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Mexico is a hot country and sometimes Mexicans just want to cool off. They have many cool snacks to choose from, including ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. Many Mexican dessert recipes include tropical fruits, chocolate, or cinnamon. There are men selling these cool treats up and down the Mexican streets, a bit like ice cream trucks in the summer in the United States.

Paletas - Mexican Popsicles

Paletas means “little shovels” in Spanish and these tasty popsicles can be bought in Mexican grocery stores. Their shapes are normal but their flavors are different from American popsicles. Some are mainly ice with tart flavors and others are milk-based with tropical fruits. You can even get a chili and cucumber flavored paleta.

The chili-flavored paleta is quite piquant so if you like spices, you might find it surprisingly refreshing. It is easy to make paletas at home and they are virtually fat-free. If you prefer to buy them, you can buy paletas from street vendors in Hispanic areas. There is a company based in California called Palapa Azul, which makes paletas and distributes them widely. You might even find some in your local Wal-Mart!

Mexican Fried Ice Cream

Mexican fried ice cream is another mouth-watering treat. It is somewhat Americanized. You can find fried ice cream at Mexican restaurants in the United States and also at festivals. The ice cream used is more frozen than majority of ice creams. The ball of ice cream is rolled with different items such as cookie crumbs and then cooked in the deep fryer at a very low temperature. This allows the ice cream not to melt. Once it is fried, toppings can be added. Cinnamon is a common topping. Fried ice cream has become so common that it is also served in Chinese and Japanese restaurants. They add different flavors to the ice cream. You might find it green tea flavored.

Mexican Ice Cream with Cajeta Sweetened Caramelized Milk

If in the mood for just regular vanilla ice cream, cajeta would be a great topping. Cajeta is a Mexican confection of syrup most commonly made from caramelized milk that is sweetened. The syrup is made by the sweetened liquid being cooked slowly and breaking down until it is very thick. Some people use different liquids instead of sweetened milk.

Cajeta can be made with goat’s milk, cow’s milk, or juice. It has different names in different Mexican neighborhoods, including crema de cajeta, dulce de leche, and leche quemada. Cajeta is great served on ice cream. The Hershey Company makes its own cajeta to please the Mexican population and Mexican food aficionados. If the day is warm and you want to cool off, cajeta on vanilla ice cream is sure to do the job.

These cool treats are easy to make from your own home. Do some research on the different flavors and try to make a few. If you have a child, have some fun and both make them together and of course eat the finished treat. These are perfect on a warm day, but can still be enjoyable anytime of the year.