Beat the Heat with these Healthy Summer Treats!

Under the long-awaited summer sun, we all need refreshments to get us through the hot days. If you want to keep yourself cool and satisfy your sweet tooth, all while staying healthy, check out these healthy summer treat recipes!

Fruit Popsicles

They are one of the stars of the summer because of their simplicity, refreshing effect, and the ability to be creative with them! Start with a popsicle mold and pour in your own mix, with a touch of the sweetener of your choice, to freeze between 4-8 hours. You can make a sorbet variety with mixed berries or watermelon and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Or try mixing Greek yogurt with fruits like blueberries or bananas for a creamier version.

Peanut Butter Banana Cups

You’ll need ¾ cup chocolate chips, 1 medium banana, ¼ all natural peanut butter, 1 tbsp melted coconut oil, plus baking cups. First, melt the chocolate. Separately, combine the melted coconut oil with the peanut butter. Pour 1 tsp of melted chocolate on the bottom of the baking cups, then 1 banana slice, 1 tsp of the peanut butter mixture, and lastly, ½ tsp of melted chocolate in the center. Freeze for about 1 hour and they’ll be ready to go.

Milkshakes

Sugar-packed milkshakes at the drive-thru are another story, but you can make many delicious and healthy smoothie recipes yourself. Start with a base of 2 plain single-serving yogurts, 2 cups of ice and add the blend of your choice. Try peach-mango, cocoa-banana, banana-papaya or strawberry-coconut. Blend, and it’s ready to serve (approx. 4 servings)!

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

For a richer option, try this recipe, which doesn’t taste like avocado, by the way! Blend until smooth: 2 ripe avocados, 1/4 cup regular cocoa powder, 1/4 cup Dutch cocoa, 3-4 tablespoons milk of your choice, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon salt and a sweetener of your choice to taste. You can serve it immediately (approx. 4 servings), chill it in the fridge first, or even make fudgesicles with it!

Fruit Skewers

Cut up bite-size square chunks of different fruits about half an inch thick to create a variety skewer. Some great options are fruits like cantaloupe, pineapple, peach, mango and strawberries. Stack the squares, alternating the fruits, and add them to the wooden skewers. You can garnish with a light drizzle of chocolate, honey or finely grated coconut.

Salted Chocolate-Dipped Mandarin Slices

All you need is 5 mandarin oranges, ½ cup chocolate chips and a pinch of sea or coarse salt. Melt the chocolate chips, dip each orange slice halfway or more into the melted chocolate and set them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt, refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened and enjoy!

Have fun with these recipes and experiment with your own combinations!

xx, Danae