Peachy Pops!

Posted on July 17, 2013 by bitsandbreadcrumbs

Frozen fresh Peach, Ginger and Mint Pops are refreshing and light!

Peach "Melba" Pops are so colorful....they take me to my happy place.

Peach “Melba” Pops are so colorful and cool….they take me to my happy place.

Peaches!

I don’t know if I even need to write much more than that word to evoke salivation, do I?

Peach season is in full force here right now. This year I wanted to try making some new peachy delights and I just happened to have some popsicle molds I bought on sale at the end of last summer that were crying out to be used.

Enter these two homemade frozen peachy pops! So easy to make, and endless variations can, and will, be explored.

Frozen delights on a stick!

First up is a refreshingly light Peach, Ginger and Mint combo…the perfect antidote to a hot and steamy summer day! With August just around the corner and July heating up exponentially each passing moment, this particular frozen pop is on my short list for the next couple of months. It reminds me of an ice cold peach tea, but is more toothsome from using the whole fruit.

My second and latest frozen concoction is a Peach “Melba” Pop. Peaches and raspberries are truly a match made in heaven, and this pop exemplifies that. The only variation on this one that I might try is to stir the raspberry mixture through the pop with a stick before freezing, just to swirl those flavors throughout. But honestly, this pop is lip-smacking and tongue-tinglingly good just as I’ve written it. The tiny bit of Grand Marnier in the raspberry puree really amps up the peach and the raspberry flavor, adding a richness to the pop that might otherwise be missing. And it’s, well, a winner…there’s no other way to say it!

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There’s an added bonus to this peach melba recipe, too. If you use the four-pop molds that I use, you’ll have a little extra peachy goodness left over to pop into an ice cube tray and add to your next tea or cocktail. Of course you could just make more puree to start with to ensure having some leftover for this very purpose. Peachylicious!

Peach, Ginger and Mint Pops
Makes 4 – 6 oz. pops

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar (I use cane sugar)
3 slices of fresh, peeled ginger, about 1/16 inch thick
1 1/2 cups fresh peeled and sliced peaches (about 3-4 depending on size)
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
4 – 6 oz. pop molds or 4 small paper cups and wooden popsicle sticks

Prepare the sugar syrup by placing the water, sugar and ginger in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

In a food processor, combine the peaches, mint and sugar syrup and puree until smooth. Pour the puree into 4 – 6 oz. pop molds or 4 small paper cups, dividing evenly. Place the pop mold stick tops into the molds and secure, or place your popsicle sticks into each cup. Freeze until hard and well frozen, about 6-8 hours. Unmold by carefully submerging each pop in a bowl of hot water for just a few seconds, to loosen the pop from the sides of the mold, taking care not to allow the water to get into the mold or touch the frozen pop. Remove the pop from the mold or cup and enjoy.

Peach “Melba” Pops
Makes 4 – 6 oz. pops

1/4 cup granulated sugar (I use cane sugar)
1/2 cup water
1 cup fresh raspberries
2 more tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier
1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches
4 – 6 oz. pop molds or 4 small paper cups and wooden popsicle sticks

Prepare the sugar syrup by placing the water and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

Prepare the raspberry puree by placing the raspberries, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier into a small saucepan over low heat and cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes a puree, about 5 minutes, pressing the berries with the back of the spoon to help them break down. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool for about 5 minutes.

In a food processor, combine the peaches, and sugar syrup and puree until smooth. Pour 1/3 of the peach puree into each of the 4 – 6 oz. pop molds or 4 small paper cups, dividing evenly. Divide the raspberry puree between the 4 pop molds, gently spooning it on top of the peach puree. Pour the remaining peach puree on top of the raspberry, filling to just below the top of the mold. (At this point you can take a small skewer and run it through the whole mixture if you want to swirl the raspberry throughout, or just leave it layered as shown.)

Place the pop mold stick tops into the molds and secure, or place your popsicle sticks into each cup. Freeze until hard and well frozen, about 6-8 hours. Unmold by carefully submerging each pop in a bowl of hot water for just a few seconds, to loosen the pop from the sides of the mold, taking care not to allow the water to get into the mold or touch the frozen pop. Remove the pop from the mold or cup and enjoy.

Want more? Here are some other delectably peachy recipes of mine to try once you have your pops in the freezer: Just Peachy Ice Cream (possibly the best peach ice cream ever!), Star Spangled Cherry Berry Peach Crumble, Mom’s Easy Peach and Blueberry Crisp, A Very Short Little Peach Cake, Susan’s Nectarine (or Peach) Lemon Buttermilk Sorbet with Bourbon.

40 thoughts on “Peachy Pops!”

Choc Chip Uru on July 17, 2013 at 5:08 pm said:

I honestly don’t know which combo I like better, they all look refreshingly delicious 🙂

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

P.S. To prepare for my exams now I won’t be commenting for around 4 weeks – See you in a month my friend 🙂

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 17, 2013 at 5:10 pm said:
  
  I think we were just simultaneously writing on each other’s blog posts, Uru! I have a hard time choosing a fave here, too. I think it may be more of a mood thing for me! 🙂 Good luck with your exams!
  
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Eva Taylor on July 17, 2013 at 6:40 pm said:

It’s 5,000 degrees in Toronto and I’ve got the oven on baking up a few treats for a birthday party on Sunday! How ridiculous is that? You’ve got the right idea with these beautiful Popsicles Betsy. My Mom used to make real fruit Popsicles all the time, I haven’t done it in years! You may have just given me the inspiration to do so! Yay!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 17, 2013 at 7:34 pm said:
  
  Oh you do need to make some fresh fruit popsicles, Eva…they are perfect for this hot weather…at least while you are eating them! I wish I had more molds because now that I’ve tried them, I can’t stop thinking of different concoctions to try! Yikes…lightning here AGAIN (not my house, but gotta go!)
  
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yummychunklet on July 17, 2013 at 10:14 pm said:

What delicious looking pops!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you! 🙂
  
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hotlyspiced on July 18, 2013 at 2:21 am said:

These are a lovely idea and so what you would need in the current heat. I love peaches and am really missing them and I can’t wait for our peach season to begin again xx

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm said:
  
  Yes, the fact that we have a peach season is something I really look forward to each year. Can’t get enough of them! 🙂
  
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jevbert1234 on July 18, 2013 at 2:55 am said:

Looks amazing! Great post!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm said:
  
  Thank you! 🙂
  
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thecompletecookbook on July 18, 2013 at 3:55 am said:

Right, now just to wait out winter.
🙂 Mandy xo

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:
  
  Yes, but I find it is so nice to correspond and read about the season in the opposite hemisphere because it makes me appreciate the one I am in, and the one to come, even more. 🙂 Maybe you could make a hot chocolate or other spicy fruit version with a little cayenne to warm it up for winter…even though it’s frozen?
  
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Chica Andaluza on July 18, 2013 at 5:14 am said:

Beautiful – I have a set of these lolly makers which I bought for visiting neices and nephews. Will have to dig them out again as it’s peach time here too!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:
  
  It’s addictive, making these pops, I gotta warn you! 😉
  
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tableofcolors on July 18, 2013 at 9:03 am said:

These look so good and healthy!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:
  
  Thank you…they are pretty guilt-free! 🙂
  
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Karen on July 18, 2013 at 10:24 am said:

Your pops sound delicious and refreshing.

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 18, 2013 at 2:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Karen, I’m glad you like the sound of these. They are both, I think! 🙂
  
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Norma Chang on July 21, 2013 at 6:11 pm said:

Used to make home made pops when my kids were little, haven’t done so in years, time to look for and bring out those popsicle mold.

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 24, 2013 at 11:07 am said:
  
  They are great treats for big kids, too! I think you need to revisit those for sure, Norma. We are loving making and eating these guilt free pops. 🙂
  
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Jasline @ Foodie Baker on July 22, 2013 at 1:59 am said:

The pops look so refreshing and delicious! The weather’s really warm these days, could really use one! 😉

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 24, 2013 at 11:08 am said:
  
  Thanks, Jasline! They are really refreshing on a hot summer’s day…like today, in fact. 🙂
  
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Charles on July 22, 2013 at 12:26 pm said:

Hi Betsy, I bet my son would love these if I reduced the sugar a bit! He’s nuts about peaches and nectarines! We have a big bowl of them on the table and the other day he crawled over, pulled himself up to the bowl, took a nectarine, ate half, threw it on the floor and then grabbed another, LOL!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 24, 2013 at 11:11 am said:
  
  Hi Charles…oh yes, I’ll bet these would be a hit with little William. Also great if he’s teething I’d imagine. How funny about his love of peaches and nectarines. Do you suppose he feels like he’s done when he hits the pit? Or perhaps it’s just the initial thrill of biting into each fruit. 🙂
  
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  - Charles on July 24, 2013 at 4:38 pm said:
    
    Not really sure, haha – I usually pick up the “discarded” fruit, and bite out the pit and then hand it back to him and he happily munches away on the rest, so I guess he hits the pit and doesn’t quite know what to do so he’s like “huh, ok, MORE FRUIT!”
    
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    - bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 25, 2013 at 3:51 pm said:
      
      Sweet! 🙂
      
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White Pearl on July 25, 2013 at 3:46 pm said:

Beautiful ! These pops remind me of my childhood when my mom use to make some lollies like these with some juices and we Loved them ! Them look Very refreshing ! Love your blog xx

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 25, 2013 at 3:52 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m glad these evoke good memories. They are really fun to have on hand in the freezer…we big kids love them! 🙂
  
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  - White Pearl on July 25, 2013 at 4:51 pm said:
    
    Yes I am sure we do 😉 Love xx
    
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Bam's Kitchen on July 27, 2013 at 5:10 am said:

Hello Betsy, these peach ice lollies sound so refreshing. I love both the kiddie and the adult version. There is always something special about making ice lollies that reminds me of living at home. My mom did not have one of those fancy containers so she would freeze the ice lollies in dixie cups with popsicle sticks.

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 27, 2013 at 1:07 pm said:
  
  Hi Bam! I think the dixie cup version is probably easier to deal with than the mold version, but I happened upon these molds and they inspired me! 🙂 My mom never made these particular frozen treats.
  
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Promenade Claire on July 29, 2013 at 3:41 pm said:

I could have done with one of those, actually several last week when it got seriously hot and humid here! Loving your photo on the header Betsy!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on July 29, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  Hey Claire! Thank you, I’m so glad you like the header. I’d actually thought I’d change it for summer, but I like it so much that I think I’ll wait until fall at this point! I have more peaches that are destined for sorbet this week. Wish I could send you some…peaches and sorbet!
  
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Geni - Sweet and Crumby on August 1, 2013 at 1:02 pm said:

I love how adult you made these and that you went for it with the ginger and mint. How refreshing!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on August 1, 2013 at 4:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks Geni! They were really good. 🙂 Hope you are doing well. I’ve got so much going on here that I’m having a hard time posting or visiting at the moment.
  
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Ashley @thedrivencook on September 8, 2013 at 5:13 pm said:

Love the combo of peaches and raspberries!

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- bitsandbreadcrumbs on September 8, 2013 at 8:10 pm said:
  
  Me too. Wish I had more peaches…it was a shorter season this year.
  
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