Cool down with a cool treat- Popsicles!

Last year at the Tim Tebow Foundation celebrity golf tournament, my strawberry cream stuffed cake pops were the “pop”ular item at my tent.

This year I did a different kind of pop with popsicles. I had to figure out how I was going to be able to serve popsicles outside in the heat with no electricity. Then I discovered the ZOKU popsicle maker (can be found at  www.zokuhome.com ) which makes popsicles in 7 minutes! I did have to do some re configuring because I didn’t have a freezer. To freeze the pop makers, I used dry ice.  Once the pop makers were frozen I let them sit out to bring them up from the negative degrees the dry ice froze it to. The makers were finally ready to go and I filled them with the three base flavors I chose. For this event, I knew that the athletes like to eat healthy so I wanted to create light popsicles.  How did I make them light? by using agave and no cream. I made a strawberry, chocolate fudge, and coconut flavor. With these flavors, I made variations like strawberry cheesecake.

Everyone loved the popsicles from the athletes to the kids.

Chocolate fudge pop Yum!

 

I displayed the popsicles in a black and white speckled tin container filled with ice.

Coconut is my favorite!

Coconut Popsicle 

-1 can lite coconut milk, the top white part only

-1/2 cup coconut water

-3 Tbsp. cream of coconut (light agave can be substituted)

Blend all of the ingredients together until smooth. Chill. Pour into the frozen popsicle maker

wait 7 minutes, and then voila your creamy and icy popsicle is ready to enjoy.

Makes about 3-4 popsicles

Strawberry Popsicle

2 cups whole strawberries, green tops removed

1/2 cup water

5 Tbsp. light agave (less can be used depending on the sweetness of the berries)

Blend all of the ingredients until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Chill. Pour into the frozen popsicle maker, wait 7 minutes, and ready.

Makes about 8 popsicles

Strawberry Cheesecake Pop

Strawberry layer (recipe above)

Cheesecake layer:

8 oz. Greek Cream Cheese (Green Mountain Creamery), softened

1/3 cup or more fat free milk

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

4 Tbsp. light agave

Blend all of the ingredients until smooth. If a thinner consistency for pouring is needed, add more milk.

Pour half of the strawberry layer in the popsicle maker and let freeze for about 2-3 minutes then add the cream cheese layer and allow to freeze for an additional 4-5 minutes or until frozen. Enjoy!

Makes about 12-14 popsicles

Chocolate Fudge Pop

2 Tbsp. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips)

2 Tbsp. vanilla agave (if you don’t have, then add 1 tsp.

1 1/2 tsp. light agave

1 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup whole or 2%milk

pinch fine sea salt

Melt the chocolate chips over medium-low heat in a large saucepan, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens, whisking constantly. Chill mixture in the refrigerator.

Pour into the popsicle maker, wait 7 minutes, and enjoy!

Makes about 4 popsicles