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Mango Creamsicles – Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids

Sugar-Free Mango Cream PopsicleMade with real mango and fresh cream, these sugar-free Mango Creamsicles are a fresh, healthy snack for kids.

I am not quite the sugar Nazi that some of my friends seem to think I am.  My kids do get a bit of sugar here and there and I don’t toss out all Halloween/Christmas/Easter candy people give us.  But I dole it out so slowly, it usually takes months on end before we see the bottom of the bag.  I’m okay with this approach because the world is full of sugary things and I believe my children are developing a healthy attitude towards it.  To abstain altogether might backfire on me, given what they see their classmates eating, so I want them to learn to make healthier choices.  I can’t speak for anyone else or anyone else’s kids, but I do think this is the right approach for my family. My children may not love me for it now, but I know full-well they will appreciate it later in life.

It’s often on vacation that they get more treats than normal, simply because of my limited ability to offer them any alternatives.  It’s tough to keep the kids eating as well as I’d like when we’re traveling and eating out a lot.  Fortunately these times are few and far between and we generally try to stay somewhere with a kitchen.  That certainly makes it easier to have fruits and veggies on hand, and if I have the right equipment, I try to whip up some of their favourite sugar-free treats too.  I recently hauled the three of them on my own down to visit my father in Florida and he has a glorious kitchen so I put it to good use and came up with some great flourless brownies.  They turned out beautifully and now I need to re-create them so I can share here!

Sugar-Free Mango Cream Popsicles

 But people do still think I restrict my kids from a lot of sugar, and I suppose compared to many people, I do.  My father feels that part of the joy of being a grandparent is the ability to spoil his grandkids, so I let him and his wife have a bit of fun with it.  I believe there were some large servings of ice cream bought behind my back and I chose to ignore it.  And I myself bought them some Mango Cream popsicles at the grocery store that, although they contained some sugar, were a far healthier choice than everything else in the freezer section.  My kids raved about these popsicles so much, I knew I had to make a sugar-free version when I got home.  How hard could it be?  Mangos, cream, a little sweetener and away you go.
Sugar-Free Mango Cream Popsicles
My daughter and I gave this a try one morning while my husband was out with the other two kids.  We pureed our mango, added cream and Swerve, taste-tested and decided to add some stevia for additional sweetness.  Then, knowing how icy and hard frozen treats can get when they are made without sugar, I added a touch of alcohol to lower the freezing point and some xanthan gum to help inhibit crystallization.  We added some more mango chunks at the end, with a few quick pulses of the food processor, for a chunker final product.  We poured the results into popsicle molds, added sticks, and let them set.  And voila, we created a Mango Creamsicle to rival the ones the kids had in Florida.  They were a hit.  And I confess I had a taste, so I can confirm that they were utterly delicious.
Sugar-Free Mango Cream Popsicles
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Mango Creamsicles – Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids
Prep Time
10 mins
Chill Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
 

Made with real mango and fresh cream, these sugar-free Mango Creamsicles are a fresh, healthy snack for kids.

Course: Snack
Cuisine: Dessert
Servings: 8 to 12 popsicles
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups mango chunks (if frozen, thaw before using)
  • 1/3 cup powdered Swerve
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp vodka (optional, helps decrease iciness)
  • 1/8 tsp liquid stevia
  • 1/2 tsp guar gum or 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (optional, helps consistency)
Instructions

  1. Place two cups of the mango, erythritol, cream, vodka, and stevia in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.

  2. Sprinkle with guar or xanthan gum and process 20 seconds to combine.
  3. Add remaining mango chunks and pulse 10 times.
  4. Pour mixture into 8 to 12 popsicle molds, depending on size. Freeze 1 hour.
  5. Add sticks, preferably wooden, and continue to freeze until set, about 3 more hours.
  6. To unmold popsicles, run molds under hot water or place in a bowl of hot water for 30 seconds, then twist stick gently to release.
Nutrition Facts
Mango Creamsicles – Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids
Amount Per Serving (1 popsicle)
Calories 0
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them.I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

  1. These sound yummy! My daughter is a HUGE fan of mango and sugar free cooking so I will give her this recipe.
    Just an FYI, mango comes from the poison oak family. My daughter and a friends daughter found out the hard way that they are allergic to the skins of mangoes. My daughter swelled up like a balloon the first time she had a reaction. Very scary! I believe those with the allergy are only reactive to the skin of the mango (check with a medical professional about that). My daughter can eat mango already peeled and washed, but she cannot touch the skins.

    Reply

  8. I love your approach to giving your kids sugar and I definitely want to do something similar when I have kids! These pops look great. And mangoes are really so sweet that who needs added sugar?

    Reply

  11. Do you think I would have any luck replacing the mango with oranges? I love mango but my husband does not, and orange creamsicles are one of his favorite things. I’m a little concerned because mango seems so much more dense/fibrous than a watery orange.

    Reply

    • Mangoes and oranges are very different in terms of moisture content and such. I think you wouldn’t get a real puree out of the oranges. Fortunately, oranges have a strong flavour so you could use a lot less of the juice to make these. You could experiment with a half cup of orange juice, and maybe adding some greek yogurt to get a thicker consistency.

      Reply

  12. Carolyn, I love the fact that your children inspired you to make this tasty sugar-free frozen treat at home. What’s not to love about creamy fresh mangoes, frozen? And, I appreciate your approach to how you are raising your children with minimal sugar–knowing full well they will have some from other sources, like grandparents! They are certain to appreciate this later in life as you stated. Such a healthy and sane approach other parents should consider adopting. Outstanding recipe, girl! xo

    Reply

  13. The vodka and guar/xantham gum are interesting additions, and I like what they do in the finished product. I am lactose and gluten intolerant and make most of my ice creams with coconut milk, but they tend to get lots of crystallization. Will adding these ingredients to my ice cream recipe help with this issue? Thanks, and I look forward to trying your recipe, using coconut milk creamer, instead of heavy cream.

    Reply

    • They should definitely help, although may not limit the crystallization altogether. It’s tough when working with sugar-free, since sugar itself helps reduce the hardness and iciness of frozen treats! I’d say give it a try.

      Reply

  17. Love these! We added a bit of cinnamon because we love our mango smoothies that way. Love your blog! Always get great ideas here!

    Reply

  18. Kelli is correct, mangos can produce same reaction as poison ivy, oak and sumac. It is a reaction to an oil not anything to do with mold or the other plants mentioned in a later post. Mango reaction looks similar to poison ivy reaction. It is often on face esp around the lips because it is eaten but can be anywhere on the body. Contact with the mango skin is usually the problem. The reaction may show up a couple days later. Monitor anyone with a reaction as it *can* require medical intervention. Do a web search on urushiol to learn more.
    Yes, mangos are delicious and healthy for those who do not react. People with mango sensitivity may be able to substitute cantaloupe in a recipe.

    Reply

  19. I’m going to Hawaii soon, and I’d like to make this at my brother’s place. I’m sure they would nix the vodka idea in a heartbeat. Couldn’t you use vanilla extract instead? It’s usually made with grain alcohol.

    Reply

    • It wouldn’t be nearly enough alcohol to keep them from getting icy but you can skip the alcohol altogether if you prefer.

      Reply

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