ORANGE AND BEETROOT ICE LOLLIES (V+, R, GF, P, CHF, GRF)
I live at the top of a hill, just by a playground and a big park overlooking the city of London. It’s a beautiful, beautiful location and I often have to pinch myself – I feel so lucky. But in the summer, things go a bit crazy. Actually, a bit very crazy ;). You see, the ice cream man arrives, – Disney songs blazing from his van and all. And he parks right in front of my home, not once, not twice, but usually about three times a day. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a soft spot for cheesy Disney songs, so I don’t mind that. BUT I do mind the content of his van – ice creams full of sugar, non-organic dairy products, additives, colourings and preservatives.
It is SO hard to keep my pre-schooler away from that stuff. So, my trick: make your own, better, wholefood version of orange and beetroot ice lollies with gorgeous colours galore and more flavours than your taste buds can handle. HA ice cream man, back at ya!
Adapted from a recipe in the stunning cookbook Rawsome Vegan Baking.
ORANGE AND BEETROOT ICE LOLLIES (V+) (R) (GF) (P) (ChF) (GrF)
Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes
Makes: 8 ice lollies (buy the mold here)
Ingredients for the Orange Layer:
1tbs maple syrup
Flesh of 2 small, sweet, ripe oranges peeled and pitted
1.5tbs (25ml) of melted coconut oil
Ingredients for the Beetroot Layer:
90g of fresh young coconut meat (I used the flesh of 1 small coconut but see Tips below if you don't have this to hand)
4 small organic dates, pitted (about 50g)
100g cashews (briefly soaked, just to soften them OR preferably soaked overnight if you can)
240ml of beet juice (juice of about 2 beets weighing 300g) OR juice of 1 beetroot (120ml) and 120ml of coconut water
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients for the orange layer in a blender. I used a vitamix, but any old blender will do. Pour the mixture into the molds and place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
Then blend the ingredients for the beetroot layer together in a blender and pour this onto the set orange layer. Then place the molds back into the freezer to set. All done!
Tip: Please don't worry if you can't get hold of a fresh coconut. Just omit as the ice cream can set without it.
