Healthy Frozen Treats That Help You Beat The Heat – DIY Tips & Recipes

Popsicles Are A Popular Summertime Treat!

There are few things as refreshing as a flavorful frozen treat on a sweltering summer day. Especially as the temperature soars into the 80s, 90s and beyond, who doesn’t look forward to a cool icy treat to beat the searing heat?

Americans have had a long-standing love affair with popsicles ever since their creation in 1905. When 11-year old Frank Epperson accidentally left a cup filled with powdered soda, water, and a stick sitting on his porch overnight, it froze and Frank invented the first popsicle. In 1923, Frank began selling popsicles in Neptune Beach, California, and they became an instant hit. Today, over 2 billion Popsicle^® brand frozen treats are sold annually in the United States!

Originally, commercial popsicles and ice pops consisted primarily of frozen water filled with artificial colors and flavors. While these varieties still exist, artisan ice pops are all the rage these days! Trendy shops are popping up all over the country filled with high-priced organic fruit and vegetable popsicles!

While it’s fun to indulge in a trendy treat every now and then, their high cost can easily take an unwelcome bite out of your budget by summer’s end! Why not pamper your wallet and waistline and keep cool by making your own frozen treats at home?

Tips For Creating Healthy Popsicles

Creating tasty frozen treats is fun and easy to do. Here are a few basic tips to help you get started!

1. One of the best things about creating your own popsicles is that you get to decide what goes into them! These recipes are chock-full of our favorite fruits to minimize calories and maximize nutrients!

2. Use water-based ingredients such as ice, fruit juices, coconut water and herbal teas to create a cooler, icier pop. Incorporate ingredients such as milk, yogurt, sherbet and other dairy products for a smoother, creamier texture.

3. While popsicle-making kits are nice to have, they aren’t essential to own – especially for renters with limited storage space! We used Dixie^® Cups to make our pops because they are inexpensive, disposable, and allow us to make as many treats as we need at any given time!

We hope you enjoy the recipes that follow and that these tips encourage you to create your own frozen concoctions!

Watermelon Popsicles

Ingredients

2 Cups Seedless Watermelon
1/8 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Ice

Instructions

1. Cut the watermelon into slices and scoop out the fruit.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
4. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
5. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
6. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!

Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!

Peach Mango Popsicles

Ingredients

I Cup Peaches
I Cup Mango
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Ice

Instructions

1. Wash, peel and slice the fruit and remove the pits.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
4. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
5. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
6. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!

Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!

Strawberry Kiwi Popsicles

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups Strawberries
1/2 Cup Kiwi
1 Cup Ice
1/4 Cup Ice

Instructions

1. Clean and hull the strawberries by removing the green caps and stem with a paring knife and slicing them in half.
2. Wash, peel and slice the kiwi.
3. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
5. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
6. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
7. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!

Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!

Pop Quiz

What’s your favorite popsicle flavor? We’d love to know! Please leave a note in the comments – and be sure to check out this bonus fruit smoothie popsicle recipe at ForRent.Com!

This article was originally published at ForRent.Com.
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