How to Make Strawberry Mango Popsicles

Mango is one of my favorite fruits, and it reminds me of my mother and is a fruit that connects me to my Dominican heritage. Learning the smell of ripe mangoes and learning when it's ready takes some practice.

It may not be a fruit that we can find locally, but part of making things from scratch and being intentional with our cooking is making food that feels true to us and that we have a connection with.

Mango is the main ingredient that makes these homemade popsicles so refreshing. The combination of mango and strawberry is sweet and tropical but also has a subtle tartness that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients. If you can't find fresh mangoes at your local grocery store, you can use mango puree or nectar instead and get fresh mango flavor.

these homemade ice pops are the perfect summer treat.

• 1 cup of frozen or fresh mango chunks (available in the frozen section of most grocery stores)
• 1 cup mango nectar
• ½ cup of frozen strawberries

Start by blending a cup of mango chunks with 2 tablespoons each of coconut cream and whole milk. Next, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.

• wooden popsicle sticks
• silicone popsicle mold: this one is my favorite popsicle mold but if you don't have one on hand, you can use ice cube trays, or even a muffin tin to make this frozen treat

• Make sure to peel the mango and cut it into chunks.
• Add the mango pieces to a blender and all other ingredients listed above (lemon juice, sugar, water).

• Blend until smooth in a blender or food processor—about 15 seconds on high speed should do it!
• Pour the popsicle mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4-6 hours before removing it from the freezer to enjoy your tasty treats!

You can serve your mango popsicles as a dessert, as part of a breakfast or brunch spread, or as an afternoon snack. If you're serving them for dessert or with other sweets (like chocolate), try pairing them with yogurt, fruit, granola, and nuts. If you're pairing it with savory foods like cheese or meat, consider serving it with crackers or bread instead.

Once you've assembled your popsicles and put them in the freezer, they should be ready for at least 3 months. If you want to make them ahead of time, freeze the popsicles without the sticks first (this is easier than it sounds—just insert a toothpick or skewer instead of a stick). Then, when you're ready to serve them, just insert the sticks right before serving.

Mango is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, vitamin A, potassium, and B6. In addition, Mango popsicles are creamy because of the frozen fruit. If you don't have time to freeze them overnight (or just want a quicker solution), you can blend 1 cup mango pulp with ¼ cup milk or yogurt for a similar effect.

1. Peel and slice your mangoes. You can use any size of mangoes for this recipe, but we recommend using about ½ cup of fresh fruit per popsicle.