Popsicle treats for hot days
There’s nothing more refreshing than a frozen treat on a hot day. And with this on-again, off-again heatwave we’ve been having, frozen treats seem more desirable than ever.
There was a time when popsicles were more readily available. In almost every neighborhood, there would be an ice cream man ringing his bell like a clarion call to signal the arrival of his cart full of ice cream treats such as pinipig crunch, ice cream pie, caramel tidbits, ice cream sandwiches and the ever-popular twin popsicles, in chocolate or orange flavor.
Alas, those days are long gone. The only place where one can buy frozen popsicle treats nowadays is the supermarket or grocery, and only a few of them sell those old-fashioned Twin Popsies.
But hark! You can make your own popsicles at home. As I’ve found out, it’s easy enough, requiring only three or four ingredients. And you can make any fruit flavor you like: mangoes, strawberries, watermelon, or blueberries. Since mangoes are in season, you can make full use of them by turning them into popsicles. Watermelons, too, are widely available.
As for strawberries and blueberries, you can use either Baguio strawberries and blueberries or buy the frozen ones, available in large supermarkets like Marketplace, SM, and Landmark. In fact, frozen strawberries and blueberries are good to use, as these are blast-frozen immediately after they’ve been picked, which preserves their vitamins and nutrients.
Here are four easy recipes for making your own fruit popsicles, inspired by the YouTube channel Bigger Bolder Baking of Gemma Stafford. Once you’ve mastered these recipes, you can be more adventurous and mix/blend different flavors. Why not layer mangoes with strawberries? Or blueberries and watermelon? You can also use fruit juice, add yogurt to the layers or throw in some fresh fruit chunks to make the popsicles even more fruity. The possibilities are endless.
Fruit popsicles
(Inspired by Bigger Bolder Baking on YouTube)
- For strawberry popsicles: 3 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
- For blueberry popsicles: 1 package frozen blueberries
- For mango popsicles: 4 ripe mangoes, large or medium size
- For watermelon popsicles: 3 to 4 cups sliced watermelon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste (optional)
If using fresh strawberries, remove the stem ends and wash the strawberries well (you can clean them by sprinkling them with baking soda, then wash off the baking soda in running water). Slice the strawberries in halves or quarters.
If using frozen strawberries, remove the fruits from the package and transfer to a bowl. If the strawberries are large, slice them in halves or quarters. Set aside.
If using frozen blueberries, about one hour before starting to make the popsicle, thaw the blueberries in the refrigerator. Then open the package and transfer the blueberries to a clean bowl.
If using fresh mangoes, peel the mangoes and scoop out the mangoes, then slice into chunks. Set aside.
If using fresh watermelon, remove the seeds from the watermelon and slice the watermelon into chunks. Set aside.
Pour the lemon juice into a blender or food processor. Taste one or two pieces of the fruit. If it is sour or bland, add the sugar to the blender. Spoon the fruit into the blender or food processor. Process at medium speed until it is well puréed and smooth.
Pour the puréed fruit into popsicle molds, filling until almost near the top. Tap the molds lightly on the kitchen counter to let any air bubbles out. Cover with the lid and stick in the popsicle holders/sticks. Freeze for at least five to six hours or until the popsicles are firm.
To unmold the popsicles, dip the mold in a bowl of warm water. Then twist the popsicle stick or holder slightly and pull out the stick to release the popsicle. Makes about four to six popsicles. Serve immediately.
Tips:
- Before you start, be sure to make room in your freezer for the popsicle molds.
- You can buy popsicle molds online through Lazada or Shopee.
- To prevent spillage when pouring the puréed fruit into the popsicle molds, use a funnel.
- If you have no popsicle molds, you can use small paper cups. Fill the cups until almost near the top. Cover the cups tightly with aluminum foil. Cut small thin slits on the foil and insert a popsicle stick into each slit.
- Popsicle sticks are available in large groceries and supermarkets.