August 23, 2021

Fresh Peach, Blueberry and Vanilla Layered Popsicles

Guess what?

It’s still Summer!

I know. I’m on my soapbox again about pumpkin, Halloween candy (yes, it’s already in the stores) and all things Fall. Sorry, but it’s WAY too early for that stuff. It’s not even September yet! Can we all just agree to enjoy these last few fleeting weeks of Summer without the infusion of cinnamon and nutmeg into everything? I’d appreciate that. And so would all your local farmers.

Ok. I’m done for now.

So let’s talk about something much happier and more seasonally appropriate: popsicles! These Fresh Peach, Blueberry and Vanilla Layered Popsicles combine two of my favorite late Summer fruits: peaches and blueberries. I often put these two ingredients together when baking pies, cobblers, crisps and more. But I decided this intense August heat deserved something cool and refreshing instead. Popsicles were an easy choice!

There are three yummy layers to these popsicles. The two fruit layers require you to cook down the fruit with some orange juice and sugar, then purée the mixture in your blender. But the process is streamlined in such a way that you can use the same saucepan and blender throughout. And since we’re starting with the lighter colored peach layer before moving onto the darker colored blueberry layer, you don’t even have to bother cleaning out your saucepan and blender in between uses. There isn’t any significant color bleed-through to worry about.

The third layer is just your favorite vanilla ice cream (you can even use a dairy-free version). So that’s an easy one! The only prep you have to do for this layer is remembering to take the ice cream out of your freezer about a half hour before you need it, so it’s softened and easily spooned into your popsicle molds.

What late Summer treats are you enjoying right now? I’d love to hear how you’re squeezing in as many fruits, vegetables and herbs as possible!

Cheers,

Liz

Get the Recipe:

Fresh Peach, Blueberry and Vanilla Layered Popsicles

At a Glance:

Yield: Makes 10-12 popsicles, depending on your mold

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes

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Ingredients

For the Peach Layer:

• 2 cups chopped yellow peaches (from about 2 peaches)
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the Blueberry Layer:

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the Vanilla Layer:

• About 1 cup vanilla ice cream, softened at room temperature

Instructions

1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the chopped peaches, 1/2 cup orange juice and 2 tablespoons sugar to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes, or until the peaches start to break down. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Once cooled, transfer the peach mixture to your blender and blend on high until puréed. Spoon the peach purée into your popsicle molds, filling each about a third of the way full. Place in your freezer while you make the blueberry layer.
2. Using the same saucepan, bring the blueberries, 1/2 cup orange juice and 2 tablespoons sugar to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes, or until the blueberries start to break down. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Once cooled, transfer the blueberry mixture to your blender (no need to clean it out from above) and blend on high until puréed. Carefully spoon the blueberry purée into your popsicle molds over the peach layer. Place in your freezer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Carefully spoon the vanilla ice cream into your popsicle molds over the blueberry layer. Insert popsicle sticks into your molds and place in your freezer to firm up completely, about 6-8 hours. 
4. To easily remove the popsicles from their molds, run a little warm water over the outside of the molds to help loosen/release them.