How To Make Healthy Frozen Treats At Home

A scoop and a lick is the best way to beat the heat this summer — and the frozen treats don't stop at ice cream. From icy granitas to homemade and healthy ice pops, these cool and refreshing sweets are all we want on a hot summer day. Relaxing by the pool or ocean side is an idea way to chill out with one of these treats — but these are so good that straight out of the freezer at home isn't bad either.

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A granita is one of the easiest frozen treats to make at home — and an ice cream machine is not needed. The frozen dessert is made from sugar, water, and flavorings such as citrus, watermelon, or even coffee. All you need is a baking pan, a fork, and of course, a freezer. The icy dessert forms as you scrape the ice crystals with a fork every 30 minutes as it freezes. After, the ice will be fluffy and the frozen crystals will melt in your mouth — obviously.

Homemade ice pops are another healthy treat to make at home. Mix simple syrup with fresh fruit puree and pour into ice pop molds and freeze. If you don't have ice pop molds, you can always use small paper cups with popsicle sticks. Use your imagination to create different flavor combinations using the summer fruit that you like best. Our recipe for a homemade creamsicle is always a favorite! 

So, cool off with some of these frozen treats and make your summer not only sweet and refreshing, but healthy. With fresh and sweet summer fruit, you can even cut down on some of the added sugar and simply rely on the sweet and ripe fruit to give you your sugar rush.

Concord Grape Granita Recipe

Concord grapes are so sweet and juicy that they seem to explode in your mouth. Using the juice to make an icy granita is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this superfood. The addition of lime provides a nice tart flavor to balance out some of the sweetness. The fresh mint infused into the syrup and the sprinkle of salt gives it a bit of finesse and makes this light dessert even more refreshing. This is a perfect recipe for splurging on a high-quality sea salt like fleur de sel — sprinkled over the granita just before serving will give it a burst of flavor, visual appeal, and even texture. – Kitchen Confidence by Kelsey Nixon

Click here to see the Concord Grape Granita Recipe

Orange Cream Ice Pops Recipe

This take on a classic frozen treat is both refreshing and bursting with bright orange flavor. Made with yogurt and fresh orange juice, this tasty ice pop is a healthy choice for a summer sweet tooth.

Click here to see the Orange Cream Ice Pops Recipe

Click here to see more Healthy Frozen Treats

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.