These Berry Greek Cheesecake Popsicles combine fresh berries with Greek cream cheese for a healthy pastel red, white, and blue frozen treat!
It's the first of July! Can you even believe it? I'm totally concerned about where the time has gone and the fact that half of 2013 is gone. At the same time, I'm not at all concerned with the fact that half of 2013 being over means that we're officially into summer, which is the loveliest time of all. I'm one of those weird people who likes the weather as hot as it can possibly get. The words "heat wave" are music to my ears and I rarely ever feel that the temperature is hot enough. I'm also not a big fan of a cool breeze or of AC. I KNOW. I do try to appreciate it and put up with it (and know I'm lucky to have it!) and also admit, I would probably die at night without it (sleeping is the only time I like being cold because… blankets!). But during the day? I just want to bask in the warmth of the sun, even if that warmth is so extreme people are frying eggs on sidewalks. Does anyone actually do that anymore? Did they ever? I might want to try.
Of course, there are ways of staying cool that don't involve AC. One of the best is ice cream. And also popsicles. Remember a few weeks ago when I made bruschetta with Greek Cream Cheese? Well, I'm now officially obsessed with Greek cream cheese. I may never buy regular cream cheese again. Sadly, my regular grocery store (Market Basket!) doesn't sell my fave Green Mountain Farms Greek Cream Cheese, but luckily that grocery store is right next door to Stop and Shop, which does sell it. And yes, I take a special trip to S&S just so I can pick it up! Since I made an appetizer last time, I wanted to try my hand at a dessert this time around. When you think of cream cheese what do you think of? Cheesecake, obviously. So I translated that into Berry Greek Cheesecake Pops. That I must admit are pretty perfect for the 4th of July. Which did I mention is just mere days away? Because it is. Hooray!
I now know that other brands of Greek cream cheese exist, but I am staying pretty loyal to Green Mountain Farms' as I was incredibly impressed with it the moment I tasted it. Plus, the folks who work there have been just lovely and spotted my post literally moments after I wrote about them! That always impresses me.
To make these Berry Greek Cheesecake Popsicles, you basically need to make three different Greek cream cheese purees and then layer them in your popsicle molds. How easy can you get??
The first time I made these, I somehow made things as difficult as possible and used one million bowls and created a huge kitchen disaster. Don't be like me. Just use one bowl for each puree (raspberry, blueberry, and plain) and hopefully your kitchen won't look like this:
If it were a thing, I'd probably get the award for world's messiest cook.
Anywayyy. Fill your popsicle molds by pouring or spooning the mixtures into the molds in whatever order you choose. However, I strongly recommend going red, white, and then blue. Especially if you're making these cheesecake popsicles for the 4th of July or Memorial Day!
OK fine, the layers are really pink, white, and purple (darn blueberries always turning purple!), but I didn't really care because, once frozen for about 6 hours, the popsicles were absolutely delicious.
Oh, you're probably wondering how they taste, right? Well, I thought they were pretty fantastic! And considering Chris ate two in a row, I think he agreed. They were fruity and creamy and definitely tasted like cheesecake with a berry twist.
They're perfect for adults and kids and are certainly healthier than your average cheesecake popsicles (is there such a thing as an average cheesecake popsicle??). Obviously cream cheese doesn't have a super fabulous reputation, but the Greek yogurt version of cream cheese has fewer calories, less fat, less cholesterol, and less sodium. Win!!
Plus, berries have antioxidants, so basically these berry Greek cheesecake popsicles will fix all your problems and make your dreams come true.
Although, after eating these popsicles, you'll probably want to devour an entire bagel smothered in Greek cream cheese. Because it's the best thing in the world and it will make you wonder why regular cream cheese was even invented. Well, except for honey walnut. They really need to get on a Greek yogurt version of that.
OK, I'm going to go now before I scare myself by how much I'm gushing over tubs of cream cheese. But seriously. Seriously.
Berry Greek Cream Cheese Popsicles
Ingredients
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 ¼ Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
- 16 oz Greek cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup blueberries
- ¼ cup 1% milk
Instructions
- Place raspberries in a medium bowl and sprinkle ⅓ of the sugar over them. Using a fork, mash into a puree.
- Mix ⅓ of the Greek cream cheese into the pureed raspberries. Stir until well-combined.
- Place blueberries in a separate medium bowl and sprinkle ½ of the remaining sugar over them. Using a fork, mash into a puree.
- Mix ½ of the remaining cream cheese into the pureed blueberries until well combined.
- In a third medium bowl, combine the remaining cream cheese with the remaining sugar and milk and mix well.
- Alternating colors, pour or spoon cream cheese mixtures into popsicle molds, add sticks, and freeze for at least 6 hour or overnight
- To remove popsicles from molds, run molds under hot water until you can pull on the popsicle sticks gently release popsicles from molds.
Notes
Emily says
I'd use some of this cream cheese to amp up a classic lox & cream bagel!
Chris says
I am addicted to these. I just ate my fourth one in 2 days.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
I am loving the pastel colors here! Beautiful pops!
Jacke says
Perfect for the 4th!
Erica says
ohmygosh yum!!! They look perfect. I'm with you- I'm all about the heat. Even when I was pregnant I loved it. I hadn't heard of Greek cream cheese before. I'd love to try it in some kind of pasta sauce- like a nice thick and creamy sauce!
Simply Life says
Oh these look fabulous! I was just looking for a Popsicle recipe!
Kevin @ Closet Cooking says
Cheesecake pops sound so good and I love the colours!
Megan says
I would definitely use the Greek cream cheese to make these! I actually never knew such a thing existed. Also, every time I look at pop molds, I talk myself out of buying them. Now I think I need them.
Alison says
I would use the greek cream cheese in my favorite coffeecake recipe. I think it would make it rich and creamy!
Jenn says
Gosh, what wouldn't I use the Greek cream cheese for? My first thing, though... the beloved grilled jalapeno poppers!! Then these cheesecake pops! 🙂
Michaela says
I would love to try mixing the greek cream cheese with some lemon curd and then making the lemon curd a layer in a summer berry triffle! Yum Yum!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
I'm so excited I spotted this Greek cream cheese here in Nashville. I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list! I think I'd make my favorite dip with it. I take cream cheese, apricot jam, and sriracha and mix it together. Sweet & heat! It's fantastic with just regular saltines.
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
So pretty! I just bought popsicle molds so I think I should start with this recipe!!
Monique says
It looks like you have quite a bit of excess. I wouldnt mind taking some off of your hands. Im not worried about meltage so mail them over. LOL.
Gia Grossman says
I love that this exists! And you froze it into deliciousness! I need to make these for the 4th!
Shannon says
those look great, and totally festive! yum 🙂
Deanna Segrave-Daly says
We have shared love for summer and all things heat - bring it!! These popsicles are gorgeous and love love how they are only 5 ingredients - score!
Jill says
Yummy! I would mix greek cream cheese and honey as a base for a killer fruit dip. Can't wait for our fourth of July bbq!
Ashley Bee says
I always love your 4th of July snacks! These are awesome! And I totally want to try this cream cheese and make cheesecake...
Sarah says
The popsicles look delicious! I would love to try greek cream cheese in place of regular in a cream cheese frosting! Awesome for cake or even brownies!
Reeni says
I would use it to make popsicles of course! Or cheesecake heehee with some of summer's freshest berries! These look delectable!
Leticia says
I'd use it to make cheesecake pops. They look delicious.
Jersey Girl Cooks says
So cute looking! I would try the cream cheese on a bagel. Thanks for the giveaway chance.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
these are too perfect! i'd use the greek cream cheese to make these pops 🙂
Odetta says
Beautiful!! I would make lots and lots of bagels and not feel guilt! Well less guilt 🙂
Odetta says
Oh and I must find this in my area immediately!
Steel Springs says
I would love to make these popsicles. It sounds like just the thing for a hot summer afternoon. I'd also use some with smoked salmon.
Emily @ A Cambridge Story says
I've got to skip Whole Foods and TJs for a weekend and head somewhere that I can buy this Greek cream cheese! I'd probably eat it on bagels or use it to blush a shrimp and tomato pasta dish!
maillot de foot says
You know I love your blog!!!
Lourdes says
I can't find Greek cream cheese. Can I use regular cream cheese?
laurel says
oh my! yuuuum!
Nat Ford says
Looks more pink, cream and purple than red, white and blue to me!
Sues says
Yup! I mentioned that in the post. I made these with natural ingredients mixed with the cream cheese, so everything lightened. I could have used food coloring to darken/brighten the colors, but I didn't want to add fake coloring.
Thank you for reading!