Strawberry Shortcake Quick Pops

You know I’ve mentioned it before, but that Santa just really knows exactly what our family needs for Christmas.  He always seems to find the perfect, fun gift that mom, dad and the boys can enjoy and this year was no exception.

This year Santa brought us the Zoku Quick Pop Maker that actually makes ice cream or juice pops in just minutes.  So maybe this isn’t an actual NEED but during our hot summer days this is going to feel more like a need than a want. 🙂  And when you need a cold treat, you NEED a cold treat now.  Not 9 hours from now which is how long we normally would wait with our old plastic pop maker.

So, imagine my delight when we opened our family present from Santa and found not only the Zoku Quick Pop Maker
but also the Zoku Quick Pops Recipe Book with all sort of yummy creations in it.

My 4-year-old has been begging for the Strawberry Shortcake Pops he found in the recipe book so today we had time to spare and gave them a try.  And they did NOT disappoint!

WARNING: If you continue to read this post, you just might break any New Year’s resolutions that you have regarding weight loss or healthy eating.  I will not be held responsible.  You have been warned!!  😉

Strawberry Shortcake Quick Pops

(This recipe is adapted with a few variations from the Zoku Quick Pops Recipe Book.  It was designed to go with the ZOKU maker but could be made in a regular popsicle mold placed in the freezer.)

Ingredients:

Strawberry Sauce

• 3/4 C (4 oz) hulled, quartered strawberries
• 3/4 tsp water
• 2 tsp honey
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract

Make the strawberry sauce by combining the strawberries and water in a blender. Puree until smooth.  Whisk in the honey and vanilla.

Vanilla Base

• 8 oz vanilla pudding (about 2 individual serving cups if you want to buy pre-made pudding)
• 1/2 C (4 oz) whole or 2% milk
• 1 1/2 TBSP sugar
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract (In only used about 1/2 tsp since last time I made the vanilla base it seemed to have too much.  If you like strong vanilla flavor, use more)

Make the vanilla base by whisking together all ingredients until the sugar has dissolved.

Extras

• 2 strawberries, hulled and sliced lengthwise into 1/8″ slices
• 1 slice plain pound cake, cut into 36 pieces (I didn’t have pound cake so I just broke up some graham crackers instead and it was super yummy.)

Assemble the pops by placing 1-2 strawberry slices into the bottom of your popsicle mold.  If using the ZOKU, apply the strawberries to the walls of the pop maker molds and insert the sticks before adding any other ingredients.  If not using the ZOKU obviously you will add the sticks last.  Place either pound cake piece or crumbled graham crackers into the mold.  Then just layer the vanilla base, strawberry sauce, more cake/crackers 2 times ending with the vanilla base.

Let freeze completely and then enjoy your yummy strawberry shortcake pops!

I can’t wait to see the look on my older boys’ faces when they get home and I can give them one of these yummy treats.  And maybe, just maybe we’ll save one for dad when he gets home later too.  Although I don’t make any promises.

What is your favorite cool summer treat?  We also love Snow cones and love this recipe for snow cone syrup.

 

Recipe shared on Home Cooking Memories