The Papaya Breeze Poptail

I’m kicking off the unofficial start of summer with a whole week of new popsicle recipes, tips, useful links, and DAILY GIVEAWAYS. Homemade popsicles are so incredibly versatile I need an entire week to explore all the reasons why you NEED these in your life this summer. I’m dedicating each day this week to a different kind of popsicle, and today it’s poptails!  Sort of a silly name for such a transcendent idea, but if you’re over 21, you’ll want to keep reading…And don’t forget to leave a comment at the end of the post to be automatically entered to win a different giveaway every day! (details below)

If you’ve never thought of popsicles an an adult indulgence, you’ve got some catching up to do.  On a sweltering evening, a cocktail on a stick can be the best way to kick back with friends.  You can pattern your poptail after a classic cocktail, or forge new territory by artfully spiking almost any popsicle recipe.  One thing to remember — It’s a sad  fact that alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature than water, so a true frozen cocktail is impossible to achieve.  But you can add about 20-25% alcohol to a popsicle recipe with good results.  Alternatively you can use a lower alcohol content beverage like wine.   These Papaya poptails are  proof that popsicles can be deliciously frosty,  elegant…and alcoholic.  Nice to know.

This cross between a popsicle and a cocktail is made with equal parts papaya and rosé wine.  The marriage results in a not too sweet, not too overpowering  frozen treat worthy of the most enchanting summer evening.  I loved this one, and I think it would be so perfect for an elegant party.  The texture was perfect, and the wine flavor came through nice and strong.

Popsicles are a great way to enjoy unusual fruits, fruits that you’ve seen at the market but don’t buy because you don’t have a clue what to do with them.  Tropical fruits like papaya have a mellow, exotic flavor and creamy texture.  They puree to a super smooth texture, and freeze beautifully.

  If you are using hard alcohol, keep your alcohol content to 20% of your total liquid in your poptail recipe.  Use darker rums, liqueurs, and flavored vodkas in poptails for the best flavor payoff.  With wine, you can go as high as 50%.

 Be sure to keep poptails out of reach of children.

I like to serve poptails in some kind of glass.  It reinforces the cocktail theme, and it gives people a place to set their poptail down if they want to take it slow.

TODAY’S GIVEAWAY!

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW and I’ll automatically enter you to win a copy of POPTAILS, 60 Boozy Treats Served on a Stick.  This book will keep you busy all summer with recipes from the classic Moscow Mule to The Drunken Banana and The Shirley Temple Tantrum.

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

(I’ll announce all the daily giveaway winners at the end of the week)

For tons more popsicle inspiration, follow my POPSICLE  PINTEREST BOARD

And here are a few of my favorite alcoholic  popsicles from other blogs (if I missed your favorite, link it up in the comments!) —

Mint Julep Pops from Honesty YUM

Costa Rican Watermelon Mojito Popsicles from The Boulder Locavore

Pimm’s Cup Popsicles from Shutterbean

Cantaloupe, Basil and Lillet Popsicles from Reclaiming Provincial

Pomegranate Merlot Popsicles from 52 Kitchen Adventures

Mudslide Cocktail Popsicle from Bakers Royale

Irish Coffee Ice Pops from Souvlaki for the Soul