An ice potato is a fun and creative way to serve flavored ice treats. It involves freezing flavored liquids in potato-shaped molds to create icy pops that look like mini potatoes. The ice potatoes are then served with small toothpicks so people can pick them up and enjoy them like finger food. This unique presentation makes the ice potatoes an interesting conversation starter and fun party snack.
What are Ice Potatoes Made Of?
Ice potatoes can be made from a variety of flavored liquids including fruit juices, chocolate milk, yogurt drinks, and more. Some popular ice potato flavors include:
- Strawberry
- Lemonade
- Orange juice
- Grape juice
- Fruit punch
- Pina colada
- Mango
- Peach
- Watermelon
- Blueberry
- Pomegranate
- Cherry
- Raspberry
- Chocolate milk
- Yogurt drinks
- Apple cider
The flavored liquids can be sweetened with sugar, honey, agave, or other sweeteners. For an extra creamy treat, blended ice potatoes can be made by mixing the flavored liquids with softened cream cheese or yogurt before freezing.
Ice Potato Molds
To make ice potatoes, you need molds shaped like small potatoes. The molds are typically made from plastic or silicone. The molds come in various sizes, but a standard ice potato mold holds about 3-4 ounces of liquid. The molds have a hole at the top to pour liquid into before freezing.
Ice potato molds can be found at many grocery stores, kitchen supply stores, or online. To save money, you can also improvise and use clean egg shells with a hole poked at the top as ice potato molds.
How to Make Ice Potatoes
Making ice potatoes is a simple process:
- Choose your flavors and prepare the liquids. Allow chilled liquids to come to room temperature.
- Pour the flavored liquids into the ice potato molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
- Insert toothpicks halfway into each mold if desired.
- Place the molds on a tray or baking sheet and freeze for 6-8 hours or until completely solid.
- When ready to serve, quickly run the molds under warm water to loosen the ice potatoes.
- Gently remove each ice potato from the molds and serve immediately on a platter.
Be sure your liquids are well-chilled before pouring into molds. Watery liquids like juices may need some xanthan gum or guar gum to improve the texture. For best results, consume the ice potatoes right after removing from the freezer.
Serving Suggestions
Ice potatoes make fun finger foods for summer parties, barbecues, and outdoor events. Here are some serving suggestions:
- Arrange the ice potatoes on a platter with small decorative toothpicks.
- Set up an ice potato bar with various flavors and let guests pick their favorites.
- Skewer 3-4 ice potatoes on sticks for potato pops.
- Stack ice potatoes in glasses or bowls for an ice cream bar effect.
- Pair ice potatoes with fresh fruit like melon balls or berry skewers.
- Offer chili powder, lime wedges, or other toppings for spicing up the potatoes.
- Add diced fruit like mango or pineapple to the molds before freezing for fruit-studded ice potatoes.
Get creative with flavors, colors, shapes, and presentations!
Ice Potato Party Ideas
Ice potatoes are perfect for summer parties and events. Here are some fun ice potato party themes and ideas:
Potato Bar
Set up a baked potato bar with toppings like shredded cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, butter, chives, etc. Serve ice potatoes alongside for a fun twist.
Ice Cream Social
At your ice cream social, include an ice potato bar along with regular ice cream. Let guests top their potato pops with sprinkles, chocolate sauce, crushed candy, nuts, whipped cream, and cherries.
Luau Party
For a tropical luau bash, serve ice potatoes in flavors like pineapple, coconut, mango, and passionfruit. Decorate with mini decorative umbrellas.
Carnival Birthday
What’s more fun than carnival food? Have an ice potato bar as one of the stations. Provide caramel, rainbow sprinkles, and other carnival-inspired toppings.
Fiesta
For a Mexican fiesta, include ice potatoes flavored with lime, tajín seasoning, horchata, and more. Top with chili powder for a kick.
Backyard BBQ
Cool off from the summer heat with ice potatoes in juicy fruit flavors like watermelon, strawberry lemonade, and blue Hawaiian.
Unusual Ice Potato Flavors
While fruity flavors are most common, let your creativity run wild with these fun and unexpected ice potato ideas:
- Root beer or cream soda
- Butterscotch or vanilla pudding
- Mint chocolate chip
- Chocolate-dipped bacon
- Jalapeño margarita
- Blackberry balsamic vinaigrette
- Cookie dough or cookies & cream
- Pie flavors like key lime or cherry
- Spicy mango chili
- Horchata with cinnamon
- Ube (purple yam)
- Rose water
Get inspired by your favorite desserts, beverages, savory flavors, and spices. The possibilities are endless!
Making Ice Potato Pops
For a fun twist, ice potatoes can be made into pops by skewing them on sticks. Try these techniques for ice potato pops:
– Use longer sticks so you can stack 2-3 ice potatoes per stick.
– Spear cubed fruit like pineapple or mango chunks in between the potato molds before freezing.
– Top with melted chocolate or crushed candy once frozen for a decadent pop.
– Stir some crushed cookies, graham crackers, or cereal into the liquid before freezing for added crunch.
– Swirl 2-3 flavors together in each mold for a colorful marbled effect.
– Freeze the ice potatoes in layers of different colors for a striped look.
– Add novelty eyes or mouth stickers before freezing to make funny face pops.
– Insert flags, ribbons, or notes in the sticks for special occasions like birthdays.
With ice potato pops, the options are endless for creativity and fun!
Nutrition Information
The nutrition of ice potatoes can vary widely depending on the ingredients used. Here are some general nutrition facts:
| Nutrition Facts (per ice potato) | Fruit juice-based | Milk/yogurt-based |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 60-100 | 80-140 |
| Protein | 0-1g | 2-6g |
| Carbs | 15-25g | 10-20g |
| Fat | 0-1g | 2-5g |
| Vitamin C | 30-100% DV | 0-15% DV |
| Calcium | 0-4% DV | 10-30% DV |
Since ice potatoes are essentially frozen juice or milk, they provide vitamins, minerals, and hydration. Choose healthy, natural ingredients like fruits, yogurt, and milk for a nutritious treat.
Storing Leftover Ice Potatoes
Properly stored, leftover ice potatoes can keep for 1-2 months in the freezer. Here are some storage tips:
– Place uneaten ice potatoes in a sealed container or zip top bag. Squeeze out excess air.
– Store ice potatoes toward the back of the freezer where temperature is most stable.
– Avoid storing potatoes with pantry items like bread that can absorb freezer odors.
– When ready to eat, let potatoes thaw 5-10 minutes before removing from molds.
– Do not refreeze ice potatoes once thawed.
– Consume within 1-2 days once thawed for best quality.
– Discard any ice potatoes that develop freezer burn or ice crystals.
With proper freezing and storage methods, you can enjoy inventive ice potato creations again and again all summer long!
Adaptations
The basic ice potato concept can be adapted in many creative ways:
Ice Potato Bites
Make bite-sized ice potatoes using mini muffin tins instead of full potato molds. Kids will love the cute little pops!
Ice Potato Sandwiches
For an ice cream sandwich twist, place ice potatoes between cookies or brownies before freezing.
Potato Popsicles
Use ice pop molds instead of potato shapes for potato popsicles. Layer flavors for a striped effect.
Jell-O Potatoes
Replace juices with Jell-O or gelatin mixes. Let set in molds before freezing for jelly ice potatoes.
Agar Potatoes
For a vegan version, blend fruit with agar flakes instead of gelatin before freezing.
Mexican Paletas
In Mexico, fresh fruit pops are called paletas. Make ice potatoes from classic Mexican paleta flavors.
Hawaiian Shave Ice
Use ice potatoes to top Hawaiian shave ice. Insert cubes into potato molds before freezing.
Let your creativity run wild! The ice potato concept can be adapted to suit any occasion or taste.
Conclusion
Ice potatoes offer a fun and eye-catching way to enjoy frozen fruit, juice, or cream treats during warm weather. Let kids help pour the molds for an engaging cooking project. Experiment with new flavor combinations and toppings to wow your guests. Chill out with refreshingly cool ice potatoes at your next backyard gathering or summer party!