Sweet Cream Cold Brew Fudgesicles

I've created a cold brew addict.

Michael just started drinking coffee regularly a few years ago (I don't drink it, though) and when I first learned about cold brew I knew it was the thing for him. It's less acidic and harsh on the tummy and higher in caffeine and flavor. Pretty much exactly what he loves-and he's super apathetic about if it's hot or not so I started making homemade cold brew for him (I use this recipe, btw) and his life was changed.

And then I spotted the recipe for these fudgesicles and revolutionized everything.

The only thing Michael likes better than coffee is CHOCOLATE and coffee, bonus points for refreshing. So hi yes these are fudgesicles made with cold brew and then oh yes also a sweet creamy layer.

He was very excited.

You initially taste the sweet cream layer before that gives way to the chocolatey coffee fudgesicle and while both are delicious and interesting on their own, when you can taste both flavors at once it comes together and is just magic. Trust me-these got the full Michael seal of approval. They're epic and you need them. Make them while the weather's still warm! (Or make them when it's cold out, I'm a strong believer in eating what you want no matter what the weather is.)

Evolution Fresh Juices #MC #Sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Millennial Central for Evolution Fresh. I received coupons for Evolution Fresh juices to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Have you heard of Evolution Fresh yet?? Ooooooh are you in for a wholesome, delicious, treat! Evolution Fresh offers a huge variety of juice flavors that help quench that summer thirst-while keeping you bikini ready and feeling good! 

Evolution Fresh peels, presses, and squeezes raw fruits and vegetables (even though the fruits and veggies used in the juices are raw--the juices are technically not). After chilling, blending and bottling their juices, they use High Pressure Processing (HPP) to help protect flavors and nutrients.(Click here if you want to watch a video showing how the process works.) 

If you check out the Evolution Fresh site you can find a verrryy long list of different juice varieties-however I was only able to sample what was available at my local store (although note that I REALLY want to try the organic orange juice, tangerine, and apple berry!) Although each variety I sampled was super flavorful and tasted extra healthy-our favorite to drink straight was the organic strawberry lemonade! Michael and I would grab a couple bottles to take with us when we hit the pool. And you know how quickly you can feel overheated, worn out, and dehydrated on a hot summer day at the pool? Our little lemonades helped keep us feeling refreshed and happy!

I found that for the Organic V, Essential Greens, Super Green, and Protein Power they were best used (for our pickier palates) in smoothies or....POPSICLES! (Side note: my brother flipped his lid for these! He's super into fitness and health lately so when he came over and found these in my refrigerator he immediately asked permission to make a smoothie. He then sang the praises of Evolution Fresh and asked where he could find some!)

Here's my little non-recipe for the popsicles, but really...you can just make popsicles out of any variety you want, with or without blending anything else in!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Banana Pops

I love summer, ok? I do. I wait for it all year round.

But it has been HOT! 

Last week I had to walk for a half hour, dragging a bag with 4 wine bottles, to work, in 100 degree heat (wearing all black). I WAS MISERABLE. Oh sweet lord it was awful. Luckily, it's cooled down a bit since then but...still...hot. And while we're still in the midst of this heat, let's get the most of the frozen treats that both refresh us and make our hearts and tummies happy.

Like with these popsicles.

Do you all remember when I talked about my Zoku Quick Pop Maker? Well, this is another popsicle I made using my beautiful little pop maker. But I made it up. Soo...sorry for the lack of actual written down ingredient amounts...this is sort of a make it up as you go kinda recipe. It's cool though, we don't need to be completely structured here, right?*

*(omg I'm so control freak-y, planner, type A, that just typing that sentence made me feel wrong.)

Growing up, my house was the only house in the neighborhood (in which children lived anyway) that had A/C. My grandpa owned (and my dad worked at) a heating and cooling company so...I mean obviously we had to have a good system. Anyhow, because of this fact, all the neighbor kids congregated at our house to make the most of the cool, cool, air conditioned air. One of those kids, my (still) best friend Alex, who is living at home for the summer, just tweeted at me that I need to move back home so she can come over and bask in the air conditioning...like old times.

Another very strong summer memory I have is of frozen chocolate covered bananas. They were one of my mom's summer staples and I was always clamoring for them, I LOVED em! Couldn't get enough. They were one of my favorite parts of summer.

So, these pops are sort of meant to emulate those flavors. And...I added peanut butter...because...it's never not a good idea to add peanut butter. Plus some people have peanuts on their frozen chocolate bananas (something I never experienced until trying one at a fair) and so you could say the peanut butter adds that flavor element there.

See? Perfect sense. Eat some popsicles, yo' while we still can!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Popsicles and @ZokuHQ Review

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Generally, I don't like fruits in my desserts. This is the exact opposite of Michael, he pretty much could always do with a strawberry or raspberry or some such thrown in. Where we meet in the middle is chocolate covered strawberries. Ahhh yes. Nothing better than that, really, now is there? I remember for our 1 year anniversary (which was a picnic at Chelsea Piers) we had chocolate covered strawberries that I made and they were pretty much a major highlight of the day.

Now I know you're probably thinking "Yeah, Kayle, those are great. But um...we're looking at pictures of popsicles."

You're absolutely right. We are. Because, thanks to homemade magic shell and the Zoku Single Quick Pop Maker, I was able to make chocolate covered strawberry popsicles. Welcome to summer.

Oh hey and these popsicles are likely to be way better for you than the kind you buy at the store. We're talking just strawberries and water...and then chocolate. Yes, you can add sugar (Michael requested it), but you don't need to. They're refreshing, pretty (hello pretty pretty red color!), and just like "ahhh."

Can't you just imagine lounging by a pool, enjoying your super tasty chocolate covered strawberry popsicle?

Yeah, me too.

And, since it's just Michael and I, the single quick pop maker worked out perfectly. We were able to make 2 or 3 popsicles at a time, and just stored the rest of the strawberry mix in the refrigerator between popsicle uses. Also, if we made more popsicles then we wanted right then, we could just throw the extras in an airtight container and put that in the freezer until we get a hankerin' for some frozen goodness.

Let's talk about the popsicle maker that made this all possible, shall we?

The Zoku Quick Pop Maker (one of many Zoku products) freezes pops in as little as 7 minutes (usually it takes me around 15, but it's hot in my apartment) and is super easy to use! You just need to keep the pop maker in your freezer for at least 24 hours before using (I usually just always keep it in there), put in one of the 3 popsicle sticks your kit comes with, and then pour in whatever juice, etc. you're using to make the popsicles. Then you just wait for a little while. Once ready you use this cool, aptly named, "Super Tool" to loosen the popsicle, and you lift it out. Put on a drip guard (which also comes with it) in case you're messy, like me. And we have popsicles! Woot!

The pop maker comes in red, blue, orange, lime green, or violet (like my pretty maker) and is BPA and Phthalate Free. My new best friend, guys. I'm having so much fun thinking of fun new popsicle ideas!

If you're looking for more Zoku pop maker info or great recipes, check out Zoku's blog, pinterest, twitter, and facebook!