Popsicles Are A Popular Summertime Treat!
There are few things as refreshing as a flavorful frozen treat on a sweltering summer day. Especially as the temperature soars into the 80s, 90s and beyond, who doesn’t look forward to a cool icy treat to beat the searing heat?
Americans have had a long-standing love affair with popsicles ever since their creation in 1905. When 11-year old Frank Epperson accidentally left a cup filled with powdered soda, water, and a stick sitting on his porch overnight, it froze and Frank invented the first popsicle. In 1923, Frank began selling popsicles in Neptune Beach, California, and they became an instant hit. Today, over 2 billion Popsicle® brand frozen treats are sold annually in the United States!
Originally, commercial popsicles and ice pops consisted primarily of frozen water filled with artificial colors and flavors. While these varieties still exist, artisan ice pops are all the rage these days! Trendy shops are popping up all over the country filled with high-priced organic fruit and vegetable popsicles!
While it’s fun to indulge in a trendy treat every now and then, their high cost can easily take an unwelcome bite out of your budget by summer’s end! Why not pamper your wallet and waistline and keep cool by making your own frozen treats at home?
Tips For Creating Healthy Popsicles
Creating tasty frozen treats is fun and easy to do. Here are a few basic tips to help you get started!
1. One of the best things about creating your own popsicles is that you get to decide what goes into them! These recipes are chock-full of our favorite fruits to minimize calories and maximize nutrients!
2. Use water-based ingredients such as ice, fruit juices, coconut water and herbal teas to create a cooler, icier pop. Incorporate ingredients such as milk, yogurt, sherbet and other dairy products for a smoother, creamier texture.
3. While popsicle-making kits are nice to have, they aren’t essential to own – especially for renters with limited storage space! We used Dixie® Cups to make our pops because they are inexpensive, disposable, and allow us to make as many treats as we need at any given time!
We hope you enjoy the recipes that follow and that these tips encourage you to create your own frozen concoctions!
Watermelon Popsicles
Ingredients
2 Cups Seedless Watermelon
1/8 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Ice
Instructions
1. Cut the watermelon into slices and scoop out the fruit.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
4. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
5. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
6. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!
Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!
Peach Mango Popsicles
Ingredients
I Cup Peaches
I Cup Mango
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Ice
Instructions
1. Wash, peel and slice the fruit and remove the pits.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
4. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
5. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
6. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!
Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!
Strawberry Kiwi Popsicles
Ingredients
1 1/2 Cups Strawberries
1/2 Cup Kiwi
1 Cup Ice
1/4 Cup Ice
Instructions
1. Clean and hull the strawberries by removing the green caps and stem with a paring knife and slicing them in half.
2. Wash, peel and slice the kiwi.
3. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Pour the ingredients into the cup or mold, leaving at least 1/4 inch at the top of the mold to allow for expansion.
5. Partially freeze the popsicles for two hours, and then insert the sticks into the center of the cups or molds.
6. Freeze for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours (for best results, let the popsicles freeze overnight!)
7. Remove the popsicle from the cup or mold and enjoy!
Prefer a creamier popsicle? Add 3/4 Cup of Milk to the ingredients!
Pop Quiz
What’s your favorite popsicle flavor? We’d love to know! Please leave a note in the comments – and be sure to check out this bonus fruit smoothie popsicle recipe at ForRent.Com!
This article was originally published at ForRent.Com.
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Twitter: RecentBooks
says:
Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes for Popsicles!! =) yum!
Pinned to my Dessert board.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much for pinning my recipes Melissa!
Do you have a favorite flavor?
Love this share thanks for ideas!!!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
You’re welcome Marie – thanks for stopping by! 🙂
My husband and I love popsicles year around. Your recipes look delish.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Elena – isn’t it fun to be able to enjoy popsicles throughout the year?
Hope you enjoy them and they inspire you to try a few new flavors of your own! 🙂
Great idea!! Visiting from the Friendship Friday hop!
I love making my own popsicles and finding new creations to try. Thank you for sharing at the Merry Monday Link party!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
You’re welcome Amanda – hope you enjoy these recipes!
Yum! The peach-mango popsicles sound like exactly what I would love on a hot summers day!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Enjoy them Amanda! 🙂
These all look so delicious. I would really like banana:) Thanks for sharing your awesome recipes with us at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
My pleasure Adrian – there’s so many things you can do with these!
I just love your Frozen Treats! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Twitter: goaskkatie
says:
yum…..Hugs Thank you for sharing and for linking up to the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Twitter: Xmasdolly
says:
Oh yum! I’d be NaNee of the year! This looks like something my grandkids would absolutely love. I surely hope you’ll come over and share your recipe on my linky. Hugs, me
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Wouldn’t miss it Marie – enjoy!
Yum! These look amazing! Summer is basically over in Seattle but I may have to make these anyway. And good idea on using Dixie cups instead of investing in the fancy Popsicle makers… thanks for the tip!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
My pleasure Casey – come again soon! 🙂
Looks great- pinned it to try later with my kids. Found your blog on Foodie Fridays link party and started following on Google +.
Erin
http://theeveryday-mom.blogspot.com/
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Delighted to meet you Erin – thanks for the pin!
Just followed you on Pinterest and look forward to connecting with you on G+!
Perfect for a hot summer’s day. I have to make these when school lets out. Thanks for sharing the recipes. 🙂 #sitsblogging
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
My pleasure Tami!
I LOVE THIS! I made some fruitcicles for a dinner party (pineapple/mint/lime & watermelon/strawberry/lime) and they were very memorable.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
So glad you enjoyed this post – perfect for the hot summer ahead!
Such a good idea.. healthy snacks. My kids will love them.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Enjoy Margaret!
All of these combinations sound so delicious and refreshing! Thanks for enlightening us about the origin of popsicles too!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Julia – glad you enjoyed the article! 🙂
Such a clever idea! I wil have to try this, it has been getting to 100 everyday where I’m at. Coming from Sunday’s down under!
Yep, we need these in our lives, stat. The temps are already hitting 100 here in GA, so we love some frozen goodness to keep us cool! I bet the toddler would love these, too.
Love the history on popsicles!! and the combination of peach and mango sounds delicious. Thanks so much for sharing these recipes. Have a great weekend!
These suggestions look delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Love the idea to make homemade popsicles! I will definitely have to try out one of your recipes! Found you at SITS Sharefest!
Those all look so delicious and perfect for all this heat we are having!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
The nice thing about using the cups is that you can enjoy them anytime! 🙂
Saw this on the Creative Mondays Blog Hop. I’m always looking out for treats like these, pinned to my Summer Yummies Pinterest board.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much for pinning Diane – enjoy!
These are wonderful! Healthy AND refreshing- can’t beat that. I am featuring them tonight at Treasure Box Tuesday- thank you for linking up with us! 🙂
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much for the feature Joy – always a pleasure to party with you!
I can’t wait to make these colorful, for our 4th of July festivities! Strawberry Kiwi is my favorite! Of course, with yummy ingredients like these, I will be making and eating these quite often. Thank you so much for sharing these with us at the Plant-based Potluck Party! I’m pinning and sharing.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks for pinning Deborah – hope you enjoyed the treats!
Those look delicious and that snippet of history was really interesting too. Thanks for sharing – I think the watermelon one would be my fave!
These look yummy! They’d be a huge hit with my girls!
xoxo
Lisa
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Give them a try – I’m sure your girls will love them!
I love this idea! The strawberry kiwi popsicles sound especially delicious! Can’t wait to make some!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Enjoy! 🙂
Mmm this looks really good. I need to make some of these for my kids because I bet they would love these, plus they are so much healthier than those sugar packed ones from the store!
I will definitely be making these! Thanks for sharing! Be blessed! 🙂
Twitter: over50feeling40
says:
Perfect for right now! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
My pleasure Pam – enjoy!
I just love your frozen treat recipes, these look great! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
These popsicles look delightful! Interesting story about their history. Thanks so much for sharing.
But I want one now! It is HOT here in Florida!!! Thanks for teaching me how to do this – Hunter and I will have fun doing this together 🙂
With a smile, from Tampa, FL Carlyn 🙂
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Hope you and Hunter enjoy your healthy treats Carlyn – it’s a perfect activity to do together!
These look super refreshing!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Enjoy! 🙂
Wow, they look delicious!!!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Lisa!
These will be great to make with the kids this summer on very hot days to come! Thanks for sharing with us all.
These look so refreshing. It’s already 100° here in NC. It’s miserable these would be great in the afternoons.
The popsicles look so good! I love watermelon popsicles from fresh watermelon. The others look great, too.
These look so refreshing and delicious! Would you mind sharing them at my link party?
http://www.thestonybrookhouse.com/2016/06/dishing-it-digging-it-link-party-101.html
Easy, healthy, sweet, cool, and FUN to make with the kids. Sold!
These look amazing and so tasty!
These all look so yummy
Mollyx
Oh my goodness those look delicious! Will have to try them! Some of my favorite ingredients. I would like to invite you over to my new A Gathering of Friends Link Party 2.
Yum, I am going to try this tomorrow.
Have a great weekend,
Kippi
Very COOL Idea, I love it. Thanks for sharing.