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Fresh strawberries and refreshing basil are married in this delicious summertime strawberry basil ice pop that’s perfect for days by the pool or after a splash in the hose.
Alaska, where my heart lives. Florida, what my birth certificate says is my home state. I had the great fortune of being raised in one of the most beautiful, pristine places on earth – Juneau, Alaska. I also had the great fortune to be able to leave Juneau every May to spend the summer laying by the pool and splashing my toes in the waves of the Atlantic down in Florida.
It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, I also had major chores in Florida, like keeping the pool clean, which was basically like scraping the walls of Hades. My Alaskan blood didn’t much care for the brutal summer heat, but I endured. I have fun memories from being in Florida and they all revolve around either water or ice cream.
My dad was a kind of health nut who baked us homemade fat-free pizza for movie night and vegetable soup, (read: cabbage water) for lots of other meals. But every once in a while, he’d take us to the gym where he worked out and we’d eat banana splits for dinner. THOSE were the days. Those were the GOOD old days, actually.
My kids aren’t quite so sheltered, but I still let them enjoy a banana split for dinner every once in a while. On normal days they get to eat ice pops made by me. There has been a lot of trial by ice in our home. Sometimes the kids love the ice pops I make, and other times they’re repulsed and I’m forced to let them melt down the drain or hide in the bathroom while I eat the rest so I can make more, but apparently strawberry basil ice pops are where it’s at, because they love these.
I’m fortunate that all three have pretty refined palates for kids. I mean, they still pick their noses and do God knows what with the slime that comes out of there, but they appreciate a well-placed herb too. When I first added basil to ice pops, they weren’t so sure what I was doing, and I’ve had a bit of a heavy hand in the past, but I’ve learned how to reel it in a bit and create a delicious, refreshing ice pop that the kids and adults can appreciate.
When we were making these Strawberry Basil Ice Pops, Madilyn said,
“Mom, I wish you could get the green stuff smaller because most kids won’t like that.”
Well, most kids would be missing out, because these ice pops are the bees knees, just a little less hairy.
True, you can’t grind the basil into a paste, but by including it in the food processor with your strawberries, whipped cream, and honey, it gets small enough that you shouldn’t have to worry about picking basil out of your teeth all day long, and small enough that a kid who doesn’t care about the details might mistake it for sprinkles. Tell them it’s pixie dust or something – I don’t know.
Being a parent, I know the worst part about working in the kitchen with your little loves is the mess you have to clean up afterwards (or in this case, the mess your husband makes), and the second worst part is cleaning up the mess they make while they’re eating whatever it is you made. It’s always great to find a product that does the job you hired it for and does it with style.
Which is why I buy Viva® towels, and have since I was a broke single mom. There are certain things I don’t skrimp on – paper products and ice cream. If it’s not the best of the best, I don’t want it in my house. Back in the day, I’d rather eat ramen and wipe my counters with a soft and smooth Viva® towel than eat a steak and struggle to keep the house clean with a cheap paper towel. No thank you. The first time I tried Viva®, I was hooked because it felt like a flattened cloud. It really is like a cloth that does triple duty. You can clean with it, wipe up spills, and even clean a sticky mess off of the chubby cheeks of your offspring.
On a recent Publix run, (where shopping really IS a pleasure), I was introduced to the Viva® Vantage® towel which is even stronger than the regular Viva® towel and can scrub things like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff off of just about anywhere. Rumor has it it’s even strong enough to clean a grill, but I wouldn’t know about that because Pearl ruined our grill 3 years ago and we’re too cheap to buy another one.
Point is, this sucker is strong, and you’d be crazy not to run to Publix right now and pick some up. You never know when your kid is going to smear peanut butter sandwich all over your contractor white walls, right?
What I did spend one meelion doll hairs on are a truck load of ice pop and push pop molds. I can’t get enough, it’s a true illness. I also have this horrendous habit of making a bloody mess while I’m in the kitchen, which is where Viva® towels save me time and time again. Want to see how else Viva® Vantage® can help you with your summertime messes, simply click here!
The process to making these Strawberry Basil Ice Pops is super simple, and if you don’t want to worry about messing with fresh herbs, buy the partially dehydrated kind from the produce section. They’re my FAVORITE. You can use it for multiple recipes and it stays good for four weeks after opened.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 10 Ice Pops | 10 Minutes |
| Passive Time |
| 6 Hours |
|
|
| | Delicious and refreshing ice pops using fresh strawberries, local honey, cream, and partially dehydrated basil appeal to all palates, even the discerning palates of young children.
|
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 4 cups Fresh Strawberries Cut into quarters
- 1/2 cup Local Honey
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons Partially Dehydrated Basil or 3 Tablespoons fresh, chopped basil
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form.
- Place whipped heavy whipping cream, chopped strawberries, honey, and basil into an 8-cup food processor and process until smooth. Scrape the sides of the processor as necessary until all chunks are pureed.
- Pour the mixture into a pitcher or measuring cup and pour into ice pop or push pop molds. Freeze 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Loosen ice pops under warm running water for easy removal, then enjoy!
Fresh strawberries and refreshing basil are married in this delicious summertime ice pop that's perfect for days by the pool or after a splash in the hose.
I love your ice pop molds! This recipe sounds delicious, and is perfect for the summer season. Thanks for sharing! #client
Thanks so much for the summertime recipe! Adding this to our summer bucket list. My three kiddos will love making their own popsicles!
I love those monster ice pop molds! I just bought boring normal ones, now I need some fun ones 🙂 And this recipe sounds like one I would save for me, not give to my kids, they can eat the boring flavors 🙂