Cool Desserts

While cool desserts tend to be a summer thing, there's no reason why you can't try them any time of year. Check out the Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream, the Strawberry Mango Popsicles, or any of the other treats in today's post. Enjoy!

MOCHA SHERBET FREEZE

Here’s a recipe from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups strongly brewed coffee or espresso

3/4 cup sugar

6 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

Pinch of salt

3/4 cup whole milk

Preparation

Whisk together the coffee, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil and allow it to boil for 30 seconds, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in the milk.

Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Perfect Pairing: To make a Mocha Freeze, for each serving put 2 scoops of Mocha Sherbet (4 ounces) in a blender along with 1/2 cup very strongly brewed coffee or espresso, 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar, and 3 ice cubes. Blend until almost smooth. Pour into a glass and top with Whipped Cream.

CRANBERRY ICE

This is another recipe from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. This one begins, “Lovely citrus lends flavor to tart cranberries in this refreshing sorbet that can be served up for dessert, as a palate cleanser between meals or to liven up turkey in place of cranberry sauce.”

Ingredients

2 (12 ounce) packages fresh cranberries

2 cups white sugar

1 - 1/4 cups fresh orange juice

1 cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions

In a large pot, add cranberries and enough water to cover. Boil until cranberries begin to pop. Drain and put through a food mill placed over a large bowl.

While still warm add sugar to dissolve in the warm berries. The amount of sugar may vary depending on the tartness of the berries, so if you decide to add more sugar remember that the mixture will be tarter when it has been frozen.

After dissolving the sugar in the berries, stir in fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Pour in 8 or 9 inch square pan and freeze overnight. Take out of the freezer 5-10 minutes before cutting.

CHOCOLATE TOFU ICE CREAM

This comes from the August 2000 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “You’d never guess that this rich, dense, fudgy ice cream contains considerably less fat than the classic version.” Makes 5 cups.

To view this online, click here.

1 lb. soft tofu, drained

1 cup sugar

1 cup plain soy milk

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbs. vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

In blender, puree all ingredients in 2 equal batches until very smooth.

Pour mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve right away or transfer to airtight container and freeze up to 3 days.

nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 126; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Sodium: 25 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Vegan

STRAWBERRY MANGO POPSICLES

This is from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Cold and flu season extends into late spring, so it's smart to keep making sure your immune system is ticking. I loaded up this pop with antioxidant and vitamin C-rich ingredients like strawberries, beets and mango. If you don't want to go the extra step of freezing the strawberry puree first, simply combine the strawberry mixture with the beet mixture and freeze for a total of 6 hours, or until completely frozen.”

Prep Time: 7 minutes; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Notes: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks. You can typically find fresh beet juice in the refrigerated section with the fresh juices.

Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a nutrition expert, writer and best-selling author. Her books include Feed the Belly, The CarbLovers Diet and Eating in Color. Follow her @FrancesLRothRD.

Ingredients

10 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1/2 cup diced mango

10 ounces fresh beet juice, store-bought

1 tablespoon sugar

Preparation

In a blender, add the berries and maple syrup. Combine until pureed. Transfer the mixture to a measuring cup with a spout and stir in the mango. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each pop mold and transfer to the freezer; freeze for 1 hour.

In a bowl, add the beet juice and stir in the sugar. Remove the pop molds from the freezer and pour about 1.5 ounces of the beet mixture into each mold. Return to the freezer for another 5 to 6 hours, or until completely frozen.

To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.

BLUEBERRY, CHAMOMILE AND MINT YOGURT POPSICLES

This is also from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Being plugged in and scheduled 24/7 can leave us feeling frazzled. When you're in need of some chill time, reach for this calm and cool pop instead. Chamomile has long been known to help settle nerves, and may also provide a boost to your immune system. Mint helps relieve gas and indigestion, a common symptom of stress. Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol antioxidant that may help women cut their risk of having a heart attack by a third. Anthocyanins also are quite promising for helping to reverse age-related declines in brain function. Did I also mention that this interesting combination tastes amazing?”

Note: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 chamomile tea bags

8 ounces boiling water

1/2 cup blueberries, divided

2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons honey

4 ounces cold water

1/4 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt

Preparation

In a mug, add the tea bags and boiling water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, until the water is golden. Remove the tea bags and place the tea in the refrigerator to cool.

Place about 1 tablespoon of blueberries into each pop molds and set aside.

In a blender, add the cooled tea, mint leaves, honey, water and yogurt. Blend until frothy. Pour the chamomile mixture into the pop molds and place in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight. The tea and yogurt will separate during the freezing process, but this won't affect the flavor.

To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.

VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM

This is from Silk. Makes 8 servings. Total Time: 45 minutes + processing.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cups Silk Original or Vanilla Soy, Almond or Coconutmilk

2 cups Silk Original or French Vanilla Creamer

1/2 cup honey, agave or sugar

1 vanilla bean

2 Tbsp arrowroot or cornstarch

Special tools: ice cream maker

Directions

Place Silk and Silk Creamer in a medium saucepan and whisk in honey, agave or sugar.

Slice vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and use the tip of a knife to scrape the seeds from the bean into the saucepan. Add bean pod as well.

Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and remove about 1/4 cup from the pan and whisk it together with the arrowroot in a small bowl. Whisk the arrowroot mixture back into the pan, cover and let the mixture infuse for 20 minutes.

Cool completely and process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Note: If you don’t have a vanilla bean, add 2 tsp vanilla extract when removing mixture from heat. You may also add fresh fruit or any other flavorings you desire.

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