Paletas are mouth-watering Mexican ice cream bars. They are usually fruit based or fruit and milk based. They come in deliciously different flavors like Mango, Coconut, Tamarind, Pecan and so many other flavors. Host a paleta party for the neighborhood kids or surprise your friends with these tasty treats when entertaining for a cool summer dessert. They are easy to make and fun to serve.
My husband, Augie relayed a story to me of a fond childhood memory. In hot weather, his mom would make her children homemade paletas. They didn’t have much in the way of finances but her frugality did not impede her creativity. She had a wonderful ability to make her kids feel loved and well-fed. She had a secret ingredient that she used in all her paletas that is alive and well in Augie’s memory to this day. Instead of the traditional milk used in cream based paletas, she used sweetened condensed milk for extra richness.
Enjoy these recipes for homemade paletas and try other flavors like banana, chocolate, rice pudding, vanilla or Mandarin orange. You are only limited by your imagination! Thanks for the inspiration, Nana!
Pina Colada Paletas
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
½ cup pineapple, crushed
½ teaspoon coconut extract
Mix all ingredients together and pour into ice pop molds or plastic disposable cups with snap on lids. Push a popsicle stick in the straw opening in the lid. Freeze well and serve.
Strawberry Cream Paletas
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 ¾ cups strawberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Wash strawberries and remove hull and stem. Place in blender with the condensed milk and puree until smooth. Mix strawberry cream mixture with lemon juice. Pour into ice pop molds or plastic disposable cups with snap on lids. Push a popsicle stick in the straw opening in the lid. Freeze well and serve.
