Cool Desserts

Ever want something a little snacky? If you're like most of us (or, at least, like me), you do occasionally want something a little snacky, especially if it's summer, and it's a cool dessert. Check out today's offerings, which include Gingerbread Nice Cream and Strawberry and Sesame Swirl Soft Serve. Enjoy!

4-INGREDIENT FROZEN LEMONADE PIE

This is from the Food Network, and begins, ""This easy-to-make pie is sweet and tart - just like the drink. Don't stop at lemon, though; try any other fruit sorbet for a variation."

Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (includes freezing time); Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/4-ingredient-frozen-lemonade-pie-3365016.

Ingredients

1 cup lemon sorbet

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

2/3 cup heavy cream

One 9-inch graham cracker pie crust

Directions

Put the sorbet in a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted. Stir in the condensed milk and let cool.

Put the cream in another medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until it is thick and holds a ribbony shape when you run the beaters through it (do not let it form soft peaks), 2 to 3 minutes. Gently stir the thickened cream into the lemon sorbet mixture and pour into the pie crust. Smooth out into an even layer. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and freeze until set, about 2 hours or up to overnight.

SIMPLE WATERMELON ICE CREAM

This is from a Publix email. Servings: 6; Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 6 hours, 16 minutes

To view this online, go to https://ww4.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-simple-meals/barbecue-cheddar-chicken-pasta-with-simple-watermelon-ice-cream. It comes with another recipe (Barbecue-Cheddar Chicken Pasta).

Note: Remove ice cream from freezer 15 minutes before serving for easier scooping.

Ingredients

1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled/grated

2 cups fresh watermelon chunks

4 fresh mint leaves

3 cups heavy whipping cream

1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Plastic wrap

Directions

Peel ginger, then grate (2 tablespoons). Place watermelon in blender (or food processor); blend until smooth and pureed. Add mint leaves; blend until combined.

Beat whipping cream, condensed milk, ginger, vanilla, and salt with electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form. Slowly pour in 1 cup watermelon mixture, while continuing to beat on high, until combined.

Pour cream mixture into large loaf pan. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of cream mixture to help prevent ice crystals. Freeze 6 hours (or overnight) until firm. Serve. (Makes 8 servings.)

STRAWBERRY AND SESAME SWIRL SOFT SERVE

This is from Clare de Boer in The New York Times (Wednesday, July 8, 2020). Clare wrote, "Strawberries and cream get a double dose of sesame from tahini and halvah. The tahini adds richness, and the slightly salty halvah has a cookie-dough effect: Everyone will mine for it. Eat it quickly before it melts, ideally with extra halvah on standby."

Time: 1 minute; Yield: 2 servings (about 2 cups)

This was featured in "Turn Your Frozen Fruit Into the Simplest Soft Serve", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021222-strawberry-and-sesame-swirl-soft-serve.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen strawberries (about 10 ounces)

1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt or labneh

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 tablespoons tahini

4 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar

1/4 cup sesame halvah (about 2 ounces), plus more for garnish

Preparation

Place the strawberries, yogurt, cream, tahini and sugar in a blender or food processor, and blitz, scraping down the sides as needed, until smooth.

Crumble the halvah on top and stir through to distribute. Serve in chilled glasses with more halvah crumbled on top. Eat quickly.

AVOCADO-GREEN TEA POPSICLE

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, "This grown-up popsicle is made creamy from the combination of avocado and yogurt. It tastes indulgent without many calories attached to it."

Makes 6 servings

View this online at https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/avocado-green-tea-popsicle.

Ingredients

1 avocado (halved, pitted)

1 banana (peeled, roughly chopped)

1 cup fat-free milk

1/2 cup fat-free, plain Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon green tea matcha powder

1 tablespoon honey

Directions

Halve the avocado and remove the pit. Spoon the avocado's flesh into a food processor or blender, also adding the chopped banana, milk, yogurt, matcha powder, and honey.

Purée until mixture is smooth.

Carefully pour mixture into 6 (4-ounce) popsicle molds. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours.

Run the outside of the popsicle mold under warm water to easily remove popsicle from the mold.

Quick Tips

Cooking Tip: Matcha is a finely powdered green tea loaded with many antioxidants, often found at health food stores, if not in the tea aisle of the grocery store. Consider adding 1 to 2 teaspoons into a morning smoothie or make an afternoon drink of fat-free milk, matcha powder, and ice in the blender.

Keep it Healthy: Trying to reduce sugar intake? Adding a banana or other ripe fruit, like in this popsicle recipe, is a smart way to add sweetness.

Tip: Add a little ice into this recipe to turn this into a smoothie for 2. Or, sprinkle a little granola into the popsicle molds before filling with the base to make this into a breakfast popsicle.

GINGERBREAD NICE CREAM

This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "Boosted with molasses, vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, this frozen banana treat embodies the essence of gingerbread. Go easy on the ginger; any more than we call for could make the nice cream bitter. Serve right away, when the mixture is smooth, creamy, and the texture of soft serve. If you’d rather firm it up for more defined scoops, transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or other container and freeze for a couple of hours."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes; Serves: 4; Serving size: 3/4 cup nice cream and 1 crumbled cookie; Difficulty: Easy; 3 points

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 large Bananas

2 Tbsp Molasses

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/8 tsp ground ginger

4 crumbled gingersnaps

Directions

Peel bananas; cut into slices and place in a zip-top plastic freezer bag. Seal and freeze until frozen sold, at least 3 hours.

Place frozen bananas in a food processor; process on high until very finely chopped, about 2 minutes. Drizzle with molasses and vanilla, and sprinkle with cinnamon and ginger. Process on high until completely smooth, 2 to 3 more minutes; stop to scrape sides of bowl occasionally.

Divide nice cream among 4 bowls; top with crumbled gingersnaps.

STRAWBERRY "NICE" CREAM

This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "You only need three ingredients to make this creamy and refreshing dessert. It's perfect for when you want something cold to snack on in the summer but don't want to eat into your SmartPoints® Budget. Just be sure you have the time to completely freeze the banana and strawberries so that they blend to the right consistency."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Times: 3 hours 10 minutes; Serves: 4; Serving: 1/2 cup; Difficulty: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Unsweetened frozen strawberries, sliced

2 large ripe Bananas

1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

Directions

Peel bananas and cut them into 1-inch chunks. Place them in a large zip-close plastic freezer bag. Seal and freeze until frozen solid, 2 to 3 hours.

Place frozen bananas and frozen sliced strawberries in food processor; puree, scraping down side of bowl with rubber spatula. Add vanilla extract and pulse.

Serve immediately or, for a firmer texture, transfer to a container and freeze until ready to serve; allow to soften about 10 minutes at room temperature. Garnish with fresh berries and mint leaves if desired.