A healthy sweet summer treat: Raspbery-Vanilla-Coconut-Chia Popsicles with Raw Chocolate Cover
This weekend we tried and tested a very delicious and super healthy popsicle recipe: Rasperry-Vanilla-Coconut-Chia Popsicles with Raw Chocolate Cover. As you know I am always on the lookout for healthy recipes that are simple to make with and for my whole family. So I was delighted when I found this recipe, as a healthy “ice cream” alternative and immediately tried and tested it with my girls.
These popsicles are super easy and fast to make, and as you can see below, not only I couldn’t wait to have my first bite, but also my kids absolutely LOVE them! The dark chocolate cover gives you this “Magnum” Ice Cream feeling. The filling is made with Chia seeds. These tiny black seeds that natively grow in South America, are making a huge comeback as a modern-day superfood. They used to be an important food for the Aztecs and Mayans back in the days, known for their ability to provide sustainable energy.
“Chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.” Being among the healthiest foods on the planet, they have become so popular that they are now consumed by health conscious people all over the world. Chia seeds are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, that can have important benefits for your body and brain. They are an excellent source of essential fatty acids, having more omega -3 than, for example, salmon, but with very few calories. Chia is also a complete protein and a great source of calcium, potassium, and fiber. They can help regulate blood sugar, provide long-lasting energy and curb your appetite.
Chia seeds are very easy to incorporate into your diet. Since the seeds themselves taste very neutral, you can basically add them to everything. Add them to your smoothies & juices, müesli, yoghurt, bread, salads, cakes, muffins, and even to your icecreams and…popsticles ( always a great way to sneak them into your kid’s diet).
These chia popsicles are the perfect healthy treat for hot summer days. They will satisfy your sweet cravings, and they are absolutely family proof! (Which means, besides myself also my kids and my husband love them. The images below are the best proof!)
Ingredients:
Makes 4-5 Popsicles
Filling
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup coconut milk
2 teaspoons raw sweetener of your choice ( maple syrup, honey, raw agave syrup, coconut nectar, date syrup, stevia…)
¼ teaspoon vanilla bean
¾ cup frozen raspberries, chopped into small pieces
Raw Chocolate Cover
½ cup raw cacao butter
⅓ cup raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons raw sweetener of your choice (see above)
pinch of himalayan salt
pinch of Vanilla
Preparation:
1. Combine all ingredients for the popsicle filling into a bowl, mix well and place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
2. Once the Chia seeds have absorbed all the liquid and have transformed into a pudding, stir the mixture again, until you get a smooth, creamy consistency.
3. Pour the filling into popsicle moulds, or silicone moulds of any shape and put them into the freezer for an hour.
4.Once the filling is solid, but still soft enough, put the wooden sticks into the middle of the forms, and put them back into the freezer until they are completely frozen.
5. For the raw chocolate cover, cut the raw cacao butter into small pieces and place into a small bowl.
6. Slowly melt the raw cacao butter over low heat by using a bain-marie or a double boiler. Be careful to do this over low heat not more than 42 ° C to avoid overheating, which will destroy all the living enzymes in the raw ingredients.
6. Once cacao butter is melted, add sweetener of your choice , raw cacao powder and if you like a pinch of Vanilla and Himalayan salt.
7. Stir the mixture with a fork until it is well combined and smooth.
8. Dip the popsicles into the melted raw chocolate mixture, help with a spoon to drizzle over every part, and decorate with freeze-dried or frozen raspberries. The chocolate cover will harden immediately from the cold of the frozen inside.
9. Enjoy straight away, or put them back into the freezer and safe for later (…which I find really hard:-))
(click on the images, to see in full size)
The credit for this recipe goes to secretsquirrelfood, a food blog I discovered through Instagram. Check out her blog, it’s gorgeous.
Have a wonderful day, as always I am happy to read your comments and feedback!
