Coconut, Cherry and Vanilla Bean Ice Pops

• 2 cups fresh sweet cherries, such as Bing, pitted and halved
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Pinch cinnamon
• 3 to 4 drops almond extract
• 2 cans full-fat coconut milk
• 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped and pod reserved
• 3 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1. Special equipment: 10 to 12 ice pop molds and pop sticks
2. Bring the cherries, maple syrup, cinnamon and almond extract to a simmer in a small pot over high heat.
3. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the cherries are juicy and soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pot from the heat, and set aside.
5. In another small-to-medium pot, bring the coconut milk and vanilla bean seeds and pods to a simmer over high heat, whisking occasionally.
6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Remove from the heat, let cool for 5 minutes, then whisk in the honey and vanilla extract.
8. Remove and reserve the vanilla bean pod.
9. Pour the mixture into a pitcher or measuring jug and set aside.
10. Place a strainer over the blender jar.
11. Add the cooked cherries, and press out the juice.
12. Add 1/3 of the cherry pulp and 1 cup of the coconut milk mixture, and blend until smooth.
13. You should have about 2 cups of liquid.
14. Refrigerate.
15. Divide the remaining coconut milk mixture among ice pop molds, and place them in the freezer until semifrozen, about 1 hour.
16. Remove them from the freezer, and divide the remaining cherry pulp among the molds.
17. Top with the blended cherry-coconut mixture, place the lids on top, add sticks and freeze until solid, at least 8 hours.
18. To remove the ice pops, dip the molds in warm water for a few seconds, then carefully pull on the sticks to release.

fresh sweet cherries, maple syrup, cinnamon, drops almond, fullfat, vanilla bean, honey, vanilla

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/coconut-cherry-and-vanilla-bean-ice-pops.html (may not work)