Chamomile Blackberry Popsicles
Popsicles are one of the best treats on a hot summer day. These fruit and yogurt pops feature a chamomile-infused simple syrup, which add an irresistible floral aroma, along with the cooling and calming benefits of chamomile.
Popsicle Season
To make these popsicles, you’ll first make the chamomile simple syrup by infusing dried chamomile flowers into hot simple syrup. While the chamomile is steeping, remember to cover the saucepan. This will keep all the aromatics that make chamomile so lovely from diffusing out of the syrup. Once steeped, strained, and cooled, mix the chamomile simple syrup into the greek yogurt. To make the blackberry layer blend blackberries (strawberries or blueberries would work great too) together with honey and a squeeze of lemon. Layer the yogurt and berry puree into popsicle molds and swirl the layers together with a chopstick or skewer. Snap the lids onto the popsicle molds, put in the freezer, and wait 3-4 hours until the pops are frozen solid to enjoy!
Calming Chamomile
Chamomile is an undemanding and easy to grow herb. Its a member of the Asteraceae (daisy/composite) family. Like all plants in the family (including sunflower, sunchoke, daisies, zinnia, dahlia, lettuce, and so many more much-loved plants) chamomile has a composite flower, meaning the flower head is actually made up of many tiny flowers. Each ‘petal’ is an individual flower (ray flower) and the yellow center of the composite flower is made up of many individual disk flowers.
Most chamomile grown and used as tea is German chamomile, an annual plant. There is also Roman chamomile, a perennial, which has many of the same benefits as German chamomile.
Chamomile has been used medicinally for thousands of years, dating back to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Today it’s one of the most used herbs worldwide. Chamomile calms nerves, improves digestion, eases muscle spasms, reduces anxiety, soothes skin irritation, and reduces insomnia. Though few studies have been conducted to study the efficacy of chamomile’s use in humans, its benefits are supported by animal studies. When using chamomile, be aware that longer steeping times bring out chamomile’s bitterness (especially if using freshly dried chamomile flowers).
Chamomile Blackberry Popsicles
Equipment
- Popsicle Mold
Ingredients
- ⅓ c water
- ⅓ c sugar
- 1 tbsp dried chamomile
- 6 oz blackberries (about 1 ½ c) fresh or thawed if using frozen berries; see note above for more berry options
- squeeze of lemon
- 1½ tbsp honey
- 1¼ c plain full-fat Greek yogurt such as Fage
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine water and sugar over high heat, bring to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and stir in chamomile; cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out chamomile; you should have ~½ c simple syrup. Refrigerate to cool.
- As chamomile simple syrup cools, combine blackberries, lemon, and honey in a blender. Pulse to blend to your desired consistency (I like to leave in a few chunks). Strain out seeds if desired.
- Assemble popsicles: Stir together yogurt and chamomile simple syrup. In each popsicle mold alternate layering yogurt and blackberry mixtures until full, leaving ¼ inch headspace at top of the molds (this leaves room for the mixture to expand as it freezes). Use a chopstick or skewer to swirl blackberries and yogurt together. Snap the lids on the molds and freeze until solid (3-4 hours).
- If using wooden popsicle sticks, put the filled molds in the freezer for 45 minutes, then add popsicle sticks (the pops will be starting to set at this point and sticks will hold in place as they continue to freeze).
Perfect for a summer day. I was out playing tennis, sweltering in the sun, and found these in the freezer when I got home!
I made these for my daughter and we both loved them!