1 ½ - 2cups(50 g) packed fresh mint leaves, from 1 large or 2 small bunches
1can (13.5 ounces / 398 ml) full-fat coconut milk
1tablespoongood-quality matcha powder
pinchfine sea salt
1/8– ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (optional – if needed to sharpen the flavor)
¼teaspoonchlorella powder (optional, for extra green color)
½cupfinely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (I prefer around 60% cacao mass), divided use
Instructions
Soak the cashews as directed.
In a medium saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring to dissolve. Add the mint and stir until wilted. Remove from the heat, cover, and steep for 5 minutes. Strain the syrup into a heatproof container, squeezing the mint to extract all the good stuff, discarding the leaves. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, or chill if not using right away.
Drain the cashews and place them in the bowl of a sturdy blender (preferably high-speed such as Blendtec or Vitamix). Add the mint syrup and blend until smooth, 1-2 minutes on medium-high. Add the coconut milk and blend until silky smooth, 1-2 more minutes. Blend in the matcha, salt, and peppermint extract and chlorella if using.
Divide half of the chopped chocolate among 10 (3-ounce) popsicle molds. Pour in the popsicle mixture, leaving about 3/8-inch room at the top. Freeze until semi-frozen, 15-30 minutes depending on the power of your freezer. When the popsicles have a partially-frozen, sludgy texture on top, stick a chopstick into the mold and stir the chocolate bits on the bottom into the popsicle mixture. Divide the rest of the chopped chocolate among the tops of the popsicles and use the chopstick to gently stir it into the top of the popsicles, topping them off with extra popsicle base if you have any left. Make sure the chocolate is well-stuck into the popsicle base so it doesn’t flake off onto your shirt as you’re eating the popsicles.
Add the popsicle sticks and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours and up to several days. Unmold the popsicles and serve dusted with a little matcha if desired. Ideally, let them soften slightly at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.
Notes
Be sure to give yourself time to soak the cashews, cool the simple syrup, and partially freeze the popsicles before stirring in the second addition of chocolate.The chocolate adding method ensures that you get a bit of chocolate in every bite, otherwise it all falls to the bottom.If you're looking for a nut-free version, try this one from Izy at Top with Cinnamon.Nutritional values are based on one of ten popsicles.