Peaches and Coconut Cream Popsicles

 

peaches-and-coconut-cream-popsicles

Oh, the memories that popsicles bring to mind. I can remember hot summer days when Mama would let us run through the oscillating sprinkler. We just had the one so we would line up and run through one at a time, jumping the ice-cold well water and laughing the whole time. When she would finally make us stop before we ran the well dry, we would bask in the warm sun with our bright green, red, orange, or purple popsicles to dry off before we would start again.

All these years later, I still keep those same popsicles in my freezer for those hot days when I’m working in the yard. But I have also taken it a step further by making homemade popsicles. Popsicles are perfect for the whole family and make an excellent summertime dessert. You can find a wide variety of molds and even the quick-setting popsicle makers that I like for convenience.

Peaches are in season, so pick some up for these incredible Peaches and Coconut Cream Popsicles. They are amazing and quite addicting. I usually make a double batch because they do not last long!

Peaches and Coconut Cream Popsicles
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
  • ½ c. granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 c. fresh peach puree
  • 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp. orange juice
Instructions
  1. Pour the coconut milk into a medium saucepan. Add sugar and heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Puree the peeled and sliced peaches with 2 tbsp. sugar and orange juice in a food processor until smooth (a few small chunks will be okay).
  3. Combine the coconut milk and peach mixtures. Pour into a large jar and refrigerate until cool.
  4. When cool, pour into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm. Remove from molds and serve.

 

Fresh Peach Pound Cake with Peach Glaze

Fresh Peach Poundcake

Have you visited your local farmers’ market lately? You can find wonderful, fresh produce, fresh eggs, freshly baked bread, plants and locally made cheeses at many farmers’ markets today. The farmer’s market is a great place to find fresh food while supporting local farmers in your community. Buying local only strengthens the local economy, but is also good for our planet. Food raised regionally is fresher, has more nutritional value, and tastes better. Sometimes food is in cold storage for days or even weeks. Did you know that studies show that while food is in transit from harvest to table that sugars turn into starches, plant cells shrink and produce loses its vitality?

This moist and delicious cake is a wonderful treat, with fresh peaches in the cake and the glaze. I have to buy these locally because I can’t seem to keep the deer from eating the peaches from the tree here at the farm. Luckily there are several farms nearby that grow many varieties of peaches.
Visit your local farmers’ market on Saturday morning to pick up fresh peaches. Make it a family affair, get the kids involved and let them help pick out their food. It’s fun, and there’s no comparison when it comes to taste.

 

Fresh Peach Pound Cake
 
Author:
 
Ingredients
  • 4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 3 c. sugar
  • 2 c. butter, softened
  • ½ c. milk
  • ½ c. peach schnapps
  • 6 lg. eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2½ c. diced fresh peaches
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a 10-inch (16-cup) tube pan.
  2. Place flour, sugar, butter, milk, peach schnapps, eggs, and vanilla (in that order) in a 4-qt. bowl of a heavy-duty electric stand mixer. Beat at low-speed for 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in peaches. Pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack or 15 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

 
Peach Glaze
 
Author:
 
Ingredients
  • 1 peach
  • 1¼ c. powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp. almond extract
Instructions
  1. Peel and pit the peach. Chop and add to a blender. Puree until smooth. Blend 3 tbsp. peach puree and almond extract into the powdered sugar. Stir until smooth. Spoon over cooled cake, allowing to run down sides of cake.