Smoothie ice lollies

According to the calendar, summer is here. According to the weather Gods… not so much =) At least not in London. Here it’s just muggy. Which means it’s still hot/warm, the sun just isn’t exactly shining upon us.

Summer equals ice cream

To me, summer equals salad for lunch, dinner and fresh vegetables in between. There’s just something about this season that makes you want to eat more greens, swap the warm coffee for an iced latte and not to forget eating LOTS of ice cream. Although ice cream is one of the better options to chose when going to satisfy your sweet tooth because it’s made from dairy ie. a natural product vs. wine gums for example which is made from unnatural ingredients.

What’s the benefit of eating ice cream?

The nutritional content of ice cream varies among brands and types, in general it is an excellent source of energy. Ice cream is rich in carbohydrate, with about 15 grams in a one-half-cup serving. A serving also contains about 7 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein, making it an energy-dense food. Ice cream is a good choice when you need energy or if you are pursuing a program to gain weight. Always go for products that use real milk and not vegetable oil/fat.

A Good Source of Minerals

Ice cream is also a dietary source of two important minerals. It is particularly rich in calcium and phosphorus, with about 10% of the adult recommended dietary allowance. Both calcium and phosphorus promote strong, healthy bones. However, consuming plenty of calcium, but not phosphorus, wouldn’t do your bones much good. While good amounts of these nutrients don’t make ice cream a health food, as it also contains lots and lots of sugar, you can consider them a modest perk when you do indulge.

Celebrate summer (or any day, really) with these yummy coconut cream smoothie ice lollies. They're super easy to make and doesn't require an ice machine.

2 cups mixed berries (I used fresh strawverries, frozen raspberries and a few blueberries)
1 ripe banana (medium to large )
2 tbsp agave syrup
1 cup coconut cream (the thick bit)
1 cup (dairy free) milk I used oat milk ((alternatively you can use 2 cups of coconut cream))

Chocolate topping

100 g Ruby chocolate with raspberries
100 g dark chocolate ((I used 100% dark but you can use 70-85% if you prefer))
3 tsp freeze dried raspberries to sprinke
3 tsp pistacious, crushed to sprinkle

Mix all the ingredients in a blender until you have a thick, creamy smoohie texture.
Pour into the ice lollie moulds with the stick already inserted.
Put in the freezer and let them freeze for at least 5-6 hours or until the next day.

Chocolate Topping

Melt half of each of the chocolates gently in the microwave. 20 seconds. Stir. 20 seconds. Stir etc. Then add the rest of the chocolate and stir. Give it another 20 seconds if not completely melted.
Then you simply dip the now frozen ice lollies in the chocolate or scoop it around the top using a small spoon.
Sprinkle the dark chocolate ones with crushes pistacios and the ruby chocolate with freeze-dried raspberries.
The chocolate will set instantly because of the cold temperature from the ice, so you can eat them immediately or put back in the freezer and enjoy at any time =)