Carrot Ice Cream Popsicles

Reasons to love these ice cream popsicles

Healthy and Nutritious: These popsicles are packed with the goodness of carrots, which are rich in vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants. The natural sweetness from dates provides additional nutrients and energy, making them a healthy alternative to traditional sugary treats.

Naturally Sweetened: With dates as the primary sweetener, these popsicles are free from refined sugars. Dates provide a wholesome sweetness while offering beneficial fiber and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. This makes them ideal for babies and toddlers who are just developing a taste for healthy foods.

Customizable for All Ages: The recipe is versatile enough to suit different dietary needs. You can use breast milk or formula for babies, while older kids and adults can enjoy them with whole milk or plant-based milk like almond, oat, or coconut. Whether you're preparing them for a baby, a toddler, or an adult, you can easily adjust the ingredients to meet everyone's needs.

Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses just a handful of natural ingredients—carrots, dates, and milk—which makes it easy to prepare and ensures that you're avoiding artificial preservatives, colorings, or added sugars found in store-bought popsicles.

Easy to Make: The process is straightforward—just steam the carrots, blend them with dates and milk, and freeze. It's a no-bake, no-cook recipe that requires minimal time and effort, making it a perfect snack for busy parents and caregivers.

Great for Sensory Development: For babies and toddlers, the popsicles offer a fun, interactive way to engage with food. The bright orange color, smooth texture, and coolness are excellent for sensory exploration, and the finger-food nature of popsicles helps with developing fine motor skills.

Perfect for Hot Days: These popsicles are refreshing and hydrating, making them perfect for hot weather or a cooling snack after outdoor play. They're an ideal treat for both kids and adults to beat the heat while enjoying something tasty and nutritious.

Dairy-Free and Allergy-Friendly Options: If you're dealing with allergies, you can easily make this recipe dairy-free by choosing a plant-based milk option. Additionally, the popsicles are free from gluten, making them suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals.

Great for Portion Control: The popsicle format makes it easy to control portions. Babies and toddlers can enjoy a small portion, while adults can indulge in a larger one without overdoing it. Plus, the popsicles freeze well, so you can make a batch and store extras for later.

A Fun Family Activity: Making these popsicles together can be a fun family activity. Older kids can help with adding ingredients to the blender, and everyone can choose their preferred flavor variations. It’s an enjoyable way to get the whole family involved in the kitchen while creating a healthy snack that everyone can enjoy.

Carrot Ice Cream Popsicles Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2-4 dates (depending on your sweetness preference)
• 1/2 to 1 cup of milk (choose based on dietary needs: breast milk, formula, whole milk, or any plant-based milk like almond, oat, or coconut milk)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Carrots: Peel and chop the 6 medium carrots into small, bite-sized pieces for even cooking. Place the chopped carrots in a steamer basket over simmering water or use a saucepan to steam the carrots until they are soft and tender. This should take about 10-15 minutes. You can test the carrots by inserting a fork or knife to ensure they are cooked through.

2. Blend the Carrots: Once the carrots are steamed, transfer them into a blender or food processor. Add the dates to the blender. Dates are a natural sweetener, and you can adjust the number of dates to suit your taste. For babies and toddlers, 2 dates might be sweet enough, while adults might prefer 3-4 for a richer sweetness.

Pour in 1/2 cup of milk to start, and blend everything together. If the mixture seems too thick, you can gradually add more milk (up to 1 cup), depending on the consistency you desire

3. Taste and Adjust: Taste the mixture before pouring it into the molds. You can add more dates if you'd like a sweeter flavor, or more milk to adjust the texture. The mixture should be smooth and creamy.

4. Pour into Popsicle Molds: Carefully pour the blended carrot mixture into your popsicle molds. If your molds don't have built-in sticks, insert the popsicle sticks once the mixture has settled in the molds. Make sure to leave a little space at the top of each mold for expansion as the mixture freezes.

5. Freeze: Place the popsicle molds in the freezer and freeze for at least 6 hours, or until completely frozen. For best results, let them freeze overnight.

6. Serve: Once the popsicles are fully frozen, remove them from the molds. If they are difficult to release, you can briefly run warm water over the outside of the molds to loosen them. Serve immediately as a refreshing treat for babies, toddlers, or adults!

Note:

Make sure the popsicles are small enough for babies to handle, and always supervise when they are enjoying any frozen treat.

Tips for success 

Steam the Carrots Properly: Make sure the carrots are fully softened by steaming them for at least 10-15 minutes. If they aren’t soft enough, the texture of the popsicles may be gritty. Steaming is better than boiling because it preserves more of the nutrients, and the carrots will maintain a richer flavor.

Adjust the Sweetness: The sweetness of the popsicles will depend on how sweet your carrots are and how many dates you use. Start with 2 dates and blend. Taste the mixture and adjust accordingly. You can also add a small splash of honey (for toddlers and adults) if you prefer extra sweetness, but keep in mind that honey should not be given to babies under 1 year old.

Use the Right Milk: Choose milk based on your child’s dietary needs. For babies, breast milk or formula is ideal, and for older kids or adults, feel free to use whole milk or any plant-based milk like almond, oat, or coconut milk. If using a plant-based milk, ensure it is unsweetened to avoid adding extra sugar to the popsicles.

Consistency is Key: When blending the mixture, aim for a smooth, creamy consistency. If it’s too thick, slowly add more milk until it’s easy to pour into the molds. If it’s too thin, you may need to add a few more steamed carrots to thicken the mixture.

Popsicle Mold Tips: Use a flexible popsicle mold to make removal easier. Silicone molds are especially good because they allow for easy release of the popsicles. If you don't have popsicle molds, you can also use ice cube trays or small paper cups. Just insert the sticks once the mixture has partially frozen to help the sticks stay in place.

Freezing Time: Allow at least 4 hours for the popsicles to freeze completely. For best results, freezing them overnight is the way to go. If you’re in a hurry, you can place the molds in the coldest part of your freezer to speed up the freezing process.

Smooth Popsicle Removal: If your popsicles are difficult to remove from the molds, try running warm water over the outside of the molds for a few seconds. This will help loosen them without melting the popsicle too much.

Experiment with Flavors: Once you’ve perfected the basic recipe, try adding other natural flavors like a pinch of cinnamon, vanilla extract, or even a tiny splash of orange juice for a twist. You can also experiment with adding some unsweetened yogurt for a creamier texture, or try blending in other fruits like mango or banana for extra nutrition.

Storage: Store your popsicles in an airtight container if you want to keep extras. They’ll stay fresh in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just ensure they are fully frozen before transferring them to avoid freezer burn.

Equipment

• Steamer pot
• Blender or food processor
• Popsicle molds

Nutrition

Suitable for 6 months +

• CALORIES: 36KCAL 

• CARBOHYDRATES: 9G

• PROTEIN: 1G

• FAT: 1G 

• SODIUM: 15MG

• POTASSIUM: 205MG

• FIBER: 1.4G 

• SUGAR: 6G

• VITAMIN A: 6714IU

• VITAMIN C: 3.0MG 

• CALCIUM: 22MG

• IRON: 0.2MG

Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on the ingredient brands and portion sizes used.