Growing up, there were few things more exciting during summer than hearing that little ditty playing that meant only one thing … the Ice Cream Man is coming! Sadly, we now know that these tempting treats are chock-full of unhealthy preservatives and harmful additives.
So what’s a real food lovin’ momma to do? Why not say goodbye to the ice cream man and hello to the “Ice Cream MOM!” with a FREE copy of my Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats eBook. The fact is, there is no need to rely on the ice cream man (or store-bought goodies either) to bring a smile to your kiddos faces. Making homemade frozen ice pops and treats is so easy, delicious and economical! And it’s a super FUN way to get your kids in the kitchen this summer too! That’s why I’m not only sharing my “top 10 tips for making healthy frozen pops” below, but I’m also giving away a free copy of my popular eBook, Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats when you Subscribe to The Nourishing Home.
10 Tips for Making Healthy Homemade Frozen Pops
Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops are just one of more than a dozen healthy ice pop recipes in my free eBook for subscribers.
1. As mentioned, there are all kinds of delicious ingredients that can be used to make healthy homemade frozen pops. Some of the best options for creating successful ice pops include: 100% fruit juices, smoothies, yogurt, pudding, ice cream and sherbet. You can also use other healthy options such as coconut water, kefir, kombucha and herbal or green teas.
2. Additionally, frozen pops are a great opportunity to add an extra boost of nutrition – especially for those picky eaters. Adding ingredients like yogurt, kombucha, or dairy/water kefir can add a healthy dose of probiotics. Similarly, you can sneak in a bit of pureed veggies into most pop recipes without significantly altering the flavor or texture of the ice pop.
3. Since all ingredients expand during the freezing process, be sure to leave at least 1/4-inch space at the top of your pop molds when filling them. Also keep in mind that ingredients with more air content (such as smoothies) expand more than solid ingredients (like yogurt).
4. Speaking of pop molds – there is no need to purchase fancy ice pop molds
5. And the best method for ensuring your popsicle stick remains securely centered in your ice pop (if you’re not using pop molds), is to simply cover the top of dixie cup (or whatever you’re using as your mold) with a small piece of foil after pouring in your ingredients. Then, cut a small slit in the center of the foil and carefully insert a popsicle stick into the center of the mold.
6. Delicious additions – Adding whole or diced fruits suspended in your ice pops makes for interesting textures and flavors, such as in my Fruit & Cream Bars. You can also add other ingredients such as carob/chocolate chips, or even nuts and cookie bits. Similarly, layering ingredients, such as in my Banana Split Pops recipe, is a great way to combine flavors and create pretty striped pops.
7. And speaking of layering ingredients, it’s important to be sure each layer freezes solid before adding the next layer. Also, like ingredients stick together better. For example, layering several types of fruit juice bases together works better than trying to layer juices with ice cream.
8. It’s also important to keep in mind that different ingredients freeze at different rates. For example, fruit juice pops freeze faster than yogurt based pops. And of course, freezing time also depends on the size of the ice pop. For best results, pops should be frozen overnight, or at least for a minimum of 6-8 hours. And as far as storage goes, pops left in molds generally stay fresh for about 1-2 weeks.
9. To unmold an ice pop without the pop sticking to the mold, it’s best to either let the pop sit out at room temp for a few minutes, or run the mold under water for a minute. Then remove the mold and enjoy!
10. Get creative! There are lots of ideas and inspiration to be found via pinterest and google searches for healthy ice pops. And, just a friendly reminder that you can always download a FREE copy of my Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats eBook, simply by becoming a subscriber to The Nourishing Home.
Wishing you and your family a healthy, happy summer!
Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly
[…] Yes, so this isn’t technically ice cream, but it is a delightful frozen treat that both kids and adults can enjoy. Be sure to hop over to the Nourishing Home she has a recipe for strawberry fruit pops and a post with tips for how to make other varieties of frozen fruit pops! […]