Coconut Horchata Paletas (Popsicles)

Method7 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Put the 1 cup raw long-grain white rice in a blender or food processor and grind as finely as the appliance allows.

   Uses 1 cup raw long-grain white rice

2. 2

   Step 2: To the ground rice from step 1, add 3/4 cup raw almonds, 1 cinnamon stick OR 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar and 4 cups warm water. Blend together.

   Uses Finely ground raw rice · 3/4 cup raw almonds · 1 cinnamon stick OR 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon · 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon instead of the cinnamon stick · 1/4 cup sugar · 4 cups warm water for soaking

3. 3

   Step 3: Promptly refrigerate the blended rice-and-almond mixture from step 2 in a covered container and let it soak overnight, or at least a few hours, so the flavours infuse. Keep the soaking mixture refrigerated.

   Uses Blended rice-and-almond soaking mixture

4. 4

   Step 4: After soaking, blend the refrigerated mixture from step 3 again. Add the 1 1/2 cups coconut milk and combine well. Taste and add a little extra sugar (to taste) if desired before freezing.

   Uses Refrigerated soaked rice-and-almond mixture · 1.5 cups coconut milk · Extra sugar, to taste before freezing

5. 5

   Step 5: Strain the coconut-horchata mixture from step 4 through a fine-mesh sieve, optionally lined with several cheesecloth layers. Discard the retained rice, almond and cinnamon solids.

   Uses Sweetened coconut-horchata mixture

6. 6

   Step 6: Pour the strained coconut-horchata from step 5 into popsicle molds, leaving a little headspace for freezing expansion. The source batch makes about 10 popsicles using roughly 1/2 cup per mold; actual count depends on mold size. Freeze about 1 hour until partially set, insert popsicle sticks, then freeze for another few hours until completely solid. Freeze any extra strained mixture in additional suitable molds rather than overfilling.

   Check partial freezing after about 1 hour, then insert sticks · 60 minUses Strained coconut-horchata, including any extra mixture

7. 7

   Step 7: Release the completely frozen popsicles from step 6 by leaving the mold on the counter for a few minutes or running water over its outside. Serve immediately and keep remaining popsicles in a closed freezer bag in the freezer.

   Uses Completely frozen coconut-horchata popsicles · Water for running over the outside of the mold, if needed