Banana Pudding Pops

Its been so warm here this week, I found that I had images of popsicles and ice cream cones dancing around in my head.   My new Cuisinart ice cream maker did arrive this week, but I really wanted to try out my new Tupperware popsicle molds that my mom and dad had gotten me for Christmas.  We had these molds as kids, but all that remains of that old set is a few of the sticks.  I don't know what happened to the rest of the set, which is OK, because all of the sticks are riddled with teeth marks and they are kind of dingy looking. 

My new set is lemon yellow with a lime green tray to hold the popsicles upright in the freezer.  I started thinking about these popsicles again, when I saw an article in an EatingWell magazine last year featuring various flavored freezer pops.  I decided to try the banana pudding pops recipe this week, and because we were all out of mini-chocolate chips, I put Hershey's Cinnamon Mini-chips into the pudding before filling the molds.  They are just delicious, very economical and hubby and I just sit there after dinner in quiet solitude savoring every lick (bite in his case) of our banana pudding pops. 

Banana Pudding Pops
from EatingWell.com

1/3-1/2 cups light brown sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
Pinch of salt
2 cups low-fat milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups diced bananas

(I cut the recipe in half and it filled all 6 of my Tupperware popsicle molds)

Whisk sugar to taste, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan.  Add milk and whisk until combined.  Bring to a boil over  medium heat, whisking occasionally.  Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. 

Put about half the pudding mixture in a blender or food processor and add bananas.  Process until smooth.  Stir the mixuture back into the remaining pudding.   I let the mixture cool to room temperature, and then added a couple tablespoons of cinnamon mini chips before adding the pudding to my popsicle molds.  Insert the sticks and freeze until completely firm, about 6 hours.  Dip the molds briefly in hot water before unmolding.