Happy Independence Day

Since Fourth of July is quickly approaching, you might want to think of a fun, festive treat for the kiddos. These are great because you don’t need a Popsicle mold – just some Dixie cups and wooden sticks. If you’re opposed to using ingredients like Jell-O and Cool Whip, you can definitely make a strawberry puree for the red part, fresh whipped cream for the white and pureed blueberries for the blue. Happy 4th of July!

Rocket Pops

Yield: 16 pops

Ingredients:

• 1 package Cherry Jell-O (3 oz.)
• 1 package Berry Blue Jell-O (3 oz.)
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 2 cups boiling water, divided
• Ice cubes
• 2 cups cold water, divided
• 1 – 8 oz. tub Cool Whip, thawed

Directions:

RED LAYER

1. Combine Cherry Jell-O and 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl
2. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir for 2 minutes or until gelatin is completely dissolved
3. Add enough ice cubes to 1 cup water to make it 2 cups
4. Add the water and ice to the gelatin and stir until ice is completely melted
5. Pour evenly into 16 – 5 oz. paper or plastic cups, adding about 1/4 cup gelatin to each cup – freeze 1 hour

I only had small 3 oz. Dixie cups on hand so I used those – it really just depends on the size you want (and what you have in your cupboard)

RED LAYER

1. Combine Berry Blue Jell-O and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl
2. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir for 2 minutes or until gelatin is completely dissolved
3. Add enough ice cubes to 1 cup water to make it 2 cups
4. Add the water and ice to the gelatin and stir until ice is completely melted
5. Refrigerate 1 hour

PUTTING IT ALTOGETHER…

1. When the hour is up, spoon 3 tbsp Cool Whip evenly over the red layer (you could also put the cool whip in a pastry bag and use the round tip)
2. Top evenly with the blue gelatin – adding about 1/4 cup blue gelatin to each cup
3. Insert a wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into each cup for a handle
4. Freeze for 4 hours or until firm
5. To remove pops from cups place under warm running water for 15 seconds – then press firmly on the bottom of the cups to release the pops (don’t twist or pull out the stick!)