8 Delicious Popsicle Recipes You’ll Love

One of my earliest memories as a child is getting bucked off my aunt Charis’s horse, Jellybean, which was truly a terrifying experience.  That said, I have to admit that it wasn’t even the most memorable part of my day; what I *really* remember vividly when I look back is actually being soothed thereafter with an absolutely delicious orange popsicle on a beautiful summer day.  True, I may have blacked out momentarily and gotten both of my knees pretty good and skinned up, but with a popsicle in my little hand, somehow I was on top of the world.

To say that popsicles were a staple of my childhood is probably the understatement of the century; I was and still am completely and utterly obsessed with them.  Part of it is the nostalgia factor for sure, particularly as it pertains to popsicles I loved as a kid that are no longer sold (see #7 below).  But at the heart of it is the fact that I just genuinely love these amazing frozen treats in all of the shapes and forms they take as well as the happiness they bring.  Right on the brink of the hottest part of our midwestern summer, the timing seems perfect to share these 8 delicious popsicle recipes I’ve been hooked on as of late so we can all enjoy them collectively in our own little corners of the world.

Now, to be fair, it’s true that there’s a wide variety of popsicles and other frozen treats in your grocer’s freezer right now just waiting to be bought and enjoyed.  But c’mon, what’s the fun in that?!  If you make it your business to invest in some popsicle molds (which btw have come a LONG way since those Tupperware ones your mom had in the 80s) and take a little time to whip up any of the below recipes just right for the dog days of summer, I promise you won’t be disappointed.  Enjoy this delicious variety of make-at-home sweet treats that’ll be ready in no time flat!

Note:  A couple of these recipes are poptails, an amazing new-fangled invention which basically combines popsicles with cocktails, i.e. they’re boozy!  Honestly ladies, why WE didn’t think of this when we were in our 20s I can’t for the life of me figure out.  In any case, they could always be made virgin as well to make them kid-friendly or pregnancy-friendly (*raises hand*).

Raspberry Coconut Creamsicles

Ummm…YUM y’all, just yum.  If you love coconut like I do, these delicious pops are a really refreshing, new (not to mention insanely delicious) take on a classic creamsicle.  If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even try making an ombre array of different colors/flavors like the author did but they’ll still be crazy delicious as-is if you choose not to.  One additional plus: since they’re made with coconut milk and coconut yogurt, they’re also vegan and dairy-free for anyone with restrictions, though of course you could also use regular old yogurt if that doesn’t apply to anyone in your brood.  I will admit I did roll my eyes the first time I read through the ingredients and saw ‘freeze-dried dragonfruit powder’ (I mean…seriously?!) on the list *but* this is completely optional if for some reason you’re not keen on paying $18 for a whole bag of something you’ll probably never use again (go figure).

Melon Basil Moscow Mule Pops

Melon and basil combine with the traditional Moscow mule in these pops for a refreshing, surprisingly delicious and boozy (though not overwhelmingly so) summer treat.  Without even trying, these pops are also naturally vegan and dairy-free which will be a win for anyone with those dietary restrictions.  If you’re pregnant or making for kids, of course you’d have to forego the tequila (boo!) but if not, feel free to experiment with a variety of different tequilas in making these, including the flavored varieties, to find your favorite.

Neopolitan Popsicles

If you’re a lover of traditional neopolitan ice cream like I am, you’ll LOVE this delicious and (somewhat) healthier variation in grab-and-go popsicle form to satisfy your cravings. These pops are made with all standard ingredients you probably already have at the house as well as fresh strawberries for yum factor and Greek yogurt which, as an added bonus, gives them an extra protein punch.  Truthfully, it does take a little longer to make these since you have to freeze for 5-10 minutes in between each layer but trust me, they are SO worth the wait.

Coconut Lime Pops

Peanut butter and jelly; bacon and eggs; coconut and lime; some food combos are just made to go together.  The author of this recipe recommends juicing your own limes which is definitely ideal if you have a good juicer and a lot more time/patience than I do.  However, if you don’t have any of the above in spades, I can reassure you that these pops will still turn out fabulous using bottled lime juice so long as you don’t skip the very important step of adding the lime zest.  Seriously, DON’T skip the zest; just don’t do it.  It really does add a whole world of flavor and it is 100% worth an extra trip to the store if you don’t happen to have any fresh limes on hand.

Orange Creamsicle Protein Pops

In addition to being a big fan of Katie and her site, Dashing Dish, in general, her recipes really are to-die-for and they’re healthy to boot!  These taste strikingly similar to the orange push-up pops you no doubt loved as a kid even though they’re not loaded with sugar in the same way that the original version was (surprise!).  You can buy fresh oranges and juice them yourself if that’s your jam or you can sub in the low-sugar orange juice that our friends at Trop50 have so generously provided for us (thank you baby Jesus).  As an added bonus, these pops also contain greek yogurt which is both delicious and adds protein to an already nutritious treat.  Sweet.

Raspberry Vodka Lemonade Pops

My signature drink at our wedding was basically a variation of this so really it was only a matter of time before we found one another and fell madly in love.  These are the perfect complement to a lazy summer afternoon enjoyed out on the deck.  Note that while you may be tempted to cut calories and make these with sugar-free lemonade (I may or may not have tried), you should definitely resist that inclination as your resulting pops will otherwise freeze pretty solid (like an ice cube) which doesn’t make for a treat that’s very easy or fun to eat.

Jell-O Pudding Pops

Yes, fellow children of the 70s and 80s – they may not make these anymore but damnit, I was bound and determined to find a recipe to indulge this nagging craving.  I can personally vouch that you can even use the sugar-free mix variation if you so choose and they’ll still taste fab.  As it would turn out, there’s really not even that much to these; they’re basically just instant pudding with some cool whip added in which makes them a snap to whip up in literally 5 minutes.  You can make the traditional combination of chocolate and vanilla as I did or get crazy with any number of different flavors.  You go with your bad self, guuurl.

Vanilla Funfetti Popsicles

Last but certainly not least, you just can’t go wrong with funfetti anything and these popsicles will be a huge hit with the young and just young at heart alike.  The original recipe calls for 2% greek yogurt paired with almond milk though I found that you could also use 0% greek yogurt paired with regular dairy milk to preserve the texture and consistency.  There are only 4 ingredients (greek yogurt, almond milk, vanilla extract and sprinkles) so they come together really quickly and I don’t know about you, but seeing those rainbow sprinkles in a popsicle just never fails to put a smile on my face.

I hope you will grow to love these 8 delicious popsicle recipes as much as I do in the hot summer days to come.  Please feel free to like, share and/or join in the discussion with comments below to share your favorite popsicle recipes!

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