With school out (or almost out!) and temperatures rising, sometimes the easiest thing is to order a stack of pizzas and call it a party. After all, who wants to spend time cooking indoors?
But when you order pizza often, sometimes a get-together loses its special occasion sparkle.
So we’re bringing you three recipes for cool summer treats to make your next party a sweet—and special—one. (Plus, keep reading below for additional party ideas.)
JELLO PUDDING POPS
If you were a kid (or parent) in the 1980s, you remember these. Not only are they the easiest treat ever, but you’ll also appreciate savoring the nostalgia.
Ingredients:
1 package instant pudding (chocolate, cookies and cream, banana cream, etc.)
2 cups whole milk
Steps:
Whisk ingredients together for 2 minutes, and fill your popsicle molds. Insert a popsicle stick into each mold, and freeze until firm—usually in five or more hours.
CHUNKY MONKEY FROZEN YOGURT POPS
Ingredients:
1 cup vanilla yogurt
3 tbsp. maple syrup or liquid sweetener of choice
1/8 tsp. vanilla extract
Sliced bananas
Mini chocolate chips
Steps:
Mix all ingredients together, and pour into popsicle molds. Insert a popsicle stick into each mold, and freeze until firm.
GROWN-UP STRAWBERRY BASIL POPSICLES
Tired of kid-friendly flavors? Whip up a few of these for you and your girlfriends—they’re perfect for summer nights on the patio.
Ingredients:
1 can coconut milk (full-fat is best)
2 cups strawberries
1/3 cup maple syrup or liquid sweetener of choice
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 dash salt
1/2 cup basil leaves
Steps:
Blend all ingredients, except for the basil leaves, together until smooth. Add in the basil leaves and pulse your blender until small bits of basil appear. (You don’t want to blend them fully in.) Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, add the popsicle sticks, and freeze until firm.
Pro Tip: little Dixie cups make perfect popsicle molds!
Make a few batches of these (or just get some good old-fashioned ice pops), and host a popsicle party! Invite your friends and neighbors over after dinner for a sweet treat, and ask them to bring nothing but their kids and lawn chairs. Pass out popsicles, and set up fun activities for the kids (think lawn games, sprinklers, or slip ‘n’ slides, etc.), so the adults an enjoy uninterrupted grown-up conversation.
Your popsicle party would be a great time to invite friends and neighbors to summer church events like Vacation Bible School. Pick up some of these promotional materials at your local Lifeway store for an easy way to pass out invites. This would also be a great time to invite the women in your neighborhood to join you in online Bible study! You might choose to have your weekly gatherings the same way—popsicles and fun for the kids, time to chat for the moms.
Which popsicles will you be making this summer?
