These delicious fruit and veg lollies contain only natural ingredients and can be whizzed up in minutes.
Make sure the kids get involved in adding the spinach and watching the lolly mixture turn green!
This recipe isn’t designed to hide veg from the kids, it’s about celebrating all the ways it can be used, and challenging our perceptions while enjoying our food.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp natural yogurt
- 2 bananas
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 small handful baby spinach
- 2 strawberries
- 1 small handful granola to serve, gluten free if required
Equipment
- 6 hole lolly mould
Instructions
Pop the yogurt and vanilla into a blender.
Add the bananas.
Blitz until very smooth.
Pour one-third equally between 6 lolly moulds.
Pour half of the remaining mixture into a bowl.
Add the spinach to what is left in the blender jug.
Blitz again until bright green.
Divide the green mixture between the lolly moulds.
Finally, rinse the jug and return the reserved mixture to it. Add the strawberries.
Blitz until pink.
Pour into the moulds.
Push the lolly sticks into place and freeze overnight.
These fruit and veg lollies are best eaten on a hot day, dipped into granola!
Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect fruit and veg lollies
Are fruit and veg lollies easy to make?
These fruit and veg lollies are really easy to make. All it takes is a little bit of patience because you'll be making three different flavors to create the rainbow effect.
However, you'll only need super simple ingredients and a blender, meaning that this impressive looking sweet treat can be whizzed up in no time.
Will I need any special equipment to make fruit and veg lollies?
The only special equipment you'll need for this recipe is a set of lolly moulds and a blender or food processor capable of turning soft fruit and veg into puree. It doesn't need to be a power blender - even a small personal blender will do the job perfectly.
Where can I buy a good blender?
A stick blender or basic smoothie maker will do for this recipe, but if you want to invest in a really good blender that can chop through ice and turn even the toughest ingredients into perfectly smooth liquid, then I would recommend either a Kenwood or KitchenAid power blender as I have had a very good experience with both. Have a look on their websites to choose the right one for you.
How can I tell if my bananas have gone off?
People (particularly kids!) are often put off buying or eating bananas with black spots that on the skin, but it's just a sign that they're ripe. In fact, as they become more and more ripe and then overripe, bananas remain safe to eat until they are almost entirely black.
An overripe banana is still perfectly fine to use in this recipe as long as there's no peculiar smell, fruit flies, or visibly mould on the stem that signals they are past their best and no longer safe to eat.
If your bananas look overripe but doesn't show any of these signs, they should be totally safe to eat.
Is it safe to eat unripe or green bananas?
Unripe bananas will be a little more green and firm than yellow, ripe bananas. Green bananas are typically harder, which makes them tricky to mash but fine to blend.
Since they're not quite ripe, they'll taste less sweet than yellow bananas, but if you like the taste, they're perfectly safe to eat and you can use them in this recipe, if you wish.
Are fruit and veg lollies suitable for vegetarians?
There are no meat, poultry or fish products in this recipe so it is entirely suitable for vegetarians.
Are fruit and veg lollies suitable for vegans?
As this recipe contains natural yogurt it is not suitable for vegans.
However, if you use a plant-based yogurt such as soya yogurt or coconut yogurt, then it could easily be made suitable for vegans.
Are fruit and veg lollies gluten-free?
If you choose a gluten-free granola or leave the granola out, then it is possible to make this recipe entirely gluten-free.
Make sure to check the labels on the vanilla extract, granola, yogurt and any additions you choose to use to be absolutely be certain they contain no traces of gluten.
Are fruit and veg lollies keto-friendly?
Generally speaking, bananas are not considered to be keto-friendly as they relatively high in carbohydrate.
You could invent your own version using more keto-friendly fruit, if you like.
Are fruit and veg lollies healthy?
With just natural fruit, veg and yogurt, plus a dash of vanilla extract and a small handful of granola, this is a pretty simple, nutritious recipe and a lot healthier than most store bough ice lollies.
This recipe is a fun way to help your kids enjoy fruit and veg and can certainly be enjoyed on a hot day as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Are fruit and veg lollies safe to eat while pregnant?
There is nothing in this recipe that should present a risk to pregnant people if the ingredients are in good condition and have been stored correctly, and the recipe is made hygienically and safely.
Remember to wash fruit and vegetables really well before use.
A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. You can review the NHS advice here and you should consult with your medical professional regarding any concerns.
Can I make this recipe without yogurt?
If you don't have or don't want to use yogurt, you could use milk instead. The slightly higher fat content in natural yogurt improves the texture but it's not essential.
You could also try using canned coconut milk for a different. dairy-free flavour.
I haven’t got strawberries/bananas. Can I use other fruit?
As long as your fruit is edible (e.g. raspberries, blackberries, apples, pears etc), in good condition and well washed then they should work in this recipe.
Different fruit will of course give different flavours and different colours too, which can be great fun! A little warning, though: if you mix the green spinach with a red fruit in any of your layers, you will get a rather murky brown colour!
Some fruits, such as raspberries, have more seeds in, which may impact the final texture.
If you're switching the banana for another fruit, this can also affect the final texture as banana contains fat, which helps make it creamy.
Can I add extra fruit or yogurt to this recipe?
This recipe is actually really forgiving, so if you don't get the yogurt or fruit quantities bang on it will still work well in most cases. This means you can feel free to go ahead and experiment with whatever you've got left in the fridge. The only limitation is how much you can fit in your lolly moulds!
How should I store fruit and veg lollies?
As soon as you've made the lolly mix, you should pour it into the moulds and get it straight into the freezer.
You shouldn't leave it sitting out on the counter as it contains dairy as well as raw fruit and vegetables, so could quickly develop harmful levels of bacteria if left to sit at room temperature.
Once frozen, your lollies can stay in their moulds until you're ready to eat them.
Alternatively, you can remove the lollies from their moulds as soon as they're frozen and transfer them to a sealed container or freezer-safe bag ziplock bag before returning to the freezer. Don't forget to label the container with the date.
Be sure to rinse your lolly moulds straightaway after use so that bacteria doesn't get any opportunity to grow inside the moulds.
How long do fruit and veg lollies keep?
You should eat your frozen lollies within one to two months of making.
Can I make fruit and veg lollies ahead?
It's better best to make the mixes for these lollies on the day you intend to assemble and freeze them.
Once frozen, though, they'll keep for 1-2 months.
Do I need to freeze the lollies between layers? Why did my lolly layers mix together?
In my experience, it's not necessarily to freeze the lollies between layers as they're thick enough to stay separate. However, if you wish, you can place them in the freezer briefly between layers to firm up.
If you do this, make sure to put any remaining mix in the refrigerator while you wait.
If you find that your mixture is very liquid, it might be that your fruit is releasing unusual amount of liquid and you might want to tweak the recipe slightly by adding more yogurt to thicken the mixture back up.
Be sure to pour the mixture slowly into the moulds so that you don't disturb the previous layer.
Can I make these fruit and veg lollies in a different quantity?
You can indeed alter this recipe to make more or fewer lollies.
To do so, simply scroll down to the recipe card found at the bottom of this page and click or hover over the servings number. A slider will appear that you can use to adjust the serving number, which will also automatically adjust all the ingredient quantities you need.
Can I make fruit and veg lollies without a food processor?
If you want to break the fruit, vegetables and yogurt down to a puree together then you do need a food processor or mini blender.
If you don't have one, you could chop the fruit into small pieces and then simply stir it into the yogurt before pouring into the moulds.
Check out this yogurt and fruit lolly recipe for more info.
I'm not sure the kids would approve of pieces of chopped spinach in their lollies, though, so you could leave the spinach out or try breaking it down with a pestle and mortar.
My lolly moulds don't have holders for the sticks, what should I do?
If your lolly moulds don't have a design that holds the sticks in place, you have a couple of options.
You could allow the lollies to freeze for and initial couple of hours until firm and then gently push the sticks into place. The lollies should be frozen enough to hold the sticks but not so hard as to prevent them from being inserted. You can then put them straight back in the freezer and allow them to freeze the rest of the way.
Alternatively, you can create your own lolly stick holder by taking a piece of food safe cardboard or plastic that can sit on top of your lolly mould. Cut slits in line with the top of each lolly mode, aiming to make them wide enough to push the sticks through but tight enough to hold them in place.
Experiment to figure out which method works for you.
I don't have a lolly mould. What can I do?
If you don't have lolly moulds, you can save up single serving yogurt pots and use them instead!
You can then use the tips in the question above to hold your lolly sticks in place.
Why did my lollies fall apart?
If your lollies fell apart, then the chances are they weren't fully frozen. Make sure to leave them overnight. When you think they're ready, give the sticks a little wiggle and if they seem slushy in any way, pop them back in until they're frozen solid.
These lollies will, of course, defrost quite quickly on hot days, so don't get them out until you're ready to eat them.
If your lolly was well frozen but still broke, it could be that a large air bubble was trapped between the layers, causing a weak spot. Next time, tap your blender jug on the work surface a couple of times to bring the bubbles to the surface before pouring.
How do I get my lollies out of their mould?
If you pull on the stick of a frozen lolly, you might find that the stick comes away without the lolly. This happens when the lolly has frozen, expanded and stuck fast to the sides of the mould.
To release your lollies easily with the stick still in place, run the sides of the mould under warm water for a couple of seconds. Your lolly should then slide out easily.
How can I add/change the flavours in these fruit and veg lollies?
This recipe is really adaptable and you can have lots of fun coming up with new flavours.
Here are some ideas to try next time:
- Cucumber adds a light, fresh taste.
- Cauliflower can make chocolate lollies particularly creamy, as can avocado.
- Always taste the mixture before pouring into the moulds and add a dash of honey or more sweet fruit if it seems bitter.
- Try topping each mould with a spoonful of granola before pushing in the lolly sticks and freezing overnight.
Print this fruit and veg lollies recipe
Fruit and Veg Lollies Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp natural yogurt
- 2 bananas
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 small handful baby spinach
- 2 strawberries
- 1 small handful granola to serve, gluten free if required
Equipment
- 6 hole lolly mould
Instructions
- Pop the yogurt, bananas and vanilla into a blender and blitz until very smooth.
- Pour one-third equally between 6 lolly moulds.
- Pour half of the remaining mixture into a bowl. Add the spinach to what is left in the blender jug and blitz again until bright green. Divide the green mixture between the lolly moulds.
- Finally, rinse the jug and return the reserved mixture to it. Add the strawberries and blitz until pink.
- Pour into the moulds, push in lolly sticks and freeze overnight. Best eaten on a hot day, dipped into granola!
Video
Notes
- Cauliflower can make chocolate lollies particularly creamy, as can avocado.
- Always taste the mixture before pouring into the moulds and add a dash of honey or more sweet fruit if it seems bitter.
- Try topping each mould with a spoonful of granola before pushing in the lolly sticks and freezing overnight.
Nutrition
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