Berries and Cream Popsicles (keto & vegan)

Nothing says summer like popsicles, and what popsicles could be better than these refreshing and delicious Coconut Milk Mixed Berry Popsicles? They're dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free--basically it's like eating Berries & Cream on a stick!

I'm all for ice cream and/or popsicles any time of year, but of course during the heat of summer popsicles are particularly refreshing. And there's something really special about the combination of berries and cream. In this case, it's not cream, but it's coconut milk.

When you need to avoid dairy, that's the next best thing. Thick and creamy coconut milk.

Berries and Cream--in Popsicle Form

Berries and cream is just such the perfect combination for a light refreshing dessert, don't you agree? First of all, the bright colors of the berries are complimented perfectly by the white cream (whipped or not).

Then the sweet intensity of the berries is mixed with the creaminess of the--cream, of course.

Well, now you can have that perfect combo in a popsicle form,--sans the dairy.

Our oldest has a life-threatening allergy to most dairy (he can have butter but no other dairy products), and my husband is lactose intolerant so we don't often have dairy in our home.

Coconut milk, on the other hand, is always available. In fact, we make this Homemade Coconut Milk several times a week.

These popsicles are:

• Dairy-free & vegan
• Gluten-free
• Paleo-friendly
• Refined Sugar-free
• Nut-free
• Soy-free
• Super easy to make!

So, these popsicles are nut free. Not sure if coconut is a nut, you say? You can check out my post called "Is Coconut a Nut?" to find out more about that all-important topic.

Whether it's summer or not, I think you'll love these healthy dairy-free Coconut Milk Mixed Berry Popsicles.

How to Remove Popsicles from Molds

There are a few ways to do this:

• Remove the popsicles from the molds and let them sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until soft enough to remove
• Run the popsicle under hot water for 10 seconds
• Submerge the popsicle molds in warm (not hot) water for 10-15 seconds, then gently pull them out of the molds.

The final way (submerging) is the best way to do it if you can, since the popsicle is most likely to keep its form that way. But if all you are after is taste, any method will work.

The BEST Popsicle Molds

These popsicle molds are perhaps that best ones out there. They're made of sturdy silicone, so you can move them from counter to freezer without anything under it (to catch spills) but they also have a little bit of give so you can also squeeze the bottoms to help get the popsicles out when they're frozen. This is especially helpful for any popsicle with a whipped cream ingredient.

The lid is also great since the sticks only go as far down as you place them. Lastly, they are super compact and don't take up much room in the freezer.

Other Healthy Popsicle Recipes

If you love popsicles, try these other fantastic healthy options!

Key Lime Popsicles - the delicious taste of key lime and coconut--together
Strawberry Sage Popsicles - an unusual but truly refreshing treat
Sugar-free Fudgesicles - surprisingly taste just like the real thing
Superfood Berry Popsicles - an incredibly refreshing treat
Watermelon Popsicles - only 3 ingredients with 7 fun variations!

Recipe Notes

For a Blended Creamy Berry Popsicle: Stir the coconut milk and berry puree mixtures together, then divide evenly between the popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.

Berry Options: Use any combination you like, adjusting the sweetness level as necessary with the simple syrup. The sweetness of the popsicles will mellow a bit after freezing, so keep that in mind.

Sweetener Options: You can substitute a healthier sweetener like agave, maple syrup, or honey if you like.

Coconut Milk Notes: Full-fat coconut milk is best for this (and most) recipes since it will result in a creamier texture that is more like regular cream. You can use lower fat-content coconut milk, but the results will be less creamy and more "icy." This Homemade Coconut Milk will work as well, but you might want to use a higher coconut content and use a nut milk bag for more of a creamy texture.

Special Diet Notes

This recipe, as is, is naturally vegan, low-carb, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

Since it has berries, this recipe can't easily be made to work for the AIP (autoimmune paleo). You could use another fruit, of course, and use a non honey or maple syrup for the simple syrup or make the simple syrup using coconut sugar. The color will change, of course.