Fudgesicles

Soften the gelatin by sprinkling it over the cold milk. Add the vanilla and stir. Let mixture sit for five minutes.

Sift together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and guar gum. After the gelatin is softened in the milk, stir it into the powdered mixture. Stir to combine.

Heat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture just comes to a simmer. It will not be overly thick. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Stir occasionally to keep a film from forming.

Whip three tablespoons of whipping cream to stiff peaks and stir into the chocolate mixture once it is cool. Use a whisk to make sure the whipped cream is well incorporated. Pour the chocolate mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until hard. Unmold and wrap in wax paper to store.

NOTES:

Guar gum is an all natural ingredient and is a powder from a bean that is grown primarily in Pakistan. It is not only a thickener but helps to prevent undesireable ice crystals from forming in frozen goods. It is available at many supermarkets and online.

I use the Progressive International Freezer Popsicle Maker and highly recommend it. Although you can use whatever popsicle molds you have available, this recipe was specifically made to fit the volume of this particular mold.