Andre Martin
Once upon a time, all you needed for a homemade icy pole was a fizzy soft drink or flavoured cordial. We’ve moved on since then (thankfully!) but these healthier, sophisticated versions are just as quick and easy to make with as few as three ingredients, which we bet you already have in your kitchen. Think nuts, fruit, herbs and common baking ingredients like chocolate, desiccated coconut and vanilla bean. These icy-cold sweet treats are so easy to make, we guarantee you’ll be enjoying their cooling effects all summer long.
Mango coconut pops (above)
Put 1 1/4 cups frozen mango pieces, juice of 1 lime and 2 tsp natural coconut essence in a food processor and puree. Spoon into shot glasses or small glasses about 1/4 cup capacity. Insert a halved paddle pop stick into each and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from glasses and roll in desiccated coconut just before serving. Makes 4.
Quick tip Depending on the natural sweetness of the mango you’re using, you might want to add a teaspoon or two of icing sugar or honey to sweeten these.
Fruit salad pops
Fill your favourite ice-block moulds 3/4 full with a variety of sliced seasonal fruit and mint leaves. Fill moulds with passionfruitflavoured soft drink. Insert paddle pop sticks and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. Makes as many as you like.
Frozen banana pops
Peel 3 bananas and cut each in half widthwise. Insert a paddle pop stick into cut end and arrange on a tray lined with baking paper. Freeze for 8 hours or overnight. Dip in or drizzle with melted milk chocolate and scatter with chopped pistachios – or simply leave them nude. Freeze again for 30 minutes. Decorate with messages on the exposed paddle pop sticks just before serving. Makes 6.
Raspberry vanilla ice-creams
Put 1 3/4 cups vanilla ice-cream in a large bowl and stir until softened. Put 1/2 cup thawed frozen raspberries and 1 tsp vanilla bean paste in a small bowl and stir to combine. Spoon heaped teaspoons of mixtures, alternating between the two, into four 1/3 cup-capacity ice-block moulds. Insert a paddle pop stick into each and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. Makes 4.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
