Blackberry Yogurt Popsicles

Summertime is popsicle time for kids. Thanks to the great recipes from People’s Pops, they can be a lot healthier than frozen blue Kool-Aid in a pouch. People’s Pops Shoppes in Brooklyn concoct delicious, all-natural, handmade treats that are quite the rage throughout New York City. They use fresh, locally sourced fruits and herbs in their fat-free frozen pops. Now you can have one without a trip to the Big Apple, thanks to their new popsicle recipe book.

The strawberry with balsamic vinegar sounds divine, but we went with the blackberry and yogurt version. Wild blackberries are abundant in many areas from early to mid-summer. They grow along the edges of forests and in the fields. Going blackberry picking is a fun family event. Put on some long sleeves and long pants, a hat, and sunblock on all the noses and head out.

 

Yeah, it’s hot but so worth it! Not only will your popsicles be fat-free, but they will also be practically free. Plain yogurt, sugar, water, a little honey, and lemon juice complete the ingredients for these fresh blackberry popsicles. The kids will love having all their hard work picking blackberries rewarded with these tasty and nutritious pops.

Equipment Required

• Food processor or blender
• Good strainer (for removing seeds from fruit)
• Funnel (for pouring liquid into the molds)
• Popsicle molds

Ingredients

• 3 and 1/2 cups blackberries, wild or from a produce market
• 2/3 cup cane sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

1. Use sugar and water to make simple syrup. Add sugar to water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
2. Stir until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool
3. In three batches, puree the blackberries in a food processor or blender. Strain out seeds with a strainer.
4. Return pureed blackberries to blender or food processor. Blend in the yogurt and simple sugar.
5. Add the lemon juice and honey. Blend well.
6. Funnel the mixture into popsicle molds.
7. Freeze for 4-5 hours. Remove and unmold. Enjoy!

 

More Fruit Options

• Fresh peaches and nectarines in season can be used as the fruit in this same recipe. Just puree them and skip the step of straining the seeds.
• Raspberries and strawberries should make tasty pops as well. Like blackberries, the seeds will need to be strained out.
• Blueberries are another great choice. Use a little less of the simple syrup because blueberries are naturally sweeter than most fruits.

 

10 Blackberry Facts for Kids

1. Blackberries are bright red before they are ripe.
2. Blackberries ripen in stages all through the summer.
3. Some species grow as tall as an adult.
4. Other species grow along the ground.
5. Some people call them dewberries.
6. Each tiny berry in the cluster has its own seed.
7. Native Americans ate blackberries for thousands of years.
8. Deer love to eat the leaves on the blackberry bush.
9. The U.S. state of Oregon is the world leader in producing blackberries.
10. Blackberry bushes have thorns to protect the fruit from animals.