Blueberry Vodka Popsicles

Blueberry Vodka Popsicles

We had a dinner party this past weekend and I served these when our guests arrived.  It was a hot humid evening so they hit the spot, and the added vodka was a neat twist.  You can normally find popsicle molds quite easily, I found mine at a kitchen store but most major grocers would have them, along with some big box stores. I made these with blueberries, but experiment with your favorite fruit.  I think raspberries, blackberries and strawberries would work well, and you don’t need to add the vodka, leave out the liquor or add a liqueur you prefer.  The flavored vodkas would work well here.  You will have to make the simple syrup ahead of time, as it will need to cool before you use it.  Try my Grape Popsicles if you like.

Makes: 10-12 popsicles

Ingredients:

4  3/4 cups fresh blueberries

2/3 cup simple syrup– make ahead of time so that it has cooled down before you use it.

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/3 cup vodka

Directions:

1.  Pick out any stems or leaves from the blueberries and puree them in a food processor.  You should have about 5 cups of puree.

Pureed Blueberries

2.  Combine the pureed blueberries, simple syrup and lemon juice in a bowl or measuring pitcher witha pouring spout.  Taste.  The precise amount of simple syrup and lemon juice needed will depend on how sweet the berries were to begin with.  Be aware that blueberries are one of the rare fruits that you don’t want to over sweeten because they they tend to get sweeter as they freeze.  Stir in the vodka.

3.  If you wish, now is the time to strain out the skins by pressing the mixture though a sieve using a wooden spoon, a rubber spatula, or a ladle. Or don’t, and leave the skins in, that’s what I did and everyone loved the texture.

4.  Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds, leaving a little bit of room at the top for the mixture to expand.  Insert sticks and freeze until solid, 4-5 hours.  Unmold with a little warm water poured over the molds.  Transfer to plastic bags for storage or serve at once.