Summer has arrived and our house has become the neighborhood hangout. The kids gather on our trampoline with the sprinklers on for a refreshing cool down and plenty of active, healthy play.
With all that activity I keep food available from morning until night. From the moment they arrive until dinner time—when many of them stick around for the evening meal—I’m constantly setting out snacks and lunch. They’re a hungry, energetic bunch.
To keep them fueled between meals, I’ve been making large batches of these naturally sweetened, protein-packed popsicles adapted from Amy Green’s cookbook Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free. I made a big batch last night and they were all gone the next day. Amy’s popsicle idea is brilliant.
Why do I like serving these popsicles to the boys and their friends? First, they include almond butter for protein and healthy fats. Second, they contain antioxidant-rich unsweetened cacao (or cocoa) powder. And finally, they’re sweetened with fruit, not refined sugar. Below is my version of Amy’s recipe — the kids loved it and I think you will too.
Chocolate Almond Butter Popsicles
Ingredients
- 2 large bananas
- ¼ cup creamy roasted almond butter
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla stevia or other preferred natural sweetener (optional)
Instructions
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Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash more water to reach pourable consistency.
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Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, insert holders or wooden sticks, and level the tops.
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Freeze for at least eight hours, or overnight, until fully set.
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To serve, briefly run the molds under warm water to loosen the popsicles, then enjoy.
Equipment
These Paleo-friendly popsicles make a perfect snack on hot days. Amy’s cookbook is full of many other healthy, gluten-free recipes that complement a sugar-free approach.
Some recipes in her book are similar to mine, while others use ingredients I typically avoid—such as quinoa and oats—because I follow a mostly Paleo approach that excludes grains. For those who avoid grains, these popsicles are an easy, crowd-pleasing treat.