Cool summer: Top five homemade ice lollies

Ice lollies aren’t just for children. We’ve put together five of our favourite iced treats, from alcoholic to healthy, to help you stay cool this summer. Whatever recipe you use, a set of proper ice lolly moulds and some wooden sticks will make life a bit easier. Try serving a fruit or chocolate lolly after an adult dinner party for an unusual pudding.

1. Pimms lolly

You’ll need:

• Pimms
• Lemonade
• Diced cucumber
• Mint leaves
• One strawberry per person

These adult treats freeze very hard, so to serve take them out of the freezer twenty minutes before needed or use hot water to release them from the moulds. They’re perfect after lunch on a hot summer’s afternoon.

In a large jug, mix one part Pimms to three parts lemonade or ginger ale.

Cut the strawberries into small pieces, and drop them into the lolly moulds. Shred the mint leaves, and add a pinch to the moulds then drop in the strawberries. Top up with Pimms and lemonade, add the lolly sticks and freeze until hard.

Variation: try gin and tonic lollies with one part gin to five parts tonic. Carefully cut the peel from a lemon or lime so it forms a spiral, and drop into the mould before adding the liquid.

2. Healthy fruit lollies

These are perfect for a healthy after-school snack or an extra treat – vary the fruit according to what’s in season. These lollies don’t freeze rock-hard, so they’re great for children, and they’re also an ideal way of using up over-ripe or blemished fruit.

You’ll need:

• Fruit, such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apricots, pears or pineapple – the riper and sweeter the better.
• a little fruit juice such as orange or apple

Wash, peel and de-stone the fruit as necessary, and remove any damaged parts.

Put everything in a blender with two or three tablespoons of fruit juice, and pulse until smooth.

Pour into the moulds, adding a little more juice if the mixture has turned out a bit thick. Freeze until set.

3. Strawberry and yoghurt lollies

These are very popular with children, and if you use low fat yoghurt they’re pretty much guilt free as well.

You’ll need:

• 1 tub good quality thick strawberry yoghurt, e.g. Greek style
• Handful of strawberries, washed, hulled and chopped into small pieces

In a large bowl, mix the strawberries and yoghurt together until the fruit is evenly distributed.

Spoon into the moulds, and add the sticks. Freeze until set.

These lollies also work well with raspberries, blueberries or apricots – if you can’t find the right flavoured yoghurt, use plain and add a little sugar.

4. Chocolate coffee lollies

Flavoured with coffee liqueur, these are a great to finish off an adult dinner party. Vary the flavouring with different types of alcohol.

You’ll need (to make 8):

• 500ml milk
• 250ml double cream
• 250g milk chocolate
• 3 – 4 tablespoons coffee liqueur such as Kahlua or Tia Maria
• 2 egg yolks
• 50g icing sugar

Break the chocolate into small pieces, and melt it in short bursts in the microwave.

Stir in the milk, cream and alcohol until fully combined.

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and gradually pour the chocolate mixture over. Beat until combined. Spoon into the ice lolly moulds and freeze until solid.

5. ‘After Eight’ lollies

This combination of mint and chocolate will be a winner with adults and children alike.

You’ll need (to make 8)

• 250ml milk
• 500ml double cream
• 300g good quality plain chocolate
• chocolate sprinkles
• 1 teaspoon mint flavouring, or mint liqueur
• 2 egg yolks
• 50g icing sugar

Break 250g of the chocolate into small pieces, and melt it in short bursts in the microwave, reserving 50g. Stir in the milk, cream and alcohol until fully combined.

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and gradually pour the chocolate mixture over. Beat until combined.

Spoon into the ice lolly moulds and freeze until solid. Once solid, remove from the moulds by pouring a little hot water over them. Melt the remaining chocolate, and use to coat the top of each lolly.

Roll the melted chocolate in the chocolate sprinkles. Lay the lollies on a tray covered in clingfilm, and return to the freezer until needed.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

By Sara Walker.