I’m ready to make the frozen pops, I thaw slightly and simply add them.
To make monkey mojo pops, make a box of chocolate fudge pudding according to package directions. (Note: Use the directions to make pie–which generally has slightly less milk in it.) Mix the mashed banana into pudding. Add coconut and chopped macademia nuts (nuts are optional) to the pudding banana mixture. Pour into molds and freeze.
Vanilla Fudge Ripple
For the non-exotic kids in your family, try mixing vanilla yogurt and a spoon of fudge ice cream topping. Melt the hot fudge ice cream topping first, and then swirl it into the vanilla yogurt. Don’t stir thoroughly or there will be no ripple! For an added treat–add strawberries to the mixture before freezing.
Blueberries ‘n Cream
For this creation, I use cream with 1/4 cup of sugar, or vanilla pudding. Break vanilla wafer cooks into large chunks and mix into the cream. Next mash bluberries and then add the blueberries into the cream.
Chocolate Decadence
For the chocoholics in your family, consider starting with a chocolate pudding base. Next add pureed raspberries and miniature chocolate chips.
You will find that making your own homemade pops will yield slightly healthier treats. Check back for more frozen pop ideas.
You May Also Want to Try:
Frozen Treats Galore: A Berry Yummy Dessert
Homemade Ice Cream Using the Still Freeze Method
Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, and also writes about politics and the occassional movie review. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.
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