Homemade ice lollies are healthier and cheaper than store-bought. Frozen berries are a thrifty way of creating refreshing ice lollies, perfect for long summer days. These very berry ice lollies are bursting with berry goodness – packed with antioxidants, essential for male and female fertility.

Berries and fertility

Both egg and sperm cells are susceptible to oxidative stress during their development and maturation. Oxidation is what happens to a sliced apple as it browns and to our bodies all the time. Free radicals cause oxidation, and they are produced during cell metabolism.

To be motile, sperm have high metabolisms so they’re vulnerable to oxidative stress during their short life spans. We can manage a certain level of oxidative stress as our bodies make their own antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress in our bodies.

But, sometimes the balance between oxidative stress and antioxidants is imbalanced and this can influence both egg and sperm quality. This is where diet can help, as antioxidants are found in food, especially fruit and vegetables – berries are a particularly rich source. By focusing on foods that are rich in antioxidants and reducing foods that increase free radicals we can tip the balance in our favour.

These very berry ice lollies are great to include in a fertility-optimised diet. Firstly, they’re rich in antioxidants, especially if you include the mixed berry powder. Secondly, they will satisfy your craving for an ice lolly on a cold day, and you can avoid an ultra processed shop-bought lolly.

Very berry ice lolly ingredients

• Frozen mixed berries: I’ve used mixed berries in this recipe, but you can use fruit you like – either on their own or in combination. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries work best.
• Coconut milk: Use full fat coconut milk from a tin. It’s thick and creamy and makes the creamiest ice lollies.
• Extra virgin coconut oil: Coconut oil adds to the coconut flavour and freezes well.
• Cashew butter: This recipe works best with a smooth, thick, well-blended cashew butter. Avoid using almond butter that has settled with a layer of oil on the top and dried-out cashew butter underneath.
• Honey: For a touch of sweetness. You can use maple syrup if you want to make this recipe vegan.
• Pure vanilla extract: Make sure you get pure vanilla extract and not vanilla flavouring.
• Berry powder: I used Arctic Berries mixed berry powder.

How to make very berry ice lollies

It couldn’t be easier to make these ice lollies. First, you need an ice lolly mould, I used two different moulds for this recipe – a twister-style mould for mini ice lollies and a larger ice lolly mould. Make a batch in just two simple steps:

1. Blend: Place the berries, coconut milk, coconut oil, cashew butter, honey, vanilla extract and mixed berry powder in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Freeze: Pour the mixture into silicone moulds and add ice lolly sticks. Place in the freezer for at least 4 hours (or overnight) to set.

That’s it! Remove from the freezer and allow to sit for 5 minutes before turning out. Enjoy!

Storing ice lollies

Store the ice lollies in their moulds, or in an airtight glass container between sheets of plastic-free baking parchment or beeswax wraps to prevent them from sticking together.

More berry recipes to try

• Chia seed jam
• Raspberry crumble bars
• Sweet breakfast omelette
• Mixed berry muffins
• Raspberry and almond loaf
• Apple and raspberry crumble pancakes

I hope you enjoy this berry smoothie popsicles recipe. If you make it, let me know how it turned out. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below, or post in The Fertility Kitchen Community.