Memorial Day Weekend is just a few days away and to us, it is the inauguration of Summer BBQs. When we think of BBQs we think grilled food, refreshing drinks and desserts that cool you down. And what’s better than having a delicious, but healthy ice pop to cool you down after a long hot day? We were tired of the sugar bombs of ice pops that were sold at grocery stores which contain artificial ingredients and unnecessary additives, so we decided to start making our own. The first one we are presenting is a spin on our childhood favorite, the orange creamsicle!
Our Vegan Orange Creamsicle is made which just FOUR ingredients! We used canned coconut as the base to make it extra creamy. Many people are instantly turned off by canned coconut milk due to the high-fat content it contains. But they should fear no more because it is filled with many health benefits and the fact it contains can actually help with weight loss. About half the fat in coconuts comes from a medium-chain fatty acid (MCTs) called lauric acid. Unlike longer-chain fats, MCTs go from the digestive tract directly to the liver, where they’re used for energy. They are therefore less likely to be stored as fat. Lauric acid also linked with improved cholesterol levels and heart health. On top of that, coconut milk is an excellent source of minerals, such as manganese, iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
We, of course, added in the juice, pulp, and zest from fresh oranges. By doing this, we boosted the nutrient value of these delicious treats. Oranges have Vitamin C but by using the pulp as well as the juice, we kept the fiber in there too. We opted not to use store-bought orange juice since we found it usually comes from concentrated oranges and squeezing your own oranges is way more cost efficient than buying “fresh squeezed” orange juice. The citrus of the orange juice and zest makes this ice pop so refreshing! Since the coconut milk isn’t necessarily sweet, we added a touch of maple syrup and vanilla extract and let us tell you, it is the perfect addition!
This is a treat that your kids will love, but to make it more appealing to adults we drizzled the ice pops with dark chocolate and sprinkled chopped almonds and cacao nibs on top. You will wow all of your guest with these gourmet style ice pops. After making these ice pops you will never want to buy popsicles at the store again!
Ingredients:
1 can full-fat coconut milk- entire can – liquid and all
1/2 cup Maple Syrup
1/4 t vanilla extract
3 oranges – juice and pulp
zest of one orange
Popsicle molds – we found ours at Whole Foods
Toppings: dark chocolate, chopped nuts, coconut (optional)
Instructions:
1.) Empty entire can of coconut milk, maple syrup, extract, oranges and zest into a high-speed blender. Blend until all incorporated. Taste and adjust to your liking.
2.) Carefully pour into the popsicle molds and place in the freezer overnight.
3.) When you are ready to enjoy your ice pop, melt some chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between so you don’t burn the chocolate. Be sure not to get any water in the melted chocolate as it will seize up and be useless.
4.) Place the mold under warm water to release the ice pop from the mold. Place on wax paper and working quickly, drizzle the melted chocolate over the ice pops and sprinkle your toppings of choice. Now, sit back and enjoy your delicious ice pop!!
