If you remember chasing after the neighborhood ice cream truck when you were a child, you know the joy that came with tearing the plastic wrap off a Big Stick or Creamsicle and taking that first bite of a cool, refreshing, sweet delight. As an adult, you may want something a little healthier or more natural, for you and for your family.
Thanks to herbs, spices, and a little ingenuity, the popsicles of yesteryear have become the artisanal frozen fruit bars of today. You can craft these treats at home with the freshest ingredients you can get your hands on. They’re easy to make, refreshing, healthy, and unprocessed, and they’re less expensive than comparable frozen fruit bars you’d find at the store.
Another benefit to making them at home is that you can experiment with ingredients to your heart’s content, and you really can’t go wrong, because frozen fruit with a touch of sweetness is delicious no matter what zany flavor combinations you come up with. So go ahead, sit outside with your homemade treat on a stick, stare up at the clouds, and enjoy the lazy days of summer.
All of these recipes have fewer than five ingredients, and will make about six frozen treats. If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can use ice cube trays (which make bite-sized treats), small, repurposed yogurt cups, paper cups, or small juice glasses. If you don’t have popsicle sticks, you can use spoons.
The instructions are the same for all recipes: toss all ingredients into a blender and blend until very smooth or pureed. Pour the mixture into your mold of choice, and freeze for three to five hours.
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Learn easy-to-implement health and wellness techniques to create lasting change at Perfect Health, our total mind-body healing experience. Learn More.
Thanks to herbs, spices, and a little ingenuity, the popsicles of yesteryear have become the artisanal frozen fruit bars of today. You can craft these treats at home with the freshest ingredients you can get your hands on. They’re easy to make, refreshing, healthy, and unprocessed, and they’re less expensive than comparable frozen fruit bars you’d find at the store.
Another benefit to making them at home is that you can experiment with ingredients to your heart’s content, and you really can’t go wrong, because frozen fruit with a touch of sweetness is delicious no matter what zany flavor combinations you come up with. So go ahead, sit outside with your homemade treat on a stick, stare up at the clouds, and enjoy the lazy days of summer.
All of these recipes have fewer than five ingredients, and will make about six frozen treats. If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can use ice cube trays (which make bite-sized treats), small, repurposed yogurt cups, paper cups, or small juice glasses. If you don’t have popsicle sticks, you can use spoons.
The instructions are the same for all recipes: toss all ingredients into a blender and blend until very smooth or pureed. Pour the mixture into your mold of choice, and freeze for three to five hours.
Watermelon Mint
Watermelon is 92 percent water, making it a wonderful way to hydrate on hot summer days. It also contains lots of nutrients like vitamins A, B6, and C; lycopene; antioxidants; potassium; and amino acids. Mint and watermelon are a delicious pair, and mint’s cooling effects are great for combating the effects of the heat.Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 tablespoon mint leaves
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
Chocolate Banana
There’s nothing better than what basically amounts to a chocolate banana milkshake on a stick. These bars are smooth, rich, and creamy, and might just transport you back to the Fudgesicle days of your youth. Bananas are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and are considered one of the world’s healthiest foods. They’re also a great source of potassium, a mineral you may need a bit more of if you’re sweating a lot.Ingredients
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 2-3 tablespoons honey or coconut sugar
Strawberry Basil
Strawberries are at their sweetest and juiciest at this time of the year. These little red wonders are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber; and they’re a good source of manganese and potassium. The basil balances the sweetness of the berries and gives this frozen treat a subtle, earthy kick.Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
Mango Chili
There’s just something about enjoying a ripe, luscious mango that will make you feel like you’re swaying in a hammock in a tropical paradise. They’re not just delicious, though. Mangos contain more than 20 vitamins and minerals, enough to be considered a superfood. If you can’t find mangos, you can substitute with pineapple.Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped mango
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
Yogurt Blueberry
This is a fact: blueberries and cream in any form is swoon-worthy. Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit. You can think of it as the queen of superfoods. Really, it’s up there with kale. You can use frozen blueberries in this recipe, and you can substitute the Greek yogurt for a non-dairy yogurt of your choice.Ingredients
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt/yogurt alternative
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
Learn easy-to-implement health and wellness techniques to create lasting change at Perfect Health, our total mind-body healing experience. Learn More.