Pineapple-Mango Chili Popsicles

Does anyone else feel like the middle of August appeared out of nowhere?!?!?!  Certainly, I can't be the only person that feels like this. 

In the middle of July my roommate told me over and over that not only would the summer be over before we knew it, but that it was practically already over.  Huh?  How could it be almost over already, it just started.  I felt pretty sure she was pushing the envelope a little bit.  But, as she explained, it was the middle of July, and August would quickly be here before we knew it, and as it has a tendency to do, this month would fly by as well and next thing you know we'd be sitting at a Labor Day bbq (Labor Day weekend being her marker for the end of summer).  The following week (when it was still pushing 90 degrees) she came home announcing she had just purchased a sweater.  I very likely looked at her with an expression of pure shock & horror.  After that I prayed she wouldn't come home newly purchased Christmas paraphanalia.  While my roommate was setting her sights on fall, I was hanging onto summer with everything I had in me.

I don't think I've ever experiernced a faster summer in my life!  Luckily, I still had a solid couple weeks left to go.

If there is just one thing you do before summer comes to an end, do yourself a giant favor and make these popsicles!  I promise you'll thank me for it later.  Your summer isn't complete without having these popsicles in your life.

It's not like there's a rule saying you can only have popsicles in the summer, but it's just not the same during the rest of the year.  There's a small chance I may have started on a popsicle binge. 

I'm sure some of you see the word "Chili" up there and you're shaking your head, wondering what on earth I'm thinking with this combination.  I totally get it.  I was in your shoes once too.  

You see, I love layered food profiles - sweet & salty, sweet & spicy, sweet & sour, (you get the picture), so it should have been no surprise that this combo would be a home run in my book.  The hint of spice (and that's all it really is, is a hint) is subtle, yet a perfect, sharp contrast to the super sweet fruits you taste when your first bite into this pop.

Print Recipe

Pineapple-Mango Chili Popsicles

Makes 6 popsicles

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup mango, chopped

1 cup pineapple, chopped

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Start off by making simple syrup - bring water to a boil, add sugar and stir until completely dissolved.  Set aside to cool.

Add mango and pineapple to a blender or food processor and puree.  Mix in simple syrup, chili powder and cayenne pepper.

Pass the mixture through a strainer, and discard all solids.

Pour into popsicle molds, and wait patiently while the freezer works its magic.

Enjoy!