Rivaled only by homemade ice cream in the summer dessert “cool factor” contest, freeze pops, popsicles, ice lollies – whatever you call them, are the quintessential summer delight. Unlike ice cream, making homemade freeze pops requires few specialized tools and techniques, making this the perfect treat to assemble right at home. Choose to stick with traditional flavors from childhood like cherry or chocolate or go with bold combinations that combine fruit and herbs.
Before you start building your flavor profiles, think about the tools you’ll need to accomplish your task. First, you’ll need some sort of mold. Silicone molds are easy to clean and BPA free, but can be pricey depending the design and quality. Plastic molds are relatively inexpensive but can easily stain or even crack after repeated use. Vintage metal molds are making a comeback, and will ensure that your popsicles are frozen solid, but they can be very expensive and hard to clean. You can also stick to the very “old school” technique of using paper drinking cups and wooden sticks if you’re serving a large crowd, but this can be messy in your freezer. Whatever you choose, make sure that you give ample time for your popsicles to completely freeze before serving.
You might also require a blender or food processor of some sort if you want to use fresh or whole frozen fruit in your popsicle. Make sure your blender is powerful enough to create a smooth puree otherwise you might end up with a poor texture in your final product. If you want a chunkier texture, don’t puree half-way. Mix half your chunky mixture with half your smooth mixture. This combination ensures that your popsicle will hold its shape once frozen and have an appealing texture.
Once you have your tools in order, it’s time to think about flavors! If you want to go the chocolate route, you can choose a classic fudgesicle recipe with dairy or dairy-free fudge pops. For a more adult twist on a childhood favorite, try these chocolate covered iced coffee popsicles or hop aboard the chocolate hazelnut trend and try these Nutella pops.
On the hottest of summer days, sometimes you need something a little fruity and very cool to beat the heat. With a variety of fresh and frozen fruit available today, it’s easy to make interesting combinations of popsicle flavors. The most iconic popsicle flavor is cherry. Skip the pre-made drink mix version and head straight to a healthier version that uses frozen fruit, or a more vibrant flavor profile, try these cherry lime ice pops.
Chocolate and cherry are the flavors that remind us of childhood – why limit yourself to what is familiar. For a surprisingly refreshing summer treat, try these cucumber, agave and mint pops. Sneak in a serving of vegetables to unsuspecting kids (or adults) with these grape, green apple and kale popsicles. At your next get-together, impress guests with homemade “poptails” in lieu of summer cocktails with these mojito ice pops or these lemon moonshine popsicles.