Yoghurt, banana, cacao and lime ice lollies

These are so yummy - banana yoghurt lollies: creamy Greek-style yoghurt, proper cacao, a little maple syrup and lime zest. Really simple to make and a great unprocessed alternative to buying them.

Cold, chocolatey, lightly tangy and refreshing - ideal for hot days.

Don’t worry if you’ve not got lolly moulds, the mixture will freeze in little pots instead.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT: Yoghurt

It adds protein, calcium and a creamy texture, while the banana, cacao and maple keep it tasting like an actual treat.

That combination of carbohydrate, protein and fat can help it feel more substantial than a purely sugary ice lolly.

Serves: 5 (in my lolly moulds, may make 1 less or 1 more, depending on yours).

No lolly moulds - freeze in ramekins instead for little iced pots.

Prep and cook time: 10 minutes to prep, plus freezing time 2-3 hours or overnight

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas, broken up into pieces
200g full-fat Greek yoghurt
1 tbsp cacao powder - or use cocoa powder if no cacao
2 tsp maple syrup - you can leave this out if you prefer, the ice lolly will be a harder set if you do
Finely grated zest of 1 lime

Method:

Put all the ingredients into a bowl or jug and use a hand blender to blend it all together until smooth. Transfer to a jug if not used already, then pour into lolly moulds, tapping them gently on the worktop to remove air bubbles (one or two may remain, that’s ok). Add lolly mould lid, insert the stick and freeze for 2-3 hours until frozen, or overnight. Dip the mould very briefly - a few seconds in cold or just warm water to release - don’t overdo that or they will melt too much before you get to eat them!

A note on cacao:

Cacao powder is made from minimally processed cocoa beans and has a rich, slightly bitter chocolate flavour.

Nutritionally, it provides plant compounds called flavanols, along with minerals including magnesium and iron. While it is not a "superfood" (although some call it that - no such thing in my book, it’s just food!) , it is a lovely way to add chocolate flavour without relying on lots of sugar.

Can I substitute it?

Yes. Unsweetened cocoa powder works well if that's what you have. It has a slightly milder flavour and is generally more processed than cacao, but both will make a delicious lolly.