This is a guest blog by Kaylie Chrismon.
Delicious and Cool: No Bake Desserts
Turning on the oven in the middle of summer is something that most of us try to avoid. Beat the heat with these 5 simple, no-bake dessert recipes!
Summer Popsicles
Fruit is a great way to add a healthy twist to a tasty dessert. For a crowd or kids who have been at the pool all day, popsicles are a great dessert that is full of nutritious ingredients. Add your favorite fruits to plain or vanilla Greek yogurt and pour into the popsicle mold. Also try coconut water with tropical fruit for a beachy version!
4th of July Strawberries
Strawberries are nature’s candy but if you want to do something a little extra special, try dipping them in chocolate! With the 4th of July right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about treats for your family. You can dip strawberries into white chocolate and blue sprinkles and then refrigerate them for a cool and festive no bake dessert! Let your kids dip the strawberries and roll them in the sprinkles for a family-friendly activity!
Recipe makes 8 festive berries:
8 strawberries, washed and dried
7 squares Baker’s white chocolate
2 tbsp blue sprinkles
- Place 5 of the white chocolate squares into a small microwave-safe container. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until the chocolate has melted.
- Dip the strawberries ¾ of the way up into the melted chocolate. Place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for a couple minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
- Melt the remaining 2 squares of chocolate.
- Dip the strawberries ¼ of the way up into the white chocolate, then dip them into the sprinkles before the chocolate dries.
- Place the strawberries back onto the parchment paper and refrigerate until serving.
Banana Pops
Bananas are not only full of potassium, fiber, and vitamins B6 and C, but they are also delicious at room temperature and frozen. Push a popsicle or skewer stick into a banana, dip the banana into melted chocolate, and then roll it in chopped nuts, coconut, or sprinkles. Freeze them for a healthy treat!
Secret Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
Tofu is great for grilling during the summer but did you know that it can also be used to make chocolate mousse? Firm and extra firm tofu is used for grilling and stir fry but silken can be added to smoothies and can be used to make mousse.
Recipe makes 2 cups of mousse: from Chocolate Covered Katie
½ package (6oz) silken tofu
½ tsp cocoa powder
¾ c chocolate chips
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk
1/16 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp agave or other sweetener
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave.
- Put everything into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Want more options? Try using orange extract instead of vanilla or adding raspberries into the blender. Add peanut butter, fresh mint, or top it with light whipped cream!
Healthy Ice Cream
Did you know you can blend bananas into ice cream? Peel bananas and freeze them in a freezer bag. Once the bananas are frozen, you can blend them until they are creamy! Try adding peanut butter and cocoa powder for a healthy, dairy-free ice cream!
Don’t forget that a simple fruit salad is a great ending to a meal, as well. Desserts don’t always have to mean chocolate, but if they do to you, hopefully you will find satisfaction in these no-bake desserts. Which one will you try first?
About this week’s Guest Blogger. Kaylie Chrismon is a Nutrition Grad Student at UNC-Greensboro with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. She loves to cook, follows a vegetarian lifestyle and Kaylie writes her own blog here.