Sally from our Kitchen Council is sharing a simple, kid-friendly cherry recipe with you that’s perfect for making on a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Does anything say ‘summer’ more than a sweet, drippy popsicle? It’s my boys’ favorite warm-weather treat, one that gets them running to the kitchen with excitement. It’s also a perfect dessert for backyard parties and cookouts, sure to please the little and big people around your table.

I like to make my own ice pops. Not only is it less expensive than buying a box, but I can also control what all goes in. So I know we won’t be getting any artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, or other ingredients I’m not wild about. In fact, I actually use homemade ice pops to add extra nutrition to our diets.

These Cherry Vanilla Cheesecake Popsicles look and taste indulgent but are packed with wholesome ingredients: lots of fresh whole, sweet Stemilt cherries, which are loaded with fiber, vitamin C and potassium plus low-fat yogurt and fat-free milk for bone-building calcium. As a bonus, they fill your craving for one of the best summer desserts and you don’t even have to whip up your favorite cherry cheesecake recipe!

A few notes about this recipe:

• I’ve kept some cherry chunks swirled throughout because I like fruit pops with big pieces of real fruit inside. But you can also puree all of the cherries to have a smoother consistency.
• I tested this recipe with both low-fat milk, yogurt, and cream cheese and full-fat versions, and it worked equally well. So feel free to use what you have on hand.
• To really wow your crowd, add a little graham cracker crust layer to the bottom of each pop (see recipe). Or simply leave it off.

Categorized in: Recipes