Blueberry Basil Martini Pops

Make fun popsicles for summer even more fun by making these Blueberry Basil Martini Pops; an adult treat with vodka!

You might think that after my fiasco with making Raspberry Margarita Pops a couple of weeks ago that I would shy away from boozy popsicles; you know, the old ‘fear of failure.’ First of all…if a little failure stopped me I would never bake again since I live at altitude so failure doesn’t hold me hostage; only makes me more determined!

The truth is, the end result of that snafu was so delightful that I never felt I had failed, I just felt I had learned something. Sometimes too much of a good thing is simply too much and in that case it was tequila. I knew I was running that risk and so I’m ready to jump back on that horse…with someone else’s recipe!

I won’t deny…when I saw Sylvie at Gourmande in the Kitchen do a post giving away some cocktail books, I was all over it. I commented and tweeted and think I called her and offered my firstborn (she is 32; I guess I should have checked with her first?).

Sadly I did not win any of those books but that frown was soon turned upside down. In a most generous gesture, Sylvia contacted me and asked if I would like to have contact info for the resource that gave her those books. In my most eloquent voice I’m sure I quickly said, ‘Duh, yeah!’

It was painless; the synergy was evident and the company was generous so beyond the Blueberry Basil Martini Pop, take a look at these fabulous books; they are all great!

The titles link to the books available on Amazon; they are affiliate links.

Slushed! (F+W Media, April 2012)

It was certainly an Aha! moment when I realized that I tweet with the author of this book, Jessie Cross (@thehungrymouse). Jesse actually suggested the blueberry pops when I mentioned I would love to make a popsicle for this post; it was such a great choice.

I can’t begin to explain how fantastic blueberry and basil are together…you MUST try this recipe!  This book has sections for  ice pops, ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, semifreddo, granita, sorbet, ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes, all with their own tipsy bent.

There are so many fabulous recipes I could easily make one every day of the summer; while having an ice cream maker is necessary for some of the desserts, many have been developed needing only the cold of your freezer.

Pops, granitas and sorbets are sometimes the most refreshing treat in the midst of the hottest part of summer and there is a great selection to keep you cooled off all summer long. I can not wait to make my next treat; of course I will absolutely be sharing that with you!

 Edible Cocktails (F+W Media, April 2012)

Although this book is not about making your own booze, the author, Natalie Bovis encourages readers to plant your own cocktail garden and use those fresh seasonal ingredients to infuse spirits and create homemade syrups and purees.

The book is filled with tips, tricks, and recipes for making extraordinary drinks with fresh ingredients.

Not just a book introducing you to the beauty of herbs, you’ll also learn about some unique infusions that include dairy and meat; sounds crazy but with titles like Smoked Bacon Washed Bourbon you’ll lose your skepticism as quickly as I did and get onboard.

There is something for everyone from sweet to savory, from simple to more complicated and a great mix of cocktails using a wide variety of fruits, veggies and herbs.

Never Cook Sober (F+W Media, May 2012)

I know some people might think this book is about me…but really, I put the booze into the foods more than my belly! The authors Stacy Laebs and Sherri Field’s offer us great recipes with a dose of humor. This book is divided into 4 sections dealing with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Desserts.

I already use alcohol in a lot of my cooking; not just wine in stews and sauces but I love bourbon and liqueurs in cakes and other desserts and this book is filled with with some great sweet and savory dishes. All of the recipes include a drink pairing with a toast, some tipsy trivia and a clever quote that often will tickle the funny bone.

All of these books have such great, fun ideas; perfect for a summer read!

PIN IT! ‘Blueberry Basil Popsicles’

Yield: 6 Popsicles

Blueberry Basil Martini Pops

Print

Blueberry Basil Martini Pops are a fun adult treat that are easy to make and delicious for summer events.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Inactive Time 12 hours

Total Time 12 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 & 1/2 cups loosely packed basil leaves
• 4 cups fresh blueberries (I actually did not have enough fresh berries so supplemented with some frozen ones and it was fine)
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup vodka

Instructions

1. Combine the sugar and water together in a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat just until the sugar dissolves. Add the basil and stir. Remove from heat, cover and let cool to room temperature.
2. Strain to remove the basil.
3. Puree the blueberries, lemon juice and basil syrup in a blender or food processor.
4. Strain the mixture through a strainer and mash the solids with a spoon to extracts as much juice as possible. Discard the solids (I like the solids so did not strain mine...it's all about personal preference).
5. Whisk in the vodka.
6. Fill your popsicle molds leaving 1/4" at the top. If inserting wooden sticks into your popsicles, let the mixture freeze for about 45 minutes before inserting the sticks so they won't sink to the bottom of the mold. Freeze overnight.
7. Unmold by rinsing warm water over the individual molds briefly until the popsicle easily slides out. Plate and stick back in the freezer for a few minutes.