Here’s an inspired idea: why not skip the freezer aisle this summer, and instead try making your own frozen treats at home? It’s better for both your waistline and your wallet, and will provide you and the kids with something to do when that dreaded five letter word (B-O-R-E-D) creeps into their vocabulary.
Here’s a look at what’s going to be filling my freezer this summer:
Chocolate Banana Popsicles
These are one of our favourite summer treats! You’ll want to choose bananas that are ripe but not too soft, otherwise they may slide off the popsicle stick. We tend to stick with milk or dark chocolate for dipping, but you can get creative and try white chocolate or even melted peanut butter or butterscotch chips. As for the toppings, the sky’s the limit, but here are some ideas to consider: sprinkles, chopped nuts, crushed potato chips, a favourite cereal, or any small candy.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana “Nice Cream”
Using bananas for the base, this “nice cream” is worth knowing about. I’ve boosted the flavour of mine with peanut butter and chocolate, but you can play around with the ‘recipe’ and replace the almond milk with regular cow’s milk and the peanut butter and chocolate with fresh berries.
Frozen Yogurt Pops
You can either purchase yogurt tubes and pop them straight into the freezer, or alternatively spoon flavoured yogurt from a large tub into a silicone ice pop mold and freeze them until solid. Easy peasy!
Vanilla Strawberry Pudding Pops
They say that everything old is new again, and after creating these tasty pudding pops, I kind of believe it. I like to think these are the healthier homemade version of the ones I grew up eating. They’ve also been given a seasonal spin with the addition of a strawberry ribbon woven between the layers of pudding, but later in the summer try using raspberries, blueberries or peaches instead.
Prosecco Popsicle Cocktail
If you want to look like a total hostessing rock star this summer, here’s the drink you need to serve to your friends. It is so, so simple to make, impresses everyone you serve it to, and can be made for both kids and adults alike (even at the same time). This drink is also refreshing, light, and fizzy, hitting the hallmarks of the perfect summer cooler. It’s not exactly a frozen treat, but it uses one in the recipe which is why we should all have a box of real-fruit popsicles in the freezer in the summer.
8-Layer Ice Cream Cake
Slightly more decadent than the other ideas on this list, this recipe should be saved for a special occasion this summer. Feel free to use a store-bought or homemade pound cake, any flavour of ice cream you desire. Play around and come up with a combination that works for you!
Hot Chocolate Popsicles
Our favourite popsicle recipe is a cold and frozen version of our beloved hot cocoa one. One made from whole milk, cocoa, honey, cinnamon and baking chocolate is simple, somewhat sweet, and not-too-bad for us either. Here’s how to make it:
- Place 2 cups of milk in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Simmer until warm, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add one ounce of semi-sweet chocolate, 2 tablespoons each of cocoa powder and honey, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Whisk continuously to combine.
- Once the chocolate has melted, remove the cocoa from the stove and cool it completely in the fridge.
- Once chilled, pour into popsicle molds and freeze until solid.
Important to note: you can make popsicles from almost any of your favourite beverages: slightly sweetened herbal teas become icy and refreshing ice pops, as do ones made with lemonade, or iced coffee. To keep your ice pops from freezing solid, make sure there is a bit of healthy fat (try milk, coconut milk, yogurt and/or avocado) in them to keep them slightly creamy.
Tagged under: summer,Ice cream,popsicles,frozen yogurt,frozen treats
Category: food
