“I think you’d make a …good mother” a friend said to me once.
I looked at her. Who was she kidding? Me?
“No no no. I’d be a terrible one. I’d indulge them with anything they wanted, cook them up cakes and cookies on a whim and feed them ice creams if they looked even slightly flushed. And I’m secretly thinking that I’d inadvertently end up raising a creature like Courtney Stodden. And then she’d end up marrying a 49 year old guy when she was 16…” I said stopping when I realised that I had actually turned the conversation decidedly weird.
“Ummm ok, we don’t need another one. You can stay as a godmother then” she said rethinking her comment.
I realised the truth to these words when I plied Mr NQN with as many icy pops as he could eat and then offered him more. But before you call social services for force feeding and husband abuse, the pops were home made and made with lower fat ingredients and contained less sugar than than what you would buy. The warm weather played a hand in this proliferation of icy treats.
Recently though, the weather has been pretty unSummery to say the least and when I first made these, it was in October when the Summer weather really hit us and on these hot days all I wanted to eat was icy pops. To aid in this venture I was sent a Zoku machine which makes pops in about 10 minutes (review is below). My favourite one for sheer accuracy was the apple pie pop which was just like an apple pie in icy pop form followed by the banana custard pop which was creamy and sweet with caramelised brown sugar bananas and sweet vanilla custard.
Most of these recipes will work in a regular popsicle mold and not just a Zoku although some of the effects like the watermelon pips, hearts and lemon slices won’t come into as dramatic an effect on a regular popsicle although you could add these little bits on later. I’ve shown the recipes from easiest to most difficult although the most difficult is really just the one that takes the longest and requires the most patience. I found this range of ice pops covers those that love fruity, fresh flavours through to those that like a bit of indulgence to those that want an ice pops, like life, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Moi? Who me? Yes ok that would be me!
So tell me Dear Reader, are you a feeder? Or an eater? Or both?
P.S. The winners for the To Market to Market have been announced on this post! Have you won something? Scroll to the bottom to see and then email me asap if you have! xxx
Lemonade Ice Pops
Makes 6 pops
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- lemon slices, cut thinly
Freezing around the edges
1. Stir together all of the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. Using the Zoku fruit wand or tweezers, apply the lemon slices to the walls of the pop molds-they will easily stick. Pour the lemon mixture until the fill line and freeze until set. If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
Super tool which you screw into the top of the stick and then pull out
Banana Custard Coconut Ice Pops
Makes 6 pops
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 ripe bananas, peeled (150g/5ozs)
- 3/4 cup low fat milk
- 1/4 cup low fat vanilla custard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- a few drops coconut extract
- a pinch of cinnamon
1. Prepare the banana filling ahead of time to allow to cool. In a saucepan melt butter and brown sugar over low heat until it starts to thicken. Cut the banana into 1 inch pieces and add to skillet and stir to coat. Remove from heat and mash the incorporate the banana and sauce. Whisk in the milk, custard and honey and add cinnamon and chill completely.
2. Insert sticks into the Zoku machine or fill popsicle molds with the chilled banana mixture and freeze until hard. If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
Watermelon Ice Pops
Makes 6 pops
Watermelon layer
- 250g/8 ozs seedless watermelon chopped into cubes
- 2 tablespoons sugar syrup*recipe below
- 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice
White and green layer
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar syrup
- a drop of green food colouring
Extras
- tiny dark chocolate chips (3 per pop, 18 in total)
1. Make watermelon layer. Blend the watermelon in a food processor and sieve to get the juice out (press against the sieve with a spoon to help it come out). Mix the watermelon juice with the remaining ingredients in a jug or a Zoku jug.
2. In another jug mix the remaining ingredients except for the green colouring. Divide this liquid in half,colouring one half green and leaving the other half white.
3. Insert 3 chocolate chips into the sides of the Zoku pop mold – despite what the recipe said, my chocolate chips didn’t really stick to the sides and fell down into the bottom if you are using a regular popsicle mold your chips will do the same. Pour the watermelon mixture into the pop mold stopping at about 2cms below the fill line. Freeze completely.
4 Using the white mixture, pour a thin layer of the white mixture and allow to set completely. Then add the green mixture and freeze completely. If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
Raspberry Hearts Ice Pops
- 180g/6ozs strawberries or raspberries (can use frozen)
- 1 cup apple juice
- 3-4 tablespoons sugar syrup (I find raspberries tarter so they need more sugar)
- 1/4 apple, very thinly sliced
1. In a small food processor, blend the berries, apple juice and syrup-you can strain this through a fine sieve to get rid of the pips but I left them in. Make sure that this is quite liquid and not frozen to make it easier to pour.
2. Using the small Zoku heart cutter cut out as many apple hearts as you can-I used about 6 on each pop and the more you use the nicer it looks really. Using the wand tool press the fruit against the frozen side of the Zoku walls-the fruit will stick easily especially if it is thinly sliced. If you are using a regular popsicle mold your hearts will not stick to the sides. Pour the berry mixture into the mold and allow to freeze solid. If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
Apple Pie Ice Pops
Makes 6 pops
For apple layer
- 1/2 cup/4ozs. plain unsweetened apple sauce (I used a Beerenberg one)
- 1/2 cup/4 fl ozs. apple juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- a pinch of cinnamon
For vanilla layer
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For crumb layer
- 2 cookies (I used gingernut biscuits), crumbled
1. Make the apple layer by mixing all of the ingredients together in a jug or one of the Zoku containers if using. Do the same to make the vanilla layer.
2. Insert pops into the molds and pour a little of the vanilla layer in first (about 2 teaspoon’s worth). Freeze completely and the add the crumbled cookie crumbs packing down with the blunt end of a chopstick. Pour some apple layer, freeze completely and then alternate until you end on an apple or vanilla layer (not a cookie crumb layer as it is not stable). If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
Sundae Ice Pops
Makes 6 pops
For chocolate fudge layer
- 1 cup water
- 2.5 ozs/70g bittersweet chocolate
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
For vanilla layer
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Extras
- hundreds and thousands or chopped and toasted nuts
- maraschino cherries
- Whipped cream
1. Make the fudge base by melting all ingredient in a saucepan over low heat until the chocolate and sugar are melted-do not boil. Allow to cool.
2. Make the vanilla layer by mixing all of the ingredients together in a jug or one of the Zoku containers if using.
If using a popsicle mold dislodge by running hot water over the mold. If using a Zoku remove by screwing the super tool into the top of the stick and pulling hard.
*Simple sugar syrup
- 1 cup caster or superfine sugar
- 1 cup water
1. Dissolve sugar with water on low heat and then once dissolved, turn up the heat to medium heat and then boil for about 5 minutes until syrupy. Cool and it is then ready.
Zoku review
Even though my con list is actually longer than my pro list I had to say that I really had fun using this product and if I had children (and I have a giant sized child in Mr NQN who once ate 16 ice creams according to his mum) I would covet this product. And Mr NQN loves that I have the Zoku and on the first night of sampling he ate six pops after dinner. You could of course do all of these recipes without a Zoku but it does take more time freezing and setting especially of the layered pops but it’s not insurmountable.
Pros:
- Really fun to make pops-as soon as you make one batch, you want to make another instantly (although it won’t necessarily let you – see below)
- Very easy to use
- You can make ice pops that are lower in fat and calories than bought pops
- You are able to control the amount of sugar and colourings
- Can make creative flavours using fresh summer fruit
- Small and compact to fit in freezer
- Cups (bought separately) are a good size to mix up the ingredients
Cons:
- Can only really make 6 pops at a go (or 3 layered pops as these take longer)
- Layered pops take up to 20 minutes to freeze
- You need a freezer that gets to -18C otherwise this will just not work
- Need to buy extra sticks if you want to have some handy and a storage box (although instead of a storage box you could slip these into ziplock or cellophane bags and then something else to prevent freezer burn)
- Would be great if measuring cups had cup measures so you could measure the ingredients in the cup easily
- Instructions on how to use super tool not in the book
- With layered pops, it can be difficult to get a clean pour-you need a steady hand or some of the mixture will drip down the side
- One of the recipes that I tried (watermelon pop) looked great until I added the yogurt which took away the refreshing quality of watermelon but also the trademark watermelon colour and made it look milky and light pink-it looks like a recipe error. Also the chocolate chips did not adhere to the sides as they suggested.
- It is expensive if you buy tools and storage case and recipe book separately-the whole set that I got would be $206RRP but if you eat a lot of ice blocks from the store then it is cost effective
- The recipe book uses American ingredients like half and half (half cream and half milk) and vanilla pudding mix (I subbed with low fat vanilla custard)
- One item that wasn’t mentioned that you should not use is syrups in a layered pops as syrups do not set. Perhaps obvious to them but it wasn’t to me
(See pic below).
What happens when you use syrup…
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
88 Comments | Add your own
The apple pie pops sound amazing, but I absolutely do not have room for another kitchen gadget. Oh, and its winter.
Lovely pops! I love the Xmassy ones.
Cheers,
Rosa
Those pops look so lovely! It is not so warm here now,but when it gets warm again I would love those. And I wish I had that Zoku machine…
Ooh these look so cute! I love the different flavours and colours and can see how Mr NQN had 6 pops immediately! it does look quite time consuming to make. I am definitely a feeder and an eater too!
YUM! and they look quite healthy compared to store-bought artificial ones!!
Xmas Desserts and summer is sorted. Seems expensive but lots of fun things to make and keep kids happy and busy.
how gorgeous are these!!!
OH they look delicious, but I dont think I could be bothered with this. If I had small children this might be a different matter , I am sure that this could become a ritual.
I have been wanting to make the kids some icy poles!! But I wanted to make them something really special.. as usual you have excelled yourself!!! These look absolutely gorgeous!
My kids would devour these. Pity about the “con” list
If I ate everything I baked, all by myself…they’d need a forklift to get me out of the house xD
I hate to be the food-pusher who is single-handedly responsible for doubling the rate of obesity in Australia, but creating desserts happens to be one of my creative outlets. It’s a moral issue I face every time I bake (no, I’m serious!). Knowing what I know about nutrition, and how bad sugar is, I can’t help but feel guilty whenever I offer someone sweets.
Oops, that came out more morose than I intended
I am both a feeder and a eater! Love being able to share food with family and friends.
I’m definitely a feeder! This is an item I’ve been coveting for a while too now, as I can happily and safely munch away despite food InTolerances. Thanks for the honest of your review, but now I want one even more- with a cherry on top!
Great review! I think the apple pie one would be my fav.
Oh My! ! !
these are wonderful…the hearts are so cute xo
I’m so glad Zoku is available in Australia. They look great Lorraine!
I’m a feeder and an eater. I have a very skinny husband who doesn’t put on weight even though I feed him well.
My cherubs would go crazy for these!
Based on the volume of food left over from Saturday night’s Christmas party – I’m a feeder. Leftovers for days thanks to the Thermomix. The pops look great, but the cons for the machine put me off – and I love a good kitchen gadget!!
These look fabulous but I could never own the ice pop machine. Even tough it’s winter here and very cold I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them! GG
they are so cute but look at that con’s list..
Wow – the heart ones are amazing! And apple pie sure sounds good too!
Your popsicles are cute as! I’ve seen those popsicle makers in the stores but I’m not sure if I can justify my buying one..
I’m definitely both -an eater when it comes to savoury foods and a feeder when it comes to sweet things!
that looks like a lovely little piece of equipment – especially if you have grand kids. I love the one with the hundred and thousands and the cherry on the top!
I totally want one of these gadgets but there is the issue of… do I really neeeed another gadget and storage
they look fabulous!
So pretty! I was considering putting one of those machines on my wedding registry. I love an iceblock on a hot day.
I’m a feeder and an eater but my kids will definitely be coming home to baked goods in the afternoons. I can’t wait to bake for them!
Thank you great receipes and great review of the product.
I’m definitely a feeder. It is the European in me. But as delicious as these look I think as a busy mum they look like they would be rather time consuming (and messy) to make. Perhaps I’ll stick to the water and milky ice-block home-made ones for now.
Thanks for the perfect gift idea. I know what to get my nieces and nephews. Thank you and I am going to do some Zoku online shopping now. Wish me luck!
Can I have one of each? Or did Mr. NQN devour them all? I don’t blame him. I sure would!
These look truly pretty, and, it being Christmas, for once I don’t think we should talk about sugars and other somewhat naughties
! Love the one with the hearts! But perhaps where the machine finds a home there should be children? I must have a slightly selfish streak in me, ’cause I am definitely an eater, tho’ I do love it when the food I have cooked is appreciated by others 
!
Popsickles, or paletas, are an art form here in Mexico. Very, very popular. Your flavors could definitely compete!
I’m half Southern American, half Italian. Of course I am a feeder. And an eater as well!
Happy Holidays!
ThAt Sundae pop had my name written all over it!
A really enjoyable post and especially like you inclusion of ‘cons’ for layered pops.
Well researched & written.
Wow!!! What an inspiring post! I love these! Can’t wait to make some for a summery day.
I like how the one with the lemon looks, gives a touch of refresh inside the pop.
All the recipes are wonderful, not sure about that pop tool, I mean, only 6 at the time…but have to admit that if Santa give it as a present I will ove him…once again…
I’m a feeder.
How come there are so much of conssss!!!
i’m chilly here but these have me craving ice pops!
Such pretty pictures. It would be fun to spend a hot summer day eating these in every colour of the rainbow!
Yum, yum, yum!!! Your ice pops look fabulous!!! So many flavours, but I think the banana custard is my favourite!
As to whether I’m a feeder or eater….I’d have to say both *blushes*.
Those are the cutest icy pops I ever seen. It’s winter here and I’m craving them.
And I’m totally a feeder. I feed people for a living.
They look like fun with the decroations etc but really some icetups from Tupperware would do the same job (tastewise) with a little more time for freezing and it’s so much cheaper.
I can see why someone would love it though – and your icecreams look divine!!!
I saw an ad for Zoku in an issue of Donna Hay magazine and was thinking what a nifty gadget it would be – particularly in light of our tropical climate in these parts! And those pops you made won’t come amiss given the distressingly un-Christmas-like weather we’re having here.
These all look so colorful and amazing! How I wish it was summer here!
Totally bookmarked this for next summer. I bought ice pops maker this summer but didn’t get a chance to use it as much. I’m looking forward to trying these recipes…and oh boy your ice pops look so professional!!! Really gorgeous and photogenic! Pinned!
Definitely want to try the icy poles but wouldn’t buy the machine due to room issues in my kitchen and it is so much easier to just buy a set of moulds – when we have more weather like on the weekend will have to try these out
I was interested in your comment about the syrup as I just tried making ice cream on the weekend that didn’t set well – never knew you could defeat a freezer like that!
oh my effin god your ice pops looks AMAZING! i love every one of them esp the raspberry one with apple hearts!
awesome!!! I think I’m both
The lemonade ones are the cutes I think!
Heidi xo
The apple pie pops sound great to me along some others. I have a raging sore throat and could use something like this right now to calm it. Wish I lived closer. They all look great and as usual, they are made beautifully. I will have to find something before Summer or in the Summer to make a few of these. I have not seen something like you used. Oh, the banana custard also stood out for me. I will have to print this recipe and put it in my special folder for desserts. YUM!!!
Great review! The ice pops look gorgeous XD With all the cons, I’m not too sure if I’d want to buy the Zoku set, I’m sure there’s better ones out there…
Definitely a feeder
I love the look of your pops, the apple pie one looks and sounds amazing, I can see why it was your fave. It does look really fun to use and experiment with. Perfect icy treats if Summer ever gets here!
Oh.My.God.Delicious!
Those are hands down the prettiest ice pops I have ever seen! You can be my mum any day
oh so pretty ice pops! i have to confess that i’m a feeder!
Thanks for posting, I was wanting to get a Zoku since I saw them but as delicious as your pops look I will have to have a good think as there does seem to be quite a few cons. I am a feeder as well as a eater
as soon as anyone walks through the door I always ask if they are hungry !
Yummy I have a zoku but haven’t used it yet, this gives me the incentive.
Love that first shot Lorraine! And that’s saying something as you know I am knee deep in soy ice cream at the moment and can barely stand the sight of anything from the freezer!
i love to cook treats for my daughter, problem is she loves the cooking process and eating the batter/dough more then the cookie/cake. so i end up being the feeder and eater! she is looking at this post with me and loves the raspberry hearts and the sundae one, wants me to make it for her apparently
Oh my god, I totally think that if I ever have kids, I’ll turn them into little fattyboombahs within the first five years. Seeing as I eat like I’m a child myself half the time…
Love the watermelon ones the best aesthetically, but would love to try the apple pie ones too
My niece and nephews would go nuts over these! Art on a stick!
cutest ice pops ever. The watermelon is so cute!
Ooh I want to try one of each! I need a Godmother like you
Oh NQN these look absolutely HEAVENLY!! I am obsessed with the cherry-topped one, I just want to lick my computer screen!!
My Zoku just arrived from Peters of Kensington (much cheaper too), can’t wait to open it at christmas and make pops for the kids
I’ll trade places w/ you–it’s cold and rainy here!
I love my Zoku. You are right though, if you want to be creative it can take a while to get your perfect pop made. Its a fab idea and I am looking forward to using mine again once Summer actually hits..
Oh my gosh, these are beautiful!
How clever are you! These are amazing!
What a fun line-up of pops and recipes, Lorraine! Love these flavors.
I actually have a similar set on my Amazon wish list and hope someone reads it!
Good honest review!
These are so so cute….
I love ice pops and these look so adorable…
In my part of the world it’s cold but don’t ice pops taste even better when its CHILLY outside…. Yup They DO.
I’ve seen these all over the place at the moment, so thanks for the review.
I think I’ll pass on buying one, because it sounds like a novelty item that would be fun for a bit but would then become too bothersome to pull out all the time.
I almost bought a Zoku the other day! But ended up going for an ice cream maker and regular moulds and I’ve failed at making ice creams, the flavour was nice (Vanilla bean with Christmas spices!) but I had real trouble with getting the ice creams to come out of the moulds, the stick just came out of the ice creams and we ended up using spoons to eat from the moulds. Maybe I need a Zoku after all! Your pops look great
These are so perfect
def love the banana custard! Yum!!
I may have to make the banana one immediately.
Love these! Rolling them out for the Holidays
Thanks!
they’re awesome! i’m probably going to try make them
Over feeding is a sign of love. Nothing wrong with it. These icy pops make me wish it was warmer.
The minute I saw the first picture I was wondering how you made those hearts. All of the popsicles are adorable, you are always so original!
These look so fun and full of colour, but alas as an earlier poster mentioned – too many gadgets, we have had to buy an extra cupboard for them as it is.
Be great for the wee ones though.
Those ice pops are adorable. It is winter where I am put want one anyway.
Absolutely adorable!! xx
Hey! I made zoku ice pops in my maker last summer as well
Summer in US is winter in AUS. Much too cold for ice pops these days… but definitely some great ideas for NEXT summer!
how fun, lorraine! i always forget that it’s summer for you, but i’d still enjoy these in the dead of winter.
I think I know what I want for Christmas now
your pop make this gloomy Summer warm and fuzzy!
pops*
omg! so cute! the heart ones are my fave!
OMG!!! Really good Products. I am crazy to eat these.
This is such a comprehensive review. Have heard about these Zoku pop makers, but was 1) unsure how good they are and 2) have no space whatsoever for yet another kitchen gadget. It is a shame that you can only make so few at a go, but my goodness they are pretty! And prettiness trumps everything.. right?
An awesome resource that we are sharing our on FB page today; great to find you! We have the Zoku on introductory special along with all accessories too, please check us out for your Zoku needs: http://www.buxtonbaby.com.au/zokuquickpopmakeroriginal-p-620.html Thanks so much for supporting our Australian family owned and operated business.
Hi
Quick question about your zip lock bags for ice pops, where did you get these from? Perfect size, I am holding a stall at a farmers market for ice pops made from local fruits and I think they would be perfect to store each pop in.
Post a Comment