Sugar free ice lollies for kids and adults

What a surprise this weather has been.  Can you believe a few days ago we were barely in double figures and now the temperature gauge is hitting 25oC with ease?

Well because of the heat and generally being busy, I have to apologise for the lapse in posts but I think you'll agree although this recipe is simple, it's the ideal one for these sticky days.

People always think of juice as a healthy option and, in some ways it is but it's also worth remembering that it's quite high in natural sugar so it's not something you'd want to serve all of the time as a drink.  Juice made into a dessert though, like in my sugar free jelly recipe or as a lolly it means it takes longer for your kids (or you) to consume and feels more like you've had something more than just a drink.

Sugar Free Ice Lollies - Great for kids, (or parents)

Ingredient

Fruit juice of your choice, I used apple juice

Method

Pour the juice into a lolly mould not filling all of the way to the top, allow a small gap for expansion.  Put into the freezer until fully frozen (I left them overnight).

To unmould, if they stick, pour over some boiling water over the mould you are trying to loosen.  Pull out and serve!

Not all kids are into ice cream and ice lollies, my son isn't amazingly keen on eating cold things but this is certainly a great alternative to buying an ice lolly full of artificial ingredients and significantly cheaper too.  Here for example, is an ingredient list for a fruit flavoured ice lolly (source: mysupermarket.co.uk):

Water, Fruit Juices from Concentrate (25%) (Orange, Pineapple, Lemon, Raspberry, Black Currant), Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Citric Acid, Stabilisers (Guar Gum, Sodium Alginate, Carrageenan), Flavourings, Colours (E104, E124, E110, E100, E162, E133)), Emulsifier (E471)

Three of those colourings are associated with hyperactivity in children.  Now for much of the time I am of the opinion that artificial colours are probably not going to be the end of the world but my big beef is why put them in?  It makes no flavour difference.  Kids don't need food to look like it's made out of lego to eat it!  If you want colour, why not play around with this?  Layer up different flavours?  What about grape, apple and mango!

Some babies even like ice lollies, especially when teething, just be watchful for breaking pieces in their mouths if they are very young.

Enjoy the British summer while it lasts!

Update:  Toddler has now decided he loves ice lollies and why on earth does he not have them more often?  Hit with the boy and with Daddy!