Berry-Coconut Popsicles

It always seems like if I make a recipe for a good, hot summer day, then the day that I actually post it is cold again. I've been wearing dresses for about two weeks straight, and today I'm back in jeans and a sweater.

Welcome to upstate NY.

In any case, the day we made and actually had these popsicles, it was very nice out! Too warm, actually, for an apartment with no AC. Hopefully you're reading this from somewhere that is still a little too warm and you could use something to cool you down.

Like these:

I found the actual popsicle molds at an outlet/discount mall for $2. $2! I had looked at several other stores with no luck--apparently there are few stores in NY that assume that we would have any need for popsicle molds.

But warm days are coming, again, and hopefully one of these days they'll stick around. It is May, after all.

Let's get down to it:

Prep time: 10 minutes

Freeze time: 6 hours + (overnight is best)

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1/2 can coconut water
~1 - 1 1/2 cups frozen berry mix

Yup, that's it.

Directions:

1) Grab your popsicle molds.

Fill about 1/2 of the way with coconut water.

Those little floating white things are the "pulp," just little coconut chunks.

2) Plop in your berries--gently! Since they're frozen they like to stay together even after you initially break them apart, so they might need a helping hand settling. Meaning, be prepared to  shove them a little farther into the popsicle mold.

3) Fill just about to the end of the mold, and top off with a teensy bit more coconut water. Add the lids, making sure to fully seal them (or else the popsicle won't stick to them), and freeze.

4) When it's time to remove them, they can be awful stubborn. I always run the outsides of the popsicle molds under warm to medium-hot tap water to loosen them up a little, then rock the handles back and forth until the popsicles decide to come loose.

If you're too rough, the popsicle sticks might just dislodge and you won't have a popsicle at all -- just a very large berry ice cube that you have to fish out.

Aren't they pretty?

Since Hubby and I are trying to eat healthier, we didn't add any extra sugar (The coconut water already has a lot), so the berries can be a little sour. If you want a more traditional-tasting popsicle, I would recommend blending the berries with the coconut water and adding a little sugar or honey.

We liked these just fine, though.

They all look a little different, depending on how many berries you managed to convince to get in there.

Come on warm days! I want an excuse to make some more!

Enjoy!