Want to delight your kids? Serve them a super healthy popsicle for breakfast as the school year starts to wind down and the temperature cranks up. Chia seeds give these pops some fun texture, and a little healthy boost — not that they need it — there’s nothing else in them but fresh bananas and coconut milk so they are already plenty healthy. And creamy, and refreshing, too.
Load them up with as many different kinds of fruit as you can think of, like berries, kiwi, pomegranate seeds, grapes, the sky is the limit, and it can be a great way to use up fresh seasonal fruit before it spoils. The bananas are especially nice because they retain their creamy texture even when they are frozen. I used raspberries, below, which had wonderful flavor.
These can be made with just three ingredients — coconut milk, chia seeds, and the fruit of your choice. If you like you can sweeten them with a little sugar or honey, and a little vanilla or almond extract. Personally I think that the fruit and coconut milk are sweet enough on their own. My taste testers were divided on the subject, so go with your instinct.
The thing about coconut milk is that it doesn’t get as icy as milk or juice based pops do. It freezes solid, but then melts in your mouth easily, so you’ll get a creamy texture if you decide to bite into your pop. Coconut milk popsicles won’t drip like others do, either, which can be a benefit with little ones.
Ingredients
- 1 can (14-15 oz) coconut milk (I used full fat)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- fresh fruit of your choice
- 1 Tbsp sugar or honey (optional)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the coconut milk into a small bowl. Make sure to get out all the thickened stuff inside the can. Give it a whisk or a stir to combine well.
- Stir in the chia seeds and let sit, stirring once or twice, for about 30 minutes, to allow the seeds to expand.
- Add a little bit of the coconut mixture to the bottom of each of 5 popsicle molds.
- Drop some of the fruit in on top. If your fruit is too big to fit, chop it up.
- Continue adding more coconut mixture, then more fruit until the molds are almost full. Rap the mold firmly against a hard surface to encourage the pudding to fill all the nooks and crannies in and around the fruit.
- Insert popsicle sticks into the molds, they will stand up by themselves.
- Top off the molds if there is any room in them.
- Freeze for several hours until completely frozen.
- To remove from the molds, fill a sink with hot water, just deep enough to immerse the mold up to, but not over, the rim, and hold the mold in the hot water for about 15 seconds to loosen the pops.
- Pull the popsicles out of the mold and enjoy.
- If you want to save the pops for later, wrap them in waxed paper and place in zip lock baggies.
41 Comments
Tom R
July 19, 2017 at 9:29 amEnded up only using a tablespoon of chia seeds, 1/4 cup just seemed like too much. Ended up only finding coconut milk so I went with that. Used raspberries, peaches and blueberries for fruit along with some liquid from raspberry jam that we had. Did that due to thinking we had more raspberries in our patch than I could find! In the freezer now, looking forward to these as evening snacks. Thanks for the idea and recipe.
Sue
July 19, 2017 at 9:31 amEnjoy, Tom!
Erick
May 10, 2017 at 4:19 pmDo you think it would be too hard to eat if I use frozen berries? or is it better tu use fresh ones?
Sue
May 10, 2017 at 4:26 pmThe berries will freeze anyway, so I think you could use frozen ones, Erick.
Erick
May 15, 2017 at 1:02 pmthanks :) I just did them, and they’re selling good
Erick
May 15, 2017 at 1:03 pmthe only thing different is that yours are whiter than mine, don’t know why
Andrew
February 27, 2017 at 7:48 amHi Sue,
Where or what mood do you use- love the lines.
This recipe is unreal!!
Andrew
February 27, 2017 at 7:49 amI meant mould
Connie
May 9, 2016 at 7:32 pmDo you have to use the coconut milk in the can? Or would the coconut milk in the cold cartons work??
Sue
May 9, 2016 at 7:36 pmAs long as it’s coconut milk, and not coconut water, it should work, but be aware that the cans tend to have a thicker and richer consistency.
Lyla
August 26, 2015 at 5:40 pmYou mentioned that this would freeze pretty hard if you put it ramekins. Can you think of any food that could be added to make it softer?
Thanks in advance,
Sue
August 26, 2015 at 6:22 pmGosh, I’m not sure, Lyla, i didn’t experiment with these. The creamier the coconut milk the better, so maybe if you used coconut cream and chopped or mashed the banana?
Cathie
August 11, 2015 at 9:55 pmLoved this! Thanks! I added matcha & unsweetened shredded coconut. Delish!
LeSharn
July 3, 2015 at 3:49 pmHey, I’m doing a school project and i would love for your recipe and photos to be featured in it. All credit will go to you and your website will also be featured for others to check out.
Sue
July 3, 2015 at 6:03 pmThanks so much LeSharn! Let me know how it goes for you!
josie
June 23, 2015 at 12:30 pmCould you just freeze the mixture in ramekins or something and eat with a spoon or would it be too hard once frozen?
Sue
June 23, 2015 at 12:34 pmIt would freeze pretty hard, I’m afraid Josie!
Sarah | Well and Full
June 22, 2015 at 7:00 pmI’ve made chia pudding before but I love how you’ve reimagined it into popsicles! So creative!
Sue
June 22, 2015 at 7:10 pmThanks Sarah <3
Zarah robinson
May 21, 2015 at 12:37 pmI just put a batch of these in the freezer, though I’m doing the Candida Diet so no fruit. If the mix is anything to judge by, I can’t wait for them to be done. Yum!
mary beth turner
May 16, 2015 at 6:01 amCan’t wait to try these! I picked up a 4 pack of some “healthy” pops & put them back because I knew I would find a great receipe somewhere that I could put whatever I liked in them. Your receipe is perfect! Not to mention, making them yourself for 1/2 the price or less than what they charge in the stores. Plus, no additives! Thank you!
KHack
April 19, 2015 at 11:32 amThese look so good! I am used a bag of mixed frozen berries and added raw cocoa nubs to the tip of the popsicles! Can’t wait to try one for breakfast tomorrow. Thank you!
Betty
April 4, 2015 at 8:52 pmThese would make a lovely breakfast for ME! I love chia pudding, but never thought to freeze it. :)
Joanne Sumner
April 4, 2015 at 7:26 amMost canned coconut milk is in the Isle with the canned milk like sweeten condensed and evaporated milk also u can find it in the Asian food Isle…I’ve been getting mine at the Dollar Store when they have it for a buck…it’s total awesome. Love coconut milk. .
Sue
April 4, 2015 at 1:52 pmGreat tip :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
April 2, 2015 at 12:51 pmI’ve been known to sneak a popsicle for breakfast when the temps hit triple digits here in July… so glad I now have a healthy pop to justify my choice ;). Love those pretty raspberries peeking through!
grace
April 2, 2015 at 11:02 amthese look like some sort of exotic animal pelt! i guess that’s not very appetizing, but trust me, i am appetized. :)
Sue
April 2, 2015 at 1:54 pmYou crack me up Grace :)
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
April 1, 2015 at 2:25 pmI want to go to popsicle school at your house Sue. These are spectacular. You come up with the best popsicle ideas. Well, actually the best ideas for everything!
John@Kitchen+Riffs
April 1, 2015 at 10:32 amWhat a pretty popsicle! Love the splash of fruit color poking through some of them. Really creative recipe — thanks.
Kitchen Belleicious
March 31, 2015 at 7:29 pmthe perfect adult popsicle EVER! I mean kids can have it to but boy it screams for moms out there!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
March 31, 2015 at 4:57 pmThat raspberry pop is gorgeous – they are all pretty but those little balls of tartness look amazing! Hope you’re having a great time with your dad – soak up some sun for me!
LoriM
March 31, 2015 at 6:44 pmI will, we’re just getting to bed after a long day of travel :)
Maria|PinkPatisserie
March 31, 2015 at 8:09 amOh my goodness.. How fun are those? And for breakfast? Awesome.
PurpleQueen
March 31, 2015 at 7:56 amI have a quick question,. Are there different kinds of coconut milk? I thought it came in a can, which you mention, here. I looked for it in my local supermarket, and all I found was cartons of it in with whole milk, buttermilk, etc. I’m confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Love the pictures! They look so yummy!
Monique
March 31, 2015 at 7:25 amForgot to say..love Chia..even in TJ’s peanut butter..yogurts etc..But those little seeds..expanded and stuck between our teeth:(?:)
Sue
March 31, 2015 at 12:23 pmHaha — I find they get soft and sort of ‘boba’like’ after they’ve soaked.
Monique
March 31, 2015 at 7:24 amLove that first shot!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
March 31, 2015 at 7:06 amYour popsicles are so creative and pretty! Love this combo, too :)
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits
March 31, 2015 at 6:00 amThey look fantastic, and I just LOVE full fat coconut milk, it’s a perfect replacement for dairy. I’ve still not done anything with Chia seeds, they seem to be so popular these days and as they are gluten free I really should get with the program :)
Joanne Bruno
March 31, 2015 at 3:54 amPopsicles for breakfast!! I like the way you think.