Still on a robot kick from playing with a stackable set of Robo Measuring Cups, I couldn’t resist pointing out Cuisipro Robot Ice Pop Molds, which make a set of six robot-shaped popsicles. I am a fan of the Cuisipro popsicle molds in general, and these are no exception. Made of sturdy plastic, the popsicles snap into a tray that holds them perfectly upright as they freeze, ensuring that you get an evenly frozen popsicle. The robots are fairly wide compared to most other popsicle designs, but the stick has a built-in drip guard that should help contain any mess that results as the robot defrosts (especially in the hands of kids who might be playing with their robot as they eat!). As fun as the robots are, my favorite thing about these molds are the sticks themselves. Each one has a gear design on the end that goes into the popsicle and a wrench shape on the handle side. It’s those little details that take these pops over the top and make them really fun to fill and eat.
Paletas are Latin American ice pops made with fresh fruit along with fresh fruit juice and sometimes cream and served on a stick, just like a popsicle. I used to only see these pops sold from small ice cream carts in parks, but they have really exploded in popularity over the past few years and now you can find several different brands in the ice cream section of just about any market or grocery store. In Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & Aguas Frescas, you’ll find dozens of recipes for authentic paletas that you can make at home, as well as recipes for several other types of popular, refreshing Latin American treats and drinks.
The introduction for the book covers the history of paletas, gives a little insight into why they’re so popular and also introduces tips and techniques for getting good results. The first chapter of the book serves up the ice pop recipes. All of them are clearly written with easy instructions, and most have incredibly short ingredient lists with healthy, natural ingredients that will undoubtedly inspire you to make a batch even before you finish flipping through the book. The paletas recipes range from those using fresh strawberries, watermelon and other common fruits to those using less common ingredients, such as hibiscus, tomato and avocado. There are also quite a few recipes that have a splash of alcohol for adults, and several that are nut or dairy based, rather than fruit-based.
As good as the pop recipes are, I definitely appreciated the section of the book on aguas frescas, refreshing fruit and juice coolers that I order often when out at some of my favorite Mexican and Latin restaurants, but have only rarely had a chance to try at home. The granita-like raspados are also easy to make and enjoyable to eat, with instructions that are just as simple as the pop recipes. The book is full of beautiful pictures that make the paletas look like works of art, thanks not only to the clarity of the images, but to the wonderfully vibrant colors of these authentic Mexican frozen treats.
If you grew up during the 1980s – or shopped for candy any time during that decade – you probably saw bright, shiny jewel-shaped Ring Pops on the candy aisle. They were lollipops that looked as good as they tasted, and were an instant hit with their fun and fashionable design. They still sell Ring Pops, and though it may seem like their heyday was during the years after their initial release, the design is as good an idea as ever. It even appears to have inspired the design for Tovolo’s Frozen Jewel Ice Pop Molds.
These popsicles are shaped like gigantic gemstones, and each one is mounted on a short stick set with a ring, rather than a more common stick or other handle. Each of the rings has a drip tray built into it, so your hand won’t get covered in fruit juice or other sticky stuff while you enjoy your treat – and that alone is more than you can say for most popsicles. Most Tovolo popsicle molds come with a stand where the popsicles can set up while being held up and these are no exception. The stand doesn’t take up much room in the freezer, though once the pops are set, you can remove the stand and store them anywhere they’ll fit. The design will definitely still appeal to kids, just like the candy ring pops do, but these are a cute, fun pop mold for adults, too, and I can easily see a batch of them making an appearance at a summertime cocktail party!
There are many fun and interesting popsicle molds out there that you can use to make homemade popsicles or fudgsicles at home. There aren’t too many like these Norpro Silicone Ice Pop Molds, however, and that is what originally attracted me to them. These silicone sleeves don’t require any popsicle sticks. Instead, you simply fill up the silicone tube with your popsicle mixture (or plain fruit juice) and freeze, then squeeze the tube from the bottom to push up the pop!
I always loved push pops as a kid and so I was looking forward to giving these molds a try after I picked up a package. Each of the sleeves comes with a cap that seals the popsicle securely, so no liquid seeps out while the pops freeze, even if you store them on their side in the freezer. The nonstick silicone made for a very clean release and I was easily able to squeeze my frozen pops out of the sleeves immediately after taking them out of the freezer. The only downside is that the set only comes with four molds, and these are so fun to eat and serve that I wouldn’t mind having more – but that is easily remedied with another set.
Eating a popsicle on a hot summer day is a great way to cool down, and wearing a t-shirt printed with a big popsicle design will also help keep you cool – although you still might want the real popsicle to go along with it. This Summertime Treat t-shirt features a huge chocolate-dipped, multi-flavored popsicle on a bright blue background. There is even a little joke printed on the “stick” of the popsicle – although unfortunately, you can’t eat the rest of the pop to find out the punchline. I picked up two of these cute Threadless t-shirts (which are now out of print) some time ago to give away and never got around to it. But better late than never – especially when it comes to a giveaway!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment with your favorite type of popsicle or ice cream bar – whether it is a simple fruit juice pop or a decadent chocolate-dipped number – below. The contest ends Sunday at midnight (7/10/2011) and two winners will be randomly selected from the entries. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Here are a few homeade popsicle recipes for inspiration:
Update: Thanks for playing, everyone. This contest is now closed. Congrats to Shannon and Lisa on their wins!
