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Home » Recipes » Dessert

Healthy Strawberry Shortcake Bars

Published: Aug 21, 2019 Updated: Oct 15, 2020 Author: Roxana Begum· This post may contain affiliate links.

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Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars arranged on a white plate.

Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars are healthy, amazingly delicious and easy. Mouth watering creamy, intense berry flavor from slow roasted berries, deliciously sweet with a crumbly topping. Your childhood frozen treat with better nutrition. Great for kids.

Other favorite cold frozen treats are Melon Popsicles and Badam Malai Kulfi (Ricotta popsicles).

Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars arranged on a white plate.

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars

I have an easy trick to take these shortcake ice bars up a notch. That is to slow roast the strawberries, making the berries intense in flavor and reducing the moisture levels. That helps with making smooth popsicles and minimize large ice crystals that would have otherwise resulted from the water content in berries.

This strawberry shortcake ice cream bar recipe is a healthy alternative to the richer store bought and homemade versions. It is a great option to satisfy the unending cravings of kids for frozen treats.

Try it with blueberries and add lemon zest to give it a different dimension in flavor. The shortbread cookies and the freeze dried strawberries give it a crumbly coating, while further intensifying the berry flavor.

The inside of a strawberry shortcake ice cream bars after taking a bite.

Ingredients

  • Greek yogurt
  • Frozen bananas
  • Strawberries (or blueberries)
  • Medjool dates
  • Flavors - Vanilla, Lemon zest (optional)
  • Shortbread cookies (or vanilla cookies/wafers or butter cookies)
  • Freeze dried strawberries

Step by Step Overview

1. Roast strawberries until they become soft and bubbling with thick juices. Chill the berries and process with dates and lemon zest (if using), until very smooth.Banana chunks, roasted strawberries and pureed roasted berries.

2. In a food processor, pulse chilled yogurt, frozen banana chunks, vanilla and a pinch of salt until soft and creamy.

3. Spoon yogurt-banana mixture and berry mixture randomly into a container with a spout. Swirl once with wooden skewer or any pointed utensil to create a marble pattern and then transfer to popsicle molds. Close the top of the popsicle molds or insert sticks. Frozen banana and chilled chilled yogurt processed and layered with strawberry puree and then swirled.

4. Freeze the strawberry ice cream bars.

5. Process shortbread cookies until coarse. Take some of it aside and add freeze dried strawberries, pulse to a fine crumb stage. Combine all shortbread crumbs and spread on a flat baking sheet.

6. Run the popsicle molds under hot water and release the bars. Dip the ice cream bars into the cookie crumbs and press gently to coat evenly. 

7. Freeze the popsicles on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 30 minutes. Chilled yogurt-banana mixture layered with berry mixture and filled into popsicle molds, frozen and then covered with strawberry shortcake crumbs.

8. Store in the freezer for 3 to 4 weeks in an airtight container.

Healthy Berry Popsicles

These strawberry shortcake ice cream bars are nourishing while satisfying your cravings.

Yogurt provides high quality protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium vitamin B 6 and vitamin B 12. It is a good source of probiotics, which benefit gut health. Some probiotic strains may also boost the immune system.

Regular consumption of yogurt is also associated with lowering of the risk of high blood pressure, prevention of osteoporosis and better weight management. Be sure to purchase yogurt that does not have added sugars and with active cultures in the product. Since yogurt has a low amount of lactose, it may be better tolerated than milk, by a lactose intolerant person.

These popsicles are mainly sweetened with bananas and dates. The natural sugars from these fruits come along with several other nutrients, unlike refined sugar. Bananas are a rich source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B 6 and magnesium. Frozen bananas also give a naturally creamy ice cream like texture.

Strawberries are a great source of powerful antioxidants and support prevention of certain chronic diseases. They are a healthy choice for diabetics and known for better regulation of blood glucose. Berries also have a good amount of fiber and water content, so they help with satiety, hydration and regularity.

You can use whole grain shortbread cookies to make these ice cream bars. Watch for a posting of that recipe on this blog.

The crushed freeze dried strawberries add a natural sweetness, intense flavor and crumbly texture to the exterior.

Recipe Variations

Some suggestions you could try. I have not tried the following variations.

  • Vegan and Dairy Free: Use non dairy yogurt and vegan shortbread cookies.
  • Gluten Free: Try using rice flour or oat flour based shortbread cookies, crushed oat granola or crushed toasted almonds for the outside coating.
Berry popsicles placed over a plate.

Tips and Tricks

Make sure to choose thick Greek style yogurt that is not “tart”. And I prefer to use whole milk Greek yogurt for a creamy wholesome texture.

Chill all the ingredients and freeze the banana slices very well. To ensure softer bite, popsicle mixture should be thick and chilled before pouring it in molds. 

If the ingredients warm up and the mixture becomes thin, then try to semi-freeze the mixture, give a quick stir and then transfer to the molds.

The mixture should be more sweet than you like because some of the sweetness will be lost after freezing. The pinch of salt also enhances the sweetness.

Use whole grain shortbread cookies prepared with whole wheat pastry flour, oat flour or rice flour based cookies. Watch this blog for a future recipe post.

If using optimally ripe bananas, the mixture should be quite sweet. However, you can add some maple syrup or honey to make it sweeter if needed.

Can I Use Dehydrated Strawberries?

Freeze dried strawberries are affordable and easily available at Wal-Mart, online, whole foods and healthy food stores. Those are definitely better than using homemade dehydrated strawberries, as they have a crumbly and lighter texture. Dehydrated strawberries flatten out and the color doesn't remain bright red.

Four strawberry shortcake ice cream bars arranged on a plate and placed on a table.

More Summer Treats:

  • Mango Cake with Whipped Cream
  • Pineapple Cupcakes (Butterfly Cupcakes)
  • Chia Mahalabia (Rose Milk Pudding)
  • Mango Gelato

★ DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

Strawberry shortcake ice cream pops served on a plate.
5 from 3 votes

Healthy Strawberry Shortcake Bars

Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars are healthy, amazingly delicious and easy. Mouth watering creamy, intense berry flavor from slow roasted berries, deliciously sweet with a crumbly topping. Your childhood frozen treat with better nutrition. Great for kids.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Freezing Time6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Print SaveSaved!
Course :Dessert
Cuisine :American
Servings: 10 bars
Calories: 103kcal
Author: Roxana Begum

Ingredients

  • 2 cups strawberries or blueberries
  • 2 medjool dates
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest if using blueberries
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt plain, whole
  • 1 cup bananas chunks, frozen
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 pinch salt
  • maple syrup or honey, optional
  • 3 oz shortbread cookies or vanilla cookies/wafers or butter cookies (1¼ cups)
  • 1 oz freeze dried strawberries (¾ cup)
US Customary - Metric

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Baking Sheet
  • Popsicle Mold
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Instructions

  • Rinse the strawberries and pat them dry. Cut them in halves and place them in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees F for about 15 to 20 minutes until they become soft and bubbling with thick juices. Take it out of the oven and let the berries chill completely.
  • Using a food processor or a blender, puree the roasted berries, dates and lemon zest (if using blueberries), until very smooth and set aside.
  • Take chilled yogurt, frozen banana chunks, vanilla and a pinch of salt in a food processor and process until soft, fluffy and creamy. Use the pulse action if needed. The mixture should be a bit sweeter than your preference, as the sweetness will lower after freezing. If necessary add some honey or maple syrup.
  • Spoon yogurt-banana mixture and berry mixture randomly into a container with a spout. Swirl once with wooden skewer or any pointed utensil to create a marble pattern.
  • Then divide the mixture into the popsicle molds leaving some room for it to expand on the top. Close the top of the popsicle molds or insert sticks as applicable.
    Tip: Alternatively, you may stir the berry puree into the yogurt mixture completely before dividing it into the molds.
  • Freeze the strawberry popsicle bars overnight or at least 6 hours until completely frozen.
  • Pulse and process the shortbread cookies until coarse. Take some of it aside and add the freeze dried strawberries and pulse to a fine crumb stage. Combine with the coarse shortbread crumbs and spread it all in a thin layer on a flat baking sheet.
  • Release the popsicle bars from the mold by running it under hot water. Dip the soft surface of the ice cream bars into the cookie crumbs and press gently to coat evenly on all sides.
  • Place the shortbread crumb coated popsicles on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes until completely frozen.
  • Store in the freezer for 3 to 4 weeks in an airtight container.

Notes

  1. Choose thick Greek style yogurt that is not “tart”.
  2. Chill all the ingredients and freeze the banana slices very well.
  3. Popsicle mixture should be thick and chilled before pouring it in molds. If the mixture becomes thin, semi-freeze it and give a quick stir and then transfer to the molds.
  4. Preferably use whole grain shortbread cookies prepared with whole wheat pastry flour, oat flour or rice flour based cookies.
  5. Freeze dried berries are affordable and easily available at Wal-Mart, online, whole foods and healthy food stores.
  6. Nutrition facts based on ready made standard shortbread cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I would love to know about it. Tag me @thedeliciouscrescent.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrea

    August 22, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    OMG! Wow do these sound fabulous! I could eat 2 or 3 right now.

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      August 23, 2019 at 7:11 pm

      Thanks Andrea. Enjoy :)

      Reply
  2. Ashley

    August 22, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I am swapping out the strawberries for blueberries, and this is just divine!

    Reply
  3. Emmeline

    August 22, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    These look absolutely delicious!! Love that they're a bit healthier as well - so I can have two, or five ;)

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      August 23, 2019 at 7:10 pm

      Thanks Emmeline :)

      Reply
  4. Lisa Bryan

    August 22, 2019 at 6:13 pm

    Wow, what a great idea! Especially for kids. Love the inclusion of dates and shortbread cookies for crunch.

    Reply
  5. Pam Greer

    August 22, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    What a great idea to roast the strawberries! It really increases the flavor of the berries, these pops are so delicious!

    Reply
    • Roxana Begum

      August 23, 2019 at 7:10 pm

      So happy you like it. Thanks Pam :)

      Reply
5 from 3 votes

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Hi, I'm Roxana, registered dietitian and recipe developer. Here I share wholesome & delicious recipes with room for cravings. Healthy makeovers. Step-by-step photos & videos.
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