Beat the heat with these dairy-free chocolate pudding

Sweet frozen treats are perfect for hot summer days! Unfortunately, the lack of nutrition and over-abundance of chemical ingredients in most commercial varieties is far from ideal. This summer, try making your own. It's a great way to control the quality of your ingredients! Even a novice in the kitchen can easily whip up the simple homemade recipe included here. This dairy-free version of chocolate pudding pops contains natural ingredients and a raw healthy fat that you may not expect to find in a dessert!

Bananas are one of the natural ingredients in this recipe, and they add a good dose of potassium to these pops. Avocados are the surprising star of this dairy-free delight. They are packed with raw healthy fat that gives these pops their dairy-like creaminess. Avocados are also loaded with fiber, and they contain 60 percent more potassium per ounce than bananas!

Unlike commercial varieties, these pudding pops are sweetened with natural raw honey - a sweetener that actually contributes to your health. Raw honey is full of vitamins and minerals; it contains high levels of antioxidants and it actually reduces the inflammation associated with many conditions (e.g., allergies, infections). Make sure you purchase honey that is truly raw because heating (i.e., pasteurizing) honey destroys its natural health benefits! You will most likely find raw honey at your local farmers market, natural food store or health section of your regular grocery store. It is generally thicker and less clear than regular pasteurized honey. In fact, it often must be scooped out of its container rather than squeezed or poured