Make healthier frozen treats using your favorite fruit juices.
Kids and adults alike enjoy frozen Popsicles in the hot summer months, but parents concerned with the nutritional value of snacks may wish for a healthier alternative. Not only is making your own frozen juice pops a way to get extra nutrients into your family's diet, it can also save you money. If you have a juicer, you can even sneak fresh vegetables into your homemade Popsicles, and your kids will be none the wiser.
Instructions
1. Prepare 1 cup of the juice or juices of your choice. Juice your own fruits and veggies in a juicer and strain the juice through a coffee filter to remove the foam and pulp. Try juicing apples, pears and grapes and adding a splash of lemon or lime juice after straining. Squeeze fresh oranges with a glass hand juicer, or prepare frozen juice concentrate using half the water you would normally use.
2. Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and add 1/2 cup of sugar to create a simple syrup. The addition of the syrup helps prevent homemade juice pops from forming ice crystals. Stir the sugar into the water until it is dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool to room temperature.
3. Puree a 12-oz. bag of frozen berries in a food processor. Raspberries, strawberries and blueberries or a berry blend work well.
4. Combine the juice, sugar syrup and berry puree in a pitcher. Stir the mixture for 30 seconds or until all the ingredients are mixed. Pour the mixture into ice pop molds and freeze it overnight.
5. Run hot water over the molds just before serving to help free the frozen ice pops.
Tags: frozen juice, into your, juice pops
