Cooling off with homemade popsicles for the summer

Summer is just around the corner, so you can expect Los Angeles heat waves to be hitting campus right about now. Instead of stretching yourself in front of AC or taking a dip in one of the many fountains on campus, cool off with easy-­to-­make popsicles!

I don’t know about you, but as a kid, in the summer I remember putting random beverages like lemonade and Capri Suns in the freezer when temperatures reached above 80 degrees. The frozen treats and slushies were so easy to make and provided a refreshing way to turn the heat down.

Popsicles can be made with virtually any liquid or yogurt, and you can add whatever additional ingredients you prefer. Last summer, I tried out a green tea popsicle recipe made with coconut milk and matcha green tea powder and loved the cool, creaminess of the popsicle. You can try out with this recipe.

After finding another can of coconut milk at Fresh & Easy and after some brief Pinterest scrolling, I was surprised to find so many popsicle recipes to try out with coconut milk. Though coconuts have had a bad rep in the past due to their high content of saturated fat, coconuts actually have the potential to help in weight loss, boost immune health and improve skin and hair quality, so I decided to try another recipe with coconut milk instead of using the usual fruit juice or yogurt that we are used to freezing.

For this recipe you will only need:

• 1 can of coconut milk
• A sweetener (1⁄4 cup sugar; you can substitute with agave, honey, maple syrup, etc. but might want to use less that 1⁄4 cup)
• Fresh or frozen fruit
• A popsicle mold (or paper cups and craft sticks)

1. Simply whip the thick and creamy milk with your sweetener until well combined and slightly foamy.

2. Place your choice of fruit (I used what I had laying around­bananas and blackberries) into your popsicle molds. Evenly pour the mixture between your molds. (About half of this recipe filled four molds for me.) I topped the molds with a pinch of shredded coconut flakes before placing the handles in.

3. Now pop your mold into the freezer and wait several hours until firm. To easily remove your popsicle from its mold without destroying it, let it thaw slightly, or if you’re impatient like me, run hot water over the mold and handle for a few seconds to loosen the grip.

Popsicles are easy to make and ingredients easily interchangeable. For some other great ideas, check out these popsicle recipes. For something…

• Creamy and tangy, try making the Orange Julius Popsicle.
• Light and fruity, try out the Strawberry-Kiwi Fruit Pop
• Chocolatey with a crunch, try these paleo, vegan, dairy­free, gluten­free Coconut, Salted Caramel and Chocolate Popsicles
• With a caffeine boost? Freeze your leftover coffee for a tasty treat!