Frozen fudgsicles

Fudgsicles are a favorite around here, and with such warm weather it seemed like a good time to try this recipe.  With just a few ingredients that I always keep in the pantry and fridge, I was able to get these into the freezer in pretty short order.  And the perk was that my kitchen smelled like we were riding in a cocoa bean through Hershey’s Chocolate World.  (If you’ve never been there and are in PA, you should definitely go!)  Anyway, the only downside to these fudgsicles is the long wait for them to freeze.  Claudia and Evie, my niece, were so eager to get at them this morning that they wolfed down their breakfasts, then made a beeline for the freezer.  Nothing wrong with a little dessert after breakfast, is there?  I didn’t think so.

{one year ago:  watermelon ginger cooler}

Recipe:  Frozen Fudgsicles

(from Eating Well)

1/2 cup nonfat sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process

1 1/4 cups low-fat milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Whisk sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and cocoa powder in a heavy saucepan until smooth.  Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon over medium-low heat until it comes to a simmer; continue stirring for 1 minute.  Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring to dissolve all the cocoa mixture.  Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour into popsicle molds or paper cups.  Freeze for about 1 hour, until fudgesicles begin to set.  Insert popsicle sticks and continue freezing until completely firm.