Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

We’ve been snowed in for three days, cooped up, with nothing but ice and snow outside, and here I am, sharing a popsicle recipe. I know.

But look at that color! It is Valentine’s Day after all…

More importantly, we’re also in the midst of Winter citrus season and I just can’t get enough. I’m buying citrus like it’s going out of style. Lovely Meyer lemons, tart tangerines and dark-fleshed moro oranges are taking over our kitchen counters.

Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

I’d been working on developing a cherry-vanilla-coconut ice cream (also not particularly seasonally appropriate), and during taste-tests, realized the coconut base would also work really well for popsicles, and would be pretty incredible combined some fresh citrus juice. You know, that creamy-sweet/tart mix.

Middle of winter be damned, I broke out the ice pop mold and whipped up a quick batch of creamy, tangy, blood orange and coconut popsicles. They just so happen to be vegan, have no refined sugar, and are pretty darn heavenly. They remind me of Creamsicles, but all grown up. You can make these pops with any citrus juice of your choosing, and really any fresh fruit in season, adjusting the sweetness as necessary. So file these away for warmer days if you wish, or indulge now with these sweet, tangy treats and forget for a moment that it’s snowing outside…

Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

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Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles | Fork Knife Swoon

Creamy Coconut and Blood Orange Popsicles

  • Author: Fork Knife Swoon
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 10 popsicles 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (15 oz) can full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla bean paste or extract
  • 11/4 cup fresh blood orange juice, pulp okay
  • 1/4 cup light agave nectar/syrup, more or less to taste

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the coconut milk, vanilla and 2 tbsp of the agave nectar/syrup until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  2. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the blood orange juice and the remaining agave, until combined. Add more agave, to taste, as necessary.
  3. For a creamy pop: Stir together the coconut milk and blood orange juice, and divide evenly between the popsicle molds. Freeze for 30 minutes, then insert the popsicle sticks and continue freezing for 4 hours, or until firm.
  4. For a layered pop: Pour the coconut milk into the popsicle mold, divided evenly between the popsicle molds. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes, then top with the blood orange juice. Freeze again for 30 minutes, then insert the popsicle sticks and continue freezing for 4 hours, or until firm.

Notes

Substitute any kind of citrus juice for the blood orange juice, adjusting the sweetness level as necessary. Remember, the sweetness will mellow once frozen.

You can substitute granulated sugar for the agave syrup, if you prefer. I haven’t tried it, but honey would also be a good substitute, although it may add a different flavor to the pops. Agave syrup/nectar is up to 40% sweeter than granular sugar, so increase the amount of sugar accordingly if you go that route.

I choose to use full-fat coconut milk in this (and most) frozen coconut recipes because it results in a creamier frozen texture that more closely mimics dairy cream. You can certainly use a lower fat-content coconut milk, but it will result in an “icier” textured pop.

To remove the popsicles, either let them sit out for 5-10 minutes until soft enough to pull out, or submerge the bottom of the popsicle mold (up to the edge of the top) in room-temperature water for 10-15 seconds, then gently pull to release.