Frozen Chocolate and Fruit Veggie Pops in Baggies
Ahh....the merry month of May! Even though it's packed end-of-the-year school events, several work projects and travel, I couldn't be happier to see the calendar turn with the promise of summer right around the corner.
Which puts me in the mood for fresh produce and cold treats which is why I chose these Chocolate Pops and Fruit & Veggie Pops in Baggies for this month's Secret Recipe Club from my assigned blog of Denise at From Brazil to You.
I was giddy when I got assigned to Denise. She has some of the most beautiful, bright photography and enticing recipes - many from her home country of Brazil but global dishes as well. Plus, she's a friendly and supportive presence in the blogosphere - I do hope I get to meet her in person someday (perhaps a Secret Recipe Club potluck down the line??)
Anyway, it was hard to decide what to make as each one of her recipes were appealing - just some I'll be revisiting:
Brazilian Cheese Rolls with Kalamata, Basil & Feta
Sunshiny Mango Upside Down Cake
Ravioli Soup
Caipirinha - Brazil's National Drink!
But ultimately, it came back to summer eats and I was intrigued at the idea of making popsicles in baggies. Apparently, this is a common treat in Brazil and while eating them was a bit messy and we needed a cloth napkin to avoid frozen hands, my 6 year old was definitely on board with these!
(Update: See Denise's comment below on how to correctly eat these for less mess by cutting a small hole in the corner and sucking out the pop little by little!)
I also LOVE the idea of combining fruit & veggies in popsicles (I am a dietitian after all.) And with the popularity of both the juicing and green smoothie craze, why not freeze those concoctions, too? Denise's carrot, orange and watermelon combo was refreshing and delicious.....and who can resist frozen chocolate?
I tweaked each recipe reducing the sweeteners and some of the fat but keeping all the flavor. Here are my versions:
PrintFrozen Chocolate Pops in Baggies
- Yield: 8 popsicles. 1x
Ingredients
- 4 cups 1% low-fat milk
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 8 ounces fat-free condensed milk (a little more than ½ of a 14 ounce can)
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a blender, whip together milk, cocoa, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla extract.
- Pour into 8 (10 x 3-inch) treat bags (I use Pretzel Rod bags from Wilton.) Knot each bag where the pop ends. Freeze overnight.
- To eat, snip the corner end of the bag to push out the pop to eat little by little.
Notes
Adapted from Denise @ From Brazil To You's Frozen Chocolate Pops in Baggies
Frozen Fruit & Veggie Pops in Baggies (Watermelon, Orange & Carrot)
- Yield: 8 popsicles. 1x
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups chopped seedless watermelon, without rind
- 2 ½ cups orange juice
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can no salt added sliced carrots (or if you have a powerful blender you can use about 1 ⅓ cup raw chopped carrots)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- In a blender, puree watermelon, orange juice, carrots, lime juice and honey until well blended.
- Pour into 8 (10 x 3-inch) treat bags (I use Pretzel Rod bags from Wilton.) Knot each bag where the pop ends. Freeze overnight.
- To eat, snip the end of the bag and push up the pop while eating.
Notes
Adapted from Denise @ From Brazil To You's Fruit & Veggie Pops in Baggies
I'm looking forward to experimenting with some other fruit & veggie pop combos and making these Avocado Lime Popsicles and Pina Colada Popsicles in baggies next time.
What are your favorite foods/recipes to get into the summer mood? Have you ever made a fruit & veggie popsicle - please share!
Hi, Deanna! Thank you so much for your sweet words. You are always so kind... I'd love to meet you in person as well!
The way that we eat these pops in a baggie in Brazil is different than the one shown above. We do not open the frozen bag -- rather we cut off one of the bottom corners of the bag (either right or left), sucking little by little the pop. 🙂 This way, it is not messy at all !!! Yes, if one is not used to, he/she will need to use a napkin to hold a frozen pop. 🙂 I am so used to that I can hold mine with bare hands.
I have not found in the US so far the same plastic bags sold in Brazil. The Brazilian bags are narrow and long yet smaller than the ones used for American pops in a baggie. These homemade pops have the same concept from the ones sold at American supermarkets. I don't like the store-bought pops in a baggie because they contain coloring and preservatives. I much prefer to give my children the homemade ones. Another advantage is that we can also customize their flavor.
Well, wishing you a wonderful week!
Thanks for clearing that up - I knew it was a bit awkward because we didn't have the same baggies you get in Brazil but cutting off one of the corners makes so much more sense. We have a few left to do it the correct way 🙂 Thanks again for providing such a fun recipe!
Wow, these are amazing! I mean, with the very unpredictable weather that we're having lately, it's good to have something healthy frozen up in the fridge and waiting to be served. I especially like how this could also be interesting to children. They tend to stray away from the good stuff and just prefer colorful food that don't actually do anything good to them. Great idea! - Alice
What a great alternative to the skinny frozen pops in plastic at the store! Those are basically just sugar and water - these offer some nutrition! Woot! And I'm totally down for an SRC potluck - that would be AWESOME.
And they are so easy to make - I know we'll be making these all summer. I know, how much fun would a SRC potluck be? I'd host it but I want to go somewhere fun - ha!
What a unique idea! I would definitely go for the chocolate ones myself!
With your blog's name, you are obligated to like the chocolate ones, right?? They are really yummy - the touch of condensed milk makes them delish 🙂
Yum - these pops with condensed milk sound addicting!
Yes - they are really tasty! I cut back on some of the sugar/fat/calories but wanted to keep in some of the condensed milk to keep that caramel-like flavor 🙂
What a great way to get a fussy eater to eat veggies. I want the chocolate ones for me.
I like how you think - chocolate for the mamas and fruit/veggies for the kids 🙂
These Popsicles sound sound delicious, especially the watermelon/carrot one. Love all your recipes. Great SRC post and thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
Thanks so much Stephanie - it was such fun to see how you improved our Limeade!
What a super cleaver way to make a traditional popsicle! Love them! Glad to be part of SRC group C with you!
Thanks Lisa - right back at you - really enjoy your blog 🙂
Brilliant!! These are sure to be a summer hit. Thanks for choosing this for SRC! Totally trying -
Let me know if you make them how they turn out 🙂
Visiting from Group B here, and gotta say, Chocolate Pops, WooHoo. These are now on my list of must make soon recipes.
Hww fun! My kids will get a kick out of these frozen treats and so simple for me to make! We need all the cool treats we can get here in Phoenix!
Yes, I guess it's been summer for a few months already in your neck of the woods 🙂 I'm off to check out your amazing sounding grilled pineapple recipe!
What about adding banana to the chocolate one. Yet another serving of fruit. Can't wait to try them.
Love LOVE the idea of adding banana to the chocolate - definitely doing that with the next batch I made - thanks for the idea 🙂 Let me know if you try them out!
My two-year-old would LOVE these. I haven't yet introduced him to popsicles, but I'm totally trying this when I do. He'll go nuts for these!
YES! I'm already thinking of some new combos for my daughter - avocado, pineapple, berry 🙂
Great idea. I love watermelon, but sometimes can't get the kids to eat it fast enough. This would be a brilliant way to use up half a melon quickly.
Yes! Watermelon carrot would probably be a tasty combo too!