foodie adventures: homemade fudge-sicles

as we head into our 3rd day of unseasonably hot september weather here in dc, it's the perfect time to share this summery and delicious treat!

fudgesicles (the brand name ones) were my absolute favorite summer popsicle as a kid, but processed sugar was pretty stringently rationed in my house, so they weren't often on the menu. (and btw, if you haven't looked at the ingredients for those things, you should...i don't even know what half of them are!)

anywho, these are an amazing and easy substitute that are chock full of ingredients with names you can pronounce and taste even better than store-bought!

homemade fudge-sicles
recipe from smitten kitchen

*makes 4 standard-sized popsicles (3 ounces each)

2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups whole milk
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (i used a bit more, but i love vanilla)
1/2 tablespoon butter

over very low heat, gently melt the chocolate chips in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly until smooth.  stir in sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, milk and salt and raise heat to medium. cook mixture, stirring frequently until it thickens, anywhere between 5 - 10 minutes.  remove from heat, add vanilla and butter and stir until combined.

set aside to cool slightly then pour into popsicle molds.  freeze 30 minutes, then insert popsicle sticks.  freeze the rest of the way before serving.