Delicious Popsicle Recipes To Make With Your Grandchildren

Temperatures are beginning to climb, which can only mean one thing: Summer is coming, and it is time to start finding fun and creative ways to beat the heat! One of my grandkids and my favorite ways to do this is by making homemade popsicles with fresh fruit and other wholesome yet tasty ingredients. 

While I can easily buy popsicles at the store, I prefer to make them with the grands as our popsicles contain less sugar and artificial ingredients, AND it gives us even more time to bond. Win/win? I think so, too! Without further ado, here are some recipes and other pointers for making delicious popsicles at home:

Popsicle-making supplies

Before you start shopping for your ingredients (fruit, juice, and so on), you will want to check your cabinet or local store for the following:

• Popsicle molds or small paper cups
• Popsicle sticks or wooden craft sticks
• Blender or food processor
• Cutting board and knife (for cutting fruits)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl (if not blending all ingredients)
• Spatula or spoon (for mixing and transferring mixtures)
• Plastic wrap or wax paper (for wrapping individual popsicles)
• Airtight containers or freezer bags (for storing popsicles)
• Permanent marker or labels (for labeling containers)

Fruit-based popsicle recipes

Raspberry Lemonade Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
• 1 1/2 cups water

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the raspberries, lemon juice, and honey or agave syrup until smooth.
2. Pour the raspberry-lemon mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds, pressing the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
3. Stir in the water and mix well.
4. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
5. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Kiwi-Mint Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 6 ripe kiwis, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
• 1 cup coconut water

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the kiwis, mint leaves, and honey or agave syrup until smooth.
2. Add the coconut water and pulse briefly to combine.
3. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
4. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Pineapple-Orange Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup (optional, depending on the sweetness of the fruits)

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the pineapple chunks and orange juice until smooth. Taste and add honey or agave syrup if needed for desired sweetness.
2. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
3. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Cream-based popsicle recipes

Creamy Vanilla-Berry Swirl Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the mixed berries with half of the honey or maple syrup until smooth.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, the remaining honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
3. Spoon alternating layers of the berry puree and yogurt mixture into the popsicle molds, creating a swirl effect.
4. Use a skewer or a thin knife to gently swirl the mixtures together for a marbled look.
5. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Creamy Coconut-Key Lime Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups canned coconut milk (full-fat for a creamier texture)
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed key lime juice (or regular lime juice)
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
• 1 teaspoon lime zest

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, lime juice, honey or agave syrup, and lime zest until well combined.
2. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
3. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Creamy Peach-Banana Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the peaches, bananas, Greek yogurt, honey or maple syrup, and cinnamon until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
3. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Herbal and tea-infused popsicles

Green Tea-Honey-Lemon Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 2 green tea bags
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil and steep the green tea bags for 3-5 minutes, then remove the tea bags.
2. Stir in the honey until fully dissolved and let the mixture cool to room temperature.
3. Once cooled, add the lemon juice and mix well.
4. Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
5. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Lavender-Blueberry Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dried culinary lavender buds
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions:

1. Steep the lavender buds in the boiling water for 5-7 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove the buds, and let the lavender-infused water cool to room temperature.
2. Stir in the honey or agave syrup until fully dissolved.
3. Divide the blueberries evenly among the popsicle molds, then pour the lavender-infused liquid over the berries, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
4. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Hibiscus-Mint Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil and steep the hibiscus flowers and mint leaves for 5-7 minutes. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove the flowers and mint, and let the hibiscus-mint infusion cool to room temperature.
2. Stir in the honey or agave syrup until fully dissolved.
3. Divide the chopped strawberries evenly among the popsicle molds, then pour the hibiscus-mint infusion over the strawberries, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
4. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.

Conclusion

Don’t these recipes sound significantly better than those frozen tubes of sugar water? Believe me – they are! Depending on your preferences and whatever you have in your cabinet, these can also be customized with other ingredients like nuts, seeds, or various fruits.

There you have it: Delicious (and nutritious – shh, don’t tell your grandkids!) homemade popsicle recipes that will keep you cool all summer long. The only thing better than eating these frozen treats is spending quality time in the kitchen with your favorite people: your grandkids! Enjoy (and remember to tell me which you make and enjoy the most).