Strawberry Banana Popsicles (with yogurt)

These fresh and fruity homemade Strawberry Banana Popsicles have just 4 simple ingredients and are nutritious wholesome fruit treats to beat the heat during the Summer months. I make these every week for me and my kids and they are so delicious with a bit of creamy yogurt and a touch of maple syrup. If you love these, check out my Mango Popsicles and Chocolate Banana Fudge Popsicles too!

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Easy to make - all you need to do is add all ingredients to your blender and mix until smooth!
• Healthy fruit popsicles - with just 4 simple wholesome ingredients, these popsicles are good for you. You can even make them with no added sugar be omitting the maple syrup and they will still be delicious.
• Great for toddlers and kids - I make a batch every week for my kids and they get so excited for this "treat" and I feel good about serving it to them.

INGREDIENTS FOR STRAWBERRY BANANA POPSICLES

• Strawberries - you can use fresh or frozen strawberries, however I recommend frozen berries since it will keep the mixture cold so that it freezes more quickly for a smoother texture.
• Banana - choose a really ripe, spotty banana which will have the most sweetness and a softer texture. It will of course help sweeten the popsicles and also make a 'creamier' texture.
• Yogurt - I use Balkan style full fat plain yogurt which has 6% milkfat. You can also use Greek yogurt or even low fat yogurt. With higher fat, the popsicles will be slightly softer and with low fat yogurt they will be icier like an ice pop.
• Maple syrup - this is optional and it adds just a touch of sweetness to make these ice pops perfect! The natural liquid sugar will also help with the texture to make them silkier. You can leave it out if you prefer sugar free popsicles.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

• STEP 1). Blend all ingredients. Peel the banana and add 120g of flesh to a high speed blender. Add strawberries, yogurt, maple syrup and water and blend on high for about 40 seconds until it is very smooth.
• STEP 2). Fill molds. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, filling them nearly all the way to the top and insert sticks. If using a mold with a stick shield (as in these photos) then you can place it on straight away. If using wooden sticks, I recommend freezing for about 10 minutes first so the fruit mixture can firm up slightly, then insert sticks so that they hold upright in the center.
• STEP 3). Freeze. Place the molds in the freezer and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight until frozen solid.
• STEP 4). Release and serve. When ready to eat, run the mold under warm water for a minute, turning the mold to hit all sides. Grab a stick and twist gently to see if the popsicle is coming loose. If there is still a lot of resistance, run the mold under warm water again until it comes loose.

EXPERT TIPS

• Fill molds all the way to the top if using a mold with a reusable stick with a shield so there is no gap at the bottom and they release easily.
• Run molds under warm water to unmold the popsicles so they release easily and cleanly.
• Use frozen fruit. You can use bagged frozen strawberries or place your hulled fresh strawberries and sliced bananas in the freezer for 30 minutes before making the popsicles so the mixture is cold and it will freeze faster to form smaller ice crystals for the best texture. Slow freezing is what causes large crystals to form which makes the texture less appealing.
• Freeze the popsicles for 10 minutes before inserting wooden sticks so that the mixture thickens up a bit to hold the stick in the center instead of it leaning over to one side.

TOOLS YOU NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE POPSICLES

• Popsicle mold - you can also use these stainless steel popsicle molds if you don't want to use plastic. I also love these silicone molds that come with wooden sticks and these ones with reusable sticks are especially great for toddlers.
• High speed blender - I absolutely love this Cuisinart blender. It is so powerful with a strong motor. I think it's just as good as a VitaMix and more than half the price.

RECIPE FAQ

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