Last summer, food carts and shops selling fancy versions of old-fashioned ice pops opened around the country, offering tasters flavors ranging from mango-chile to raspberry-basil pops. It didn’t take long for publishers to jump on the trend, and this spring and summer bring at least five titles on the subject.
Fany Gerson, author of 2010’s My Sweet Mexico and the forthcoming Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & Aguas Frescas, has been selling paletas made with fruits, nuts, and other ingredients, including spices and even flowers, at markets around New York City. She’s working on opening a shop of her own this spring. Gerson grew up the treats in Mexico,
but is surprised by Americans’ renewed interest. “It does surprise me a lot,” she told PW. She suggested ice pops’ naturally healthy ingredients (at least compared with other desserts) as one reason. “I think it’s like Pinkberry, in that it’s sweet, it has a healthy aspect to it, and it’s fun.”
Whatever the reason, the trend will probably stick around this summer—unless, of course, would-be ice pop consumers opt to buy the following books instead and make their own…
Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & Aguas Frescas by Fany Gerson (Ten Speed, June)
Number of recipes: 46
Highlights: Avocado ice pops, apricot chamomile ice pops, hibiscus-raspberry ice pops, mezcal-orange ice pops, Mexican chocolate ice pops, tamarind shaved ice.
Perfect Pops: The 50 Best Classic & Cool Treats by Charity Ferreira (Chronicle, June)
Number of recipes: 50
Highlights: Mexican papaya agua fresca pops, melon blossom pops, pistachio saffron pops, ricotta-raspberry pops, New Orleans-style coffee & cream pops.
Ice Pops: Recipes for Fresh and Flavorful Frozen Treats by Shelly Kaldunski (Weldon Owen, June)
Number of recipes: 40
Highlights: Blueberry-lemon verbena ice pops, tangerine-bergamot ice pops, orange-blackberry sangria ice pops, chai tea ice pops.
Popsicles: And Other Fruity Frozen Treats by Sunil Vijayakar, Liz Franklin, and Elsa Peterson-Schepelern(Ryland, Peters & Small, Apr.)
Number of recipes: 30
Highlights: Tangerine and plum sorbet on a stick, maple and peach frozen yogurt squares, cranberry and mango bars, mini honey kiwi tartlets.
Ice Pop Joy: Organic, Healthy, Fresh, Delicious by Anni Daulter (Sellers, March)
Number of recipes: 50
Highlights: "Melon Madness" (honeydew, mint, cilantro, agave nectar, lime juice, lemon juice), "Harvest Pops" (apples, butternut squash, cranberries, lemon juice, orange juice, wheat germ, honey).
