By UBCO Food Services Staff
Is there anything more refreshing during a hot day than an ice-cold popsicle? Luckily, with a little ingenuity, you can make your own without leaving the house, as long as you have some popsicle moulds (or even Dixie cups and sticks), some fruit, and a sense of culinary adventure.
Here are six refreshing summer popsicle ideas inspired by the Okanagan heat!
Tips and tricks ahead of time
- Add pieces of sliced fruit like strawberries or kiwis
- Alternate between layers of juice, puree or yogurt (freezing each layer as you go)
- For a creamy texture, blend in pureed bananas or avocados, or add unsweetened coconut milk
- Play around with sweetness by adding cocoa powder, maple syrup or honey
1. Mint Watermelon
Suggested Ingredients
- 3 cups watermelon slices
- 1 ½ cups coconut water
- 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- In a blender, puree 2 ½ cups diced watermelon pieces, mint leaves, coconut water, lime juice, and honey.
- Cut the remaining ½ cup watermelon slices into ¼-inch cubes. Evenly divide the diced watermelon into the moulds, tapping them down to the bottom.
- Stir the popsicle mixture then evenly divide it among the popsicle moulds.
- Freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
Experiment with Flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Vanilla extract
- Cucumber
- Basil
- Fresh Ginger
2. Strawberry Basil
Suggested Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, chopped
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 8 basil leaves
Instructions
- In a bowl, toss the strawberries with the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Let the strawberries marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Blend the strawberries and their juices, along with the lemon juice and water, until smooth. Add the basil leaves and pulse just a few times, so you can still see tiny pieces of basil.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle moulds and place in freezer for at least 4 hours.
Experiment with Flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Banana
- Pureed Melon
- Pineapple juice
- Honey
- Coriander
3. Raspberry Coconut Creamsicle
Suggested Ingredients
- ½–1 cup raspberries
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut yogurt (or any full-fat yogurt)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla-flavoured stevia drops
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Blend the coconut milk, yogurt, vanilla and maple syrup together in a blender or food processor.
- Add raspberries and blend until combined.
- Pour into moulds and freeze overnight.
Experiment with flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Lemonade
- Thyme
- Mint leaves
- Cocoa powder
4. Cucumber Lime
Suggested Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber, peeled
- 1 cup simple syrup (sugar and water
- ⅓ cup lime juice
- 1 tsp finely grated ginger
Instructions
- Heat 1 cup of water water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until hot, but do not bring to a boil.
- Stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved, and let cool.
- Purée cucumber with simple syrup, lime juice, and ginger until smooth.
- Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup, pour into moulds, and freeze for at least 6 hours.
Experiment with flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Pureed mango
- Kiwi chunks
- Pineapple Juice
- Mint
- Fresh Ginger
5. Peaches and Honey
Suggested Ingredients
- 1 pound ripe peaches (or about 3 medium peaches), peeled and sliced into wedges
- 2 cups full fat yogurt
- 6 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Dash of sea salt
Instructions
- Toss the fresh peaches with 2 tbsp of honey and a dash of salt and baked at 350 F for 30-40 minutes, stirring halfway, until the peaches are soft and juicy. If you are using canned peaches, skip the baking process.
- Blend together the yogurt, remainder of the honey, lemon juice and vanilla extract.
- Scrape the peaches and their juices into yogurt mixture, and fold together.
- Transfer the blend into the popsicle mould and freeze for at least four hours.
Experiment with flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Whole Blueberries
- Orange Juice
- Cinnamon and Cloves
- Rosemary
6. Iced Mocha
Suggested Ingredients
- 3 cups iced coffee
- ¼ cup frozen avocado chunks
- ½ cup heavy cream or coconut milk
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or maple syrup
Instructions
- In a blender mix avocado with the iced coffee.
- Add cream, cocoa powder and vanilla.
- Pour mixture into popsicle mould and freeze for at least 4 hours.
Experiment with flavours
Mix it up a bit by adding a dash of one of these ingredients:
- Fresh pitted cherries
- Raspberries
- Cinnamon
- Mint
- Nutella
- or substitute the heavy cream for your favourite coffee creamer
