If you’re wanting to make your own popsicles, here is your complete guide to popsicle making as well as our favorite homemade recipes! Scroll through to see all of our tips, tricks, and recipes.
A few years ago I stood on the Hallmark’s Home & Family stage and shared two of my favorite popsicle recipes. It was a highlight for me and the pops were a hit. I’ve been making popsicles for years and I’m excited to share my favorite recipes and a complete guide to making your own!
Why is it called a Popsicle?
It seems so fitting that the first popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old boy, Frank Epperson. In 1905 he left a cup filled with water, soda powder, and a wooden stick for stirring, outside on his porch. It was a very chilly night in Oakland California and he woke to a frozen treat! The rest is history!
It’s a fun story and you can read more about it here!
How do you make homemade popsicles?
You’ll be an expert after reading this post! Scroll through to see all of our tricks for making homemade popsicles!
The Best Popsicle Molds
I use these molds often and really like them. Buy extra sticks for it!
Here are more options:
Supplies
- Molds (see options below)
- Blender or food processor
- Bowl with a spout
- Wooden sticks
Flavors
Fruit Based Popsicles
Choose ripe and juicy fresh fruit and berries to puree in a blender. Make your own fun flavor combinations! Here are some suggestions.
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Honeydew
- Cucumber
- Orange
- Banana
- Watermelon
- Papaya
For extra flavor use herbs like mint, basil, cilantro, and lavender in your recipes.
Add in a liquid and a sweetener. Juice or water both work as a liquid for fruit-based pops. For sweetener, add honey, sugar or stevia to the mix.
Blend all of the ingredients until smooth!
Always taste the fruit puree before adding to the molds. When ingredients freeze it looses some flavor, it’s best for the puree to have a strong fruit flavor and be more on the sweet side before freezing.
You’ll need about 2 1/2 cups fruit puree to make 8 popsicles.
Fruit Based Popsicle Recipes
Here are some recipes to get you started!
Coconut Water Fruit Pops
Made with coconut water, these are pops perfect for adults and kids on a summer’s day. Packed with fruit and slightly sweet, these truly are guilt-free treat!
There Ingredient Lemonade Pops
Three-ingredient honey lemonade pops are sure to cool you down during the hot summer days!
Cream Based Popsicles
Cream-based pops are also delicious. Use a base like heavy cream, yogurt, almond milk, or coconut milk.
Add the base and fresh berries, fruit or cocoa powder into a blender until smooth.
Again, taste the puree and make sure it has an intense flavor that is sweet and you can taste each ingredient in the puree.
Always add a tablespoon of cornstarch to cream-based popsicles to make them creamy and not icy! It’s the best tip!
Pour the liquid into a popsicle mold to freeze.
Cream-Based Popsicles Recipes
Avocado Popsicles
These avocado pops are creamy and delicious! They’re made with coconut milk and grapefruit juice. Perfect dessert if you’re serving Mexican food or fun for festive parties like Cinco de Mayo!
S’mores Popsicles
Creamy and delicious fudge pops are a cinch to make and bound to please! One bite into these yummy, soft iced treats and you’ll be hooked.
Roasted Blueberry Créme Fraiche Pops
These Roasted Blueberry Crème fraîche Pops are made with Crème fraîche (a cream made from heavy cream and buttermilk) which makes them creamy and full of flavor!
Dairy Free Strawberry Banana Smoothie Pops
Easy strawberry banana smoothie ice pops with only 4 simple ingredients! Make them striped for a fun look, drizzle with honey and add garnishes like chia seeds and granola!
Freezing
Popsicles will take about 8 hours to fully freeze. It’s best to leave them overnight to have enough time to properly freeze.
How long do popsicles last in the freezer?
Make sure to leave about 1/4″ space at the top of the mold to drop in a thin orange slice (remove the rind!), and for the popsicle to expand.
When juice and water freezes, it expands. If the juice and ice expand over the mold, it makes the removal of the lid on the mold harder. Also, you don’t get a clean edge to your popsicle.
How to Unmold a Popsicle
This part can be a little tricky and the last thing you want are broken popsicles after you have waited all night for them to freeze!
The best way to remove the popsicles is to run the bottom of the mold under warm water for about 2 minutes.
Gently pull on the popsicle stick to remove. If it still feels hard to get out, run the mold underwater again. It will come out pretty easily when it’s ready.
How to Make Boozy Popsicles
A fun idea for adults is to add a little alcohol to the puree! Since alcohol doesn’t freeze, it will be a small amount. A rule of thumb is to do a 4:1 ratio. 4 parts puree to 1 part spirit. You can also do 1.5 ounces alcohol to 1 cup juice.
Boozy Popsicle Recipes
Here are some boozy ice pop recipes to get you started!
Negroni Popsicles
Given the classic Negroni cocktail recipe a fun twist and created the most refreshing, grapefruit Negroni popsicles!
Watermelon Tequila Popsicles
These boozy watermelon pops are fresh and full of flavor! They’re shaped like watermelon slices and have an adorable kiwi lime rind!
Pineapple Rum Pops
Delicious and refreshing pineapple rum pops are packed with yummy tropical flavors, like coconut and rum…yum! They’re perfect for hot summer days and cool summer parties.
Greyhound Pops
A unique twist on the classic Greyhound, we created a Greyhound cocktail ice pop!
Margarita Ice Pops
These margarita pops are one of my favorite ways to make a boozy popsicle is to add the liquid into a freezer bag! This way you can add more alcohol and don’t have to worry about it fully freezing.
Why are my homemade Popsicles icy?
The cornstarch is what keeps the popsicles creamy. It’s a little secret ingredient we add to our cream-based popsicles.
It makes the popsicle so it’s not icy when you bite into it, which is super important for flavor and texture.
How do you make popsicles without mold?
If you don’t have a mold, you can use plastic or paper cups to make ice pops. That is how the very first ice pop was created! Pour the liquid into a cup, add in a wooden stick and freeze overnight.
Homemade Popsicles for Kids
One of the best treats for kids during the summer are homemade fresh fruit popsicles. You can control how much and what kind of sugar the popsicles contain.
Layer pureed fruits, vegetables and yogurt for a fun and colorful ice pop.
My son came up with the idea to make fresh orange juice popsicles. They ended up being the best morning treat for the hot summer mornings! This was such a simple idea, but they absolutely loved them.
You can also make fun shapes using these monster molds!
Our unique cold brew and cream popsicle with crushed peppermint.
Popsicle Variations
There are so many types of popsicles you can make. Here are some ideas and variations you can do:
- Try vegan and dairy-free ingredients.
- Use natural dye instead of artificial colors.
- Healthier versions without artificial sugar. Use natural sweeteners like honey or stevia.
- Add booze to your pops!
- Make fun shapes using different molds.
- Add edible flowers and edible glitter to make them unique.
- Use herbs and create unique flavor combinations.
- Use vegetable juice in your recipes.
- You can even make pops from cold brew coffee and cream! See the recipe above!
- Also try our layered ice cream pops!
Are Popsicles good for you?
Homemade pops can be good for you. Use whole ingredients, fresh fruit, and even vegetable juice to make popsicles healthy. Choose a natural sweetener like honey or Stevia and keep them lower in calories and sugar.
Be sure to check out our favorite popsicles for fall as well as our 10 best summer pops!
We hope you’ve learned a some new tips for making ice pops! Let us know if you make any of these recipes! We’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment below.
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Nancy says
You say to add corn starch to cream popcicles, but how do keep juice popcicles from being rock hard?
Eden says
The amount of cornstarch added does not make them hard at all. It actually acts as a stabilizer so reduce chunks of ice and creates a creamy texture.
G says
Is there anything else i can use to make popsicles creamy other than corn starch ?
Eden says
Ut really depends on the recipe but right now it’s the best option even when using cream for a popsicle recipe. You can also leave it out if you don’t want to add it.
Pam Spears says
Love your information. However, what happens to me when I make watermelon popsicles is separation…the juice around the bottom and top of the frozen popsicles is light colored, beige. Still tastes good, but how do I get rid of that separation. I think it has to do with the foam that is created in the blender with the watermelon. How do I get rid of the foam?
Thank you for any help1
Eden says
Hi Pam – We pour the juice through cheesecloth and a mesh strainer. This will remove the foam and you will have a more even popsicle. Hope that helps!
Pam says
I will try that today…thank you for that information. I use a strainer but not a cheesecloth…a cheesecloth is perfect for filter the foam. And I can’t wait to use some of your recipes so I can expand my knowledge and have more variety. My neighbors and I love homemade popsicles!