summer food: roasted strawberry creamsicles
Jun 29, 2010 
It’s early in the growing season still and our garden is just starting to take shape, but a short trip north of Seattle in the Skagit Valley, farm stands are coming out of hibernation and strawberries are booming. I coerced my family to pull over for a few pints of these red gems on a recent road trip, and packed a few pints in the cooler next to my husband’s Busch Light (ah, the irony). So what’s one to do with perfectly ripe, still-a-little-dirt-on-them-fresh strawberries? Not much, that’s what. Far be it for me to think I can improve on anything so flawless. I must leave that to my sweet, little daughter Beatrice and blame her acute popsicle addiction.
Beatrice has never met a frozen dessert she did not like. She is an equal opportunity ice cream eater, but popsicles are her vice of choice. Fruit, fudge or whatever it is they put in a Foxypop, she will consume it with an extraordinary amount of toddler glee. So I figured I would do Bea a solid and make something special for my pop-eating-pal, while at the same time give her a break from the Driscoll’s “franken-berries” that I reluctantly resort to in the dreary winter months.
In order to make deliciously potent pops like these, I like to slow-roast the strawberries first. It takes a little time; just enough to draw out some moisture, but not turn them into fruit leather. This step really intensifies their flavor (so don’t skip it!) and as an added bonus for your efforts, the process gives off the most intoxicating aroma. A quick twirl in the food processor with some creamy ingredients, then a firm-up in the freezer, and folks, you have summer on a stick. -Sarah
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh strawberries
1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 vanilla bean
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 250.
In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with sugar and balsamic vinegar until coated. Scrape the vanilla bean seeds from the pod and add to the strawberry mixture, tossing again until the vanilla seeds are evenly distributed. Turn berries into a shallow roasting pan and slow-roast for 2 hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
In a food processor or blender, add roasted strawberries along with any juices at the bottom of the pan, cream and milk and process for about 45 seconds (the mixture will look like a fairly thick smoothie.) Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until pops are completely firm, about 3-4 hours. Makes about six 2-ounce pops.
dessert, food, sarah flotard, strawberry creamsicles in food and drink
Reader Comments (14)
Perfect in every way! Thanks for sharing. Yum.
This sounds awesome, except for the fact that vanilla bean is super expensive, I'd make this a lot more often!
I'm drooling, those look delicious! I'm thinking they'd make a great 4th of July treat, I just might have to try my hand at these!
Hi Sarah,
As far as the vanilla bean goes, you can eliminate it and will still have a great pop. Or, you can further experiment with this recipe and give a 1/2 tsp of good vanilla extract a try. I haven't used it, but would love to hear your results!
Happy summer!!
Sarah
This sounds amazing! Can't wait to try it!!! Thanks for sharing
once again, the flotard flare makes an average day extraordinary! can't wait to pop these little suckers in the freezer and enjoy them with ada & owen. thanks for the post! xx
Not only do those pops look delicious, who is that gorgeous child eating them??!!!
these look so tasty and with two little ones any way to stay cool in Oklahoma without resorting to really sugary popsicles is a winner in my book
Ha ha - here in Vancouver BC we are also so enjoying our break from the Driscoll's fare in favour of sweet local berries for such a brief time. Where did you get your pop maker from? I covet it....(got to try this for my pop ( he call them ice cubes) loving boy)
Hi Charlotte,
I got my popsicle tray earlier this spring at Ikea. Was an impulse buy at the check-out. I'm a sucker for all those bins of stuff you have to pass by the get to the register!
Have fun cooking,
Sarah
I think those are actually strawberry dreamsicles!!!
Boy that little girl in the picture eating that pop is CUTE.
Thanks for the recipe. I think I'll have to try this one - one of my girls is allergic to raw fruit. I don't know why - but if I cook it, she doesn't get an itchy throat. I'll have to try this one, she'll be thrilled to eat strawberries again!
Sarah - this recipe is fantastic! We totally love it and I'm buying out local strawberries to make more. Do you have any ideas for the piles of raspberries at the market? Thanks!