Strawberry, Vanilla Yogurt and Limeade Popsicles
These Strawberry, Vanilla Yogurt and Limeade Popsicles are a cool summer treat combining fresh fruit and sweetened yogurt.
Time again to post for the Secret Recipe Club (details after recipe). This month I was assigned the blog ‘A Pretty Life in the Suburbs‘ – a sometimes food blog that is more that story…the everyday story of life in the burbs, little kids and all. Luckily among all the family projects I spied this recipe for Strawberry, Vanilla Yogurt and Limeade Popsicles.
The site is the story of Jo-Anna and her family; her hubs, one daughter and two sons. The recipes she makes for her family, the detailing of projects she enjoys and sometimes just a moment of life as it is happening and altogether charming. A lifetime ago for me it seems as my youngest just moved into her own place a year ago after finally graduating from college.
My first visit to Jo-Anna’s blog left me just a tiny bit worried about what I would find to prepare. I like making dishes for friends and family that take up a good sized block of time to plan, prepare and serve…I find joy in that exercise.
Jo-Anna is preparing foods more in tune with a young mom and reading her list of recipes took me back to those years and made me smile. Worms in Dirt, Barbecue Beer Roasted Chicken, and this one…a meal from what is leftover in the fridge, Ham and Broccoli Noodle Bake (OK, wait…that could be me today too!).
And then I saw one…the one word that gets me every time. Maple. Maybe I should have been born in Canada, I love, love, love their maple syrup (though, to this day I still call it syrple, a throwback to my youth when that is how I said it, how it’s been joked about and now how I choose to say it today!).
So though I’m not a huge fan of mangoes and love goat cheese more than feta, I decided I would do a take on Jo-Anna’s Maple Vinaigrette.
So Barb…explain then why the title of this post is about strawberry, lime and yogurt popsicles? Well, Ms. Organized that I try to be (but too often feel like it’s really mis-organized), I get my assignment, go straight to my assigned blog, find a dish and setup a dated post with the blog name, page of the dish and the link code that is assigned to us already inserted.
Then I schedule the post; knowing I will get the job done by the time the post is scheduled to appear. This month I’m a slacker. It’s Saturday and I’ve got to get the dish made today, photographed and setup to post today. As much as I love maple, I was going to have to get to the market for the main components in the salad I had planned so decided to take another quick peek at Jo-Anna’s blog and try to avoid that trip.
And what to my eyes should appear but a fun twist on some pops; a combination of pureed raspberries and yogurt. Popsicles Barb? Well, in all honesty I just want to share what I love and remembering that last month I did Sugar and Spice Popcorn and it was so well received that I thought a popsicle would be fun for summer.
I had recently seen my friend Ken post these Strawberry Watermelon Pops for the Abby Dodge #baketogether we both participate in. Not only did the popsicle sound terrific but I just loved the look of them. Enough to find out where Ken got the molds and enough to buy my own set.
When did they arrive? Yesterday. Am I dying to make something. That I am. And what should I spy today? Well, you see how this is coming together right? I was helpless as fate or karma seemed to make this a choice I could not deny.
Strawberries in the fridge meant they replaced raspberries and they were a bit too tart to not add a bit of sugar and I HAD to add some raspberry liqueur. Not that it’s needed but I have a reputation and I must honor those expectations!
Luckily I already had a bottle of Chambord Raspberry Liqueur in my liquor cabinet; it’s a nice touch but not a necessary one if you’re making these for kids. And just a touch if you use it; my recent experience with sorbets and liqueurs made it especially clear just how much alcohol can affect the ability of liquid to freeze.
I always have Greek yogurt on hand and decided to up the flavor a bit with some sugar and vanilla; yes, those are vanilla speckles, not dust on your monitor!
Limes on the counter and a taller popsicle form then the example on Jo-Anna’s blog? Seems I’m now adding a limeade layer. Do it, skip it, whatever ‘floats your boat’ it but I just finished my first one and lo and behold I feel like a kid again. Maybe Jo-Anna will adopt me.
PIN IT! ‘Strawberry, Vanilla Yogurt and Limeade Popsicles’
Strawberry, Vanilla Yogurt and Limeade Popsicles
Ingredients
- 2 cups 16 oz Greek yogurt
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 vanilla bean split and scraped, pod reserved for another use, or 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Strawberry Puree:
- 12 ounces strawberries approx 3 cups or use raspberries, peaches or blueberries
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon Chambord optional
For the Limeade (optional; I thought a third layer with my taller popsicle forms would be fun):
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
Instructions
- If doing the limeade layer, make a simple syrup; combining the sugar, water and zest and heating just until the water starts to simmer; the sugar should be dissolved. Remove from heat and strain out the zest. Add the lime juice and allow to chill in freezer while preparing the other ingredients.
- Mix the yogurt with the sugar and the vanilla.
- Puree the strawberries and sugar in a food processor or blender. Stir in Chambord if using.
- Layer the popsicles with your ingredients. I found it worked best to use a little funnel to keep the various ingredients from being dripped all over the inside of the popsicle form.
- Freeze for approximately four hours
- I wanted to mix up the order of the layers in the popsicles but with the lime juice layer being so liquid it would have meant freezing each layer separately; I didn't want to do that so it went in the molds last.
These look perfect for a hot summer day; and I love the flavor combination!
Thanks Anne; they’ve been wonderful and I feel a bit like a kid again I’ve gone so popsicle crazy!
YUM! love the vibrant colors
Looks so refreshing and perfect for these hot summer days. Glad to be part of SRC with you!
With the extreme heat we’d experienced for what seems like WEEKS here in Canada of late, I could very much live on a diet of popsicles. I LOVE POPSICLES!!!
Funny when your from Canada, you take for granted the great maple syrup we have, as I far to cheap to buy the good stuff.
Lovely blog, and I love that your keeping it real.
Do pop over and say hello.
omg these are so cool!
Thanks…they are quite a contrast in flavors…I’m thinking of mashing one up today and mixing them all up. Having one of those days!
Love your SRC pops & I am so happy we are both participating in this fun group!
I love them too and again a reader reminds me of them when I could use an afternoon break. MMM MMM Good!
Popsicles sound so good right now with the heat. Perfect summer treat!
Just got home from a couple of days away and the house was warm. Popsicle was first place both my dog and I wanted to dig in!
It look delicious and refreshing. I could really use it right now in this heat. I love the strawberry. Thanks for amazing recipe and photos posted here; looking so cute.
I love popsicles and these are certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen! They look really delicious and refreshing! Which is something I can really use right now in this heat :p Great blog! You can check out mine if you’d like to.
thanks Lisa and I just did that! I LOVE the fruit tart. Absolutely beautiful.
These look fantastic!! Such a perfect summer treat! Loving your blog! xoxo
Thank you so much; very nice comment to come home to after a weekend away from the blog!
Now this is a popscicle I can’t wait to try. I love Chambord!
Me too…though I imagine WITH raspberries a decidedly more pronounced raspberry flavor would result. That’s next on my list. Raspberry with honey yogurt and a chocolate layer.
Looks so delicious! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Glad you went with this recipe, I think you are never too old for Popsicles. They are perfect for a nice good for you treat when it’s hot.
Funny that in the middle of a heat wave I made the very thing I look forward to the most each evening. Was meant to be!
Absolutely mouth-watering! These are beautiful, Barb!
Thank you Robyn; most appreciated.
I’m glad you settled on this recipe – it looks just PERFECT.
Funny how that happens sometimes isn’t it Rivki? Hottest week of the year; was PERFECT timing! 🙂
I love the greek yogurt addition. It is so creamy and fabulous. I love the strawberry and lime combo too. I recently made a lime curd tart topped with strawberries. Perfect summer flavors!
I’m going to use honey yogurt next time though…this yogurt had quite the tang and think maybe something just a bit less so would balance better with the strawberries and lime. I mean you talk pucker power? This was it!
Ooh these popsicles look stunning. I go through life being clueless about this secret club thing. 🙂 Love love the photos and flavors!!
Just check out the links; although sounds like there is now a wait list so many joined it became harder to keep up with. And comment on. Once was 35-40 people, now 150!
this looks like such an awesome summer treat. I could go on a Popsicle diet! mmhm, now there’s an idea!
There you go…now I could do that too Nelly. Especially in this heat.
Such a gorgeous color – love the two tone. Perfect for summer!
I mentioned to someone else…I think the Chambord added such a richness to the strawberries. If making for kids, I might add a bit of pomegranate juice to get the same result.
These look AMAZING! I’m jealous!
I’ll share, promise.
Oh. Wow. It has been raining cats and dogs here all day and now at bedtime I want one of these! Oh, and I love the addition of Chambord! They are sounding like they could be a grown-up (well earned) treat. Great photos too.
Yes…totally a grownup popsicle. Not sure how much I taste it but that little bit did add a richness to the color that makes me happy I added it.
Those are the cutest popsicles! I know my kids would go nuts over them.
Thank you Amanda…they have been a big hit here; so I must admit that in the future I would use a different yogurt. I just love Greek yogurt with honey and would try that next.
HAHAHAHAHAHA, you had me laughing to death. I guess I would qualify as a Jo-Anna…I love to eat food like you do, but I have to find ways to recreate it in a hurry! YOu always inspire me, and make me laugh!
I can now cook what I want when I want; it’s so totally different when your family is depending on you for regular meals. I’ve been there and loved that too.
I love all the inspiration in this post – it’s so infectious I have added popsicle molds to my shopping list today. Great flavors! Have a wonderful time at Snowmass!
Thanks Lynda; so looking forward to it. I do wonder why we stop making some of the simplest pleasures just cause the kids leave. Lesson learned here. Now I want s’mores. 🙂
Your stuff is always so pretty as well as fabulous flavors! I love them and now I just need to be in Florida where it is hot.
Thanks my sweet friend…I hate that you’re traveling our continent yet I still won’t see you. Have fun and knock’em dead at IFBC.
Wow, those look great. Too good to just let the kiddos emjoy them alone. 🙂
I know, I am thinking…’Mine, all mine.’ Of course that bit of raspberry liqueur in mine solidifies my ownership. There was a method to that madness for sure.
Love your post! I love the twist on my Raspberry Pops!
Jo-Anna
And I loved yours! Thank you for the inspiration.
Popsicles are one of the treasures of summer. Yours look so refreshing.
I could not have made them at a better time…it’s been popsicle weather this week hasn’t it?
YUM! I just love homemade popsicles 😉
“Secret Recipe Club”…I just love that. I enjoy reading about all the different ways bloggers are having fun with each other and with recipes. Kids are just missing out on all of this adult fun! The popsicles look fantastic…especially down here in Texas.
Fantastic! That combo is just heavenly.
Cheers,
Rosa
Despite being a slacker, you sure did make some tasty looking popsicles! Beautiful job, Barb!
Love the flavor combination and also so lovely looking.
I’d love for you to check out my SRC recipe this month: Holy Guacamole.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
Yay Barb, these look fantastic. Strawberry, raspberry or otherwise, they all sound delicious. Glad you got the mold and now you can have endless fun with them.