Blackberry Root Beer Float Popsicles

There are certain things in life which, no matter the spin you try to bestow, scream ADULT.  Things like vacuuming.  Lady doctor appointments.  Home improvement projects.  MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.  Amiright?  (Note: a decidedly un-adult pastime is googling the spelling of “vacuuming.”)

Ben and I fixed our broken dryer this weekend (so, fine, Ben fixed the dryer and I kind of helped by holding a thing (technical term) in place while he replaced the belt.  Because, apparently, dryers need belts? #teamwork), which I think pretty much glues our “grown-up” badges in place, front and center.

Also, today, I contemplated buying a new bath mat AND a magazine storage container.

…IS THIS MY LIFE??

Most days, being an adult is fun.  Because I can have gummy bears for lunch if I want, and also bedtime schmedtime.  Other days, when I remember that I need to pay my dentist bill and mow the jungle that has become our lawn, being adult seems… less fun.

Luckily, I’ve discovered that a good way for adults to feel less adult-y is POPSICLES.  (Also bright pink nail polish, Roald Dahl books, and the word “adult-y”).  It’s fool proof.  I mean, just try and slurp on a fresh, drippy popsicle and feel elegant/sensible/grown!  Impossible.

Especially if the popsicle in question is a homemade blackberry root beer float pop.  With fresh Oregon blackberries, creamy vanilla ice cream and crisp, tangy root beer.  It’s nostalgia in popsicle form!  (Plus blackberries.)

Try one!  And forget about everything, if just for a popsicle-shaped minute.

The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission provided reimbursement for the ingredients in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Blackberry Root Beer Float Popsicles

I love the addition of fresh berries in this popsicle.  The berries get mashed up with the softened ice cream, giving the finished popsicles beautiful color and some texture, too.  If you don’t love blackberries, try raspberries or blueberries instead.  And use your favorite root beer!  (Or, if you want to get fancy, you could try it with cherry soda, etc).

Ingredients:

• 3-4 ounces ripe blackberries
• 1 to 1.5 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
• 1 cup root beer

Directions:

In a medium-sized bowl, mash the blackberries with a fork until smushed but chunky.  Add the ice cream and gently mash to combine, leaving some white streaks here and there.

Use a small spoon or fork to distribute the blackberry ice cream mixture into popsicle molds (I got 6 pops out of the mixture), leaving about an inch or two of space at the top of the mold.

Pour the root beer into the molds to top them off, pushing the ice cream down with a fork to evenly distribute, if necessary.

Place popsicle sticks in the molds and freeze the popsicles for a few hours, until firm.

If you need to, run the molds under a bit of hot water to loosen the popsicles before enjoying!

Makes about 6 pops.