What comes to mind when you think of a popsicle? Like many, you might recall memories of sticky summer days at the beach, cooled by a frozen Firecracker. Or maybe you have sweet flashbacks of chasing the ice cream truck around your neighborhood to nab an orange creamsicle.
If popsicles are just a treat of your childhood, it’s time to bring this longtime favorite into the present day. Here, we share six great combinations for gourmet frozen treats. Simply mix the following ingredients, freeze, then look forward to new memories made with these easy, icy summer snacks.
Key Lime Pie Pops:
Prepare key lime simple syrup by dissolving ½ cup sugar in ½ cup water and ½ cup key lime juice over medium heat. Once cool, combine 1 cup key lime simple syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with 2 cups plain Greek yogurt. Pour into popsicle molds. Mix ½ cup graham cracker crumbs with 2 tablespoons key lime simple syrup, then spoon mixture on top of molds, insert sticks, and freeze.
Mango Lassi Pops:
Combine 2 mangos, pureed, with ½ cup plain Greek yogurt and ½ cup simple syrup. In a separate bowl, combine ½ cup plain Greek yogurt with ½ cup simple syrup. Place both mixtures in the fridge to firm up, about 30 minutes. Alternating, pour mixtures into popsicle molds to create a marbled effect. Insert sticks and freeze.
Root Beer Float Pops:
Place a maraschino cherry in each popsicle mold. Fill with softened vanilla ice cream until mold is half full. Slowly fill each mold with root beer until full. Insert sticks and freeze.
Sparkling Pineapple & Ginger Pops:
Purée ²⁄₃ of a fresh pineapple with ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger until smooth. Combine purée with sparkling water. Pour into popsicle molds, insert sticks, and freeze.
Adult version: Replace sparkling water with equal amount of sparkling wine.
Orange Coconut Creamsicles:
Combine 1 can coconut milk with 2 tablespoons vanilla Greek yogurt, seeds from 1 vanilla bean, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons honey. Fill popsicle molds halfway, insert sticks, and freeze. While freezing, combine 2 tablespoons honey and 1 1⁄₃ cup orange juice. Pour on top of frozen vanilla layer and freeze.
Chili Chocolate Fudgesicles:
In a blender, combine 1 can coconut milk with ½ cup honey, 1⁄₃ cup unsweetened cocoa, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1⁄8 teaspoon chili powder, and 1⁄8 teaspoon salt. Pour into popsicle molds, insert sticks, and freeze.
Optional: Once frozen, dip fudgesicles in chocolate shell and let harden on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet in the freezer.
Cool Ideas
3 ways to make quick ice pops
1. Try freezing your favorite fruits, sliced, in popsicle molds with coconut water.
2. Place slices of round fruit, like kiwis, bananas, etc., on a popsicle stick and dip in melted chocolate. Allow to freeze overnight.
3. Freeze sweetened yogurt in popsicle molds. Once frozen, dip in honey and roll in granola.
By Hannah Wigton / Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer
