Creamy Honey Mango Popsicles

It has been a sweltering summer all over the country. Fortunately, in Kona, the heat has been tempered by rainy evenings. All this rain has resulted in bumper crops of lychee, mango, and limes. Friends and neighbors bring baskets full of fruit hoping you can do something with the overabundance of their trees. As beautiful mangoes and limes piled up on my kitchen counter, I decided to beat the heat by using them in popsicles.

These popsicles fit the bill for me: a frozen treat that is fruity, creamy, and luscious! Roasting the mangoes with honey creates a slight caramelization and depth of flavor.

The creaminess of the Lehua honey contributes to the smooth texture and helps prevent ice crystals from forming, while its delicate flavor keeps it sweet without overpowering the fruitiness.

This recipe has been adapted from a recipe by cookieandkate.com

Ingredients:

Makes 6 Popsicles

• 12 oz to 1 lb peeled and sliced mango (I used one large Hayden mango)
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon Organic Ohia Lehua Honey ( divided)
• 2 cups of full-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon of lime juice
• A dash of sea salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Arrange the mango slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dab the 1 Tablespoon of Lehua honey, in small bits on top of the slices of mango. Lehua honey is thick, therefore, it does not drizzle easily. However, the little dabs will melt nicely in the hot oven. Roast the slices for 30 minutes or until the edges begin to brown and the slices are soft.
2. While the fruit is roasting, blend the yogurt, lime juice, salt, and 1/4 cup of lehua honey in a large bowl. Blend the honey in well. Taste and add more honey or lime juice if needed. Put the bowl in the refrigerator.
3. Remove the fruit from the oven and let it cool. When it is at room temperature, scrape the mangoes and juices into the bowl of yogurt mix. Fold the fruit into the yogurt, breaking the slices into smaller pieces.
4. Using a large spoon, divide the mixture into 6 popsicle molds. Insert the popsicle sticks and place the molds in the freezer until frozen, which can take several hours.
5. When ready to eat, pop out the popsicles from the mold by running warm water around the outside of the molds for several seconds. Eventually, the popsicle will slip right out. Eat right away before it melts in the hot summer sun!