These refreshing, dairy-free tart cherry and coconut milk popsicles are only 65 calories each and are perfect for a post-workout treat or a hot day in the sun. Thank you to Choose Cherries for helping me to share this recipe with you.
This is my plan for Saturday afternoon: sit in our reclining outdoor chair, eat at least three of these popsicles and stare at the mountains. And then eat some more. Oh yeah, and there will be a mandatory nap.
This is what happens following any running race and it’s been awhile since I’ve run 13.1 miles, so tomorrow’s race is likely to reduce me to a slobbering, food-crazed mess. But it’s also going to be a very exciting day because we’ll get to celebrate with our son (M)…it will be his first half-marathon!
My post-race pose
Today we’ll be picking up our race packets, doing some serious carbo-loading and drinking water every chance we get. M is beyond excited, and my husband (Steve) and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to run it with him. Well actually, Steve will be running with M at their speedy pace and I’ll be cheering from behind at my less-than-scorching pace.
And let’s get real…while the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a race like this is immeasurable, we will all be thinking one thing at the end of the race.
What do I get to eat now that I’ve burned 1000+ calories? Working out the answer to that question makes me gloriously happy.
As I mentioned a few days ago, when I wrote about my Tart Cherry & Mango Smoothie Recipe (hello…so good!), Steve and I embarked on the 7-Day Tart Cherry Juice Challenge and we are religiously drinking our two doses of tart cherry juice each day.
I made that sound like a chore, didn’t I? Actually, the juice is so good and refreshing, and I’m kind of bummed that it took me this long to discover it.
Steve commented to me yesterday that he has done a couple of really hard runs this week (speed work and longer distances) and noticed that his body bounced back from those workouts faster than it usually does. Since he hasn’t changed anything else (diet, sleep, etc.), he’s wondering if the tart cherry juice is working its magic.
We have a couple more days to go on the challenge and the ultimate test (the half-marathon) in front of us, so I’ll report back afterwards to let you know how our bodies bounced back. And this race course will be a great challenge because half of it is downhill, which usually works our quads and calves until they are screaming for mercy.
The popsicles:
These popsicles look kind of fancy, but they are a breeze to make. Start the day before, or first thing in the morning so that each layer freezes properly by the time you dive into them in the afternoon. Starting with chilled ingredients will make the popsicles freeze even faster. I put the tart cherry juice and the can of coconut milk in the fridge a few hours ahead of time, but this is not essential.
The “lite” coconut milk is mixed with vanilla extract and agave nectar and honestly tastes as good as vanilla ice cream. It’s the perfect balance for the frozen tart cherry juice.
My popsicle molds (Tovolo Star Pop Molds
) each hold just over 1/3 cup of liquid (leaving about 1/4 inch of room at the top). If yours are bigger or smaller, adjust the amounts of the juice and coconut milk mixture accordingly.
At first glance, the tart cherry juice concentrate
may seem expensive, but you’re only using 2 tablespoons each time (mixed with 8 ounces of water), so it lasts a long time.
Other post-workout recipe ideas:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Tart Cherry & Mango Smoothie Recipe
Cookin’ Canuck’s No-Bake Carrot Cake Granola Bites {Low-Sugar & Gluten-Free}
Spoonful of Flavor’s Very Berry Acai Bowl
The Detoxinista’s Chocolate Banana Protein Shake {Vegan, Nut-Free}
Yummy Healthy Easy’s Raspberry-Chocolate Protein Bars
Tart Cherry & Coconut Milk Popsicles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups tart cherry juice
- 3/4 cup lite coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey
- 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pour ½ of the tart cherry juice into 6 popsicle molds (2 tablespoons per mold). Freeze for 1 hour.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, agave nectar and vanilla extract. Divide the coconut milk evenly between the popsicle molds. Freeze for 1 hour.
- Divide the remaining tart cherry juice into the molds (2 tablespoons per mold). Freeze for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to serve, run the outside of the popsicle molds until warm water to release the popsicles from the mold.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Choose Cherries. All opinions expressed are my own. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
My husband is obsessed with tart cherry juice. I love that you paired it with coconut milk! PS: I want to sit in your backyard and look at the mountains. 🙂
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
What a great idea for what to do on Saturday morning. Love it. I wish I could have mountain views from my patio! I love you used coconut milk. Have a great weekend 😉
Millie l Add A Little says
Love the sound of coconut and tart cherries Dara. Also, I had no idea it eased muscle pain – great facts!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Pretty pops, I love those layers!
Amy says
We made these last night for our picnic today. The flavors and colors are great!
Natalie @ Paper and Birch says
Love tart cherry juice. what a great combination for summer 🙂
Rachel Cooks says
What a fun recipe! Definitely need to get out my popsicle molds from storage…