We all have ice cube trays lying around, from the boring rectangular ones to the fancy ones in every shape you can imagine and in my house especially they seem to spend more time in the cupboard than they do in the freezer.
We just don’t use that much ice, but now I have so many fantastic uses for ice cube trays, I don’t think they will be spending much time in the cupboard anymore, especially now that summer is coming and I have some great new healthy treats for the kids to try.
1) Flavoured Ice Cubes
You can freeze just about any flavour you like, citrus, berries, vanilla and just add them to drinks. Great in mineral water for flavour without all the sugar.
2) Preserving Fresh Herbs
This time of year herbs are going crazy, parsley, basil, mint, sage and thyme are certainly taking over my backyard! In a few months though they will be gone again, but if you harvest them, cut them up and freeze them in olive oil in ice cube trays you will have them pan ready all year round.
3) Coffee Ice Cubes
Iced coffee come at me! With summer fast approaching caffeine addict everywhere should start brewing and freezing some coffee ice, ready for a cold glass of milk on a hot summers day!
4) Healthy Fun Striped Cubes
Freeze layers of coconut milk, smoothies, yoghurt, juice, pureed fruit, whatever takes your fancy, freezing one layer at a time so they don’t mix. The end result is beautiful striped ice cubes that are as fun to eat and they are pretty to look at!
5) Peanut Butter Cups
Simply melt chocolate and pour it into the base of ice cube trays, then top with a ball of peanut butter and cover with more chocolate and freeze, a great little treat for after the kids are in bed!
6) Frozen Yoghurt Cubes
Healthier than icecream but just as tasty, freeze your favourite flavours or make your own fruit mix and freeze in layers of natural yoghurt and fruit, like the striped cubes above.
7) Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Much less mess and much easier to do using a deep ice cube tray. Simply melt chocolate with butter, oil or shortening and half fill ice cube trays then push a strawberry into each one so the chocolate rises up the sides, oh yum!
8) Make Jelly Shots
There are so many mouthwatering recipes available on the net and with a bit of vodka, some gelatine and some fruit of your choice you will be in alco-jello heaven!
9) Mini Popsicles
Freezing whatever you like with a little pop stick in it instantly makes it a icypole! Great for the kids and easy to portion control and make whatever flavours you like, also good if your little ones have allergies and can’t have packaged ice-creams.
10) Mini Cheesecakes
Make amazing frozen cheesecake desserts in bite size pieces by pressing the cake base into the trays and leaving to freeze then topping with the cheesecake and freezing again. They look fancy and like you’ve spent hours on them but they are so easy!
