Everyone looks for something cold to beat the heat on hot summer days. Ice cream is popular choice for everyone, especially your kids. But, as a parent, you know ice-creams are tasty and cool but not a healthy dessert you want your kids to eat every day. Then what is the healthier option that can beat the heat and be tasty too? It is the Popsicle!
What Is a Popsicle?
Popsicles are the favorite of both kids and adults. Nothing cools you down as efficiently as ice-cold popsicles on a warm day. Available in numerous colors and flavors, no one can name one favorite popsicle. But what is a popsicle?
A popsicle, also known as ice lolly or ice pop, is a frozen flavored block with a stick. It is icy cold and usually licked to enjoy its wonderful taste.
What Are the Varieties of Popsicles?
Popsicles come in all shapes and flavors. The popular varieties of popsicles are:
- Fudgsicle – chocolate-flavored popsicles.
- Dreamsicle – Iced milk is used to make these popsicles.
- Creamsicle – Popsicles with an ice-cream core coated with fruit sherbet.
- Yosicle – Here, yogurt is used as the base ingredient.
Is Popsicle Healthy for Kids?
Almost every kid loves Popsicles. But as a parent, you must wonder whether they are healthy for your kid. Store-bought popsicles are full of sugar, preservatives, colors, etc. They are delicious, so the kids love them. But like all store-bought things, they are okay to consume in moderate amounts. When eaten daily, they are not beneficial to your kid’s health. Daily consumption of sugar, preservatives, artificial colors, etc., may prove harmful to your kid’s health. So a better alternative is to make popsicles at home.
Benefits of Homemade Popsicles for Kids
Homemade popsicles are good for your kid’s health. Some benefits of homemade popsicles for kids are:
- Healthy – As you make popsicles at home, you have complete control over the quantity and quality of ingredients used. Sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors are used to the minimum in homemade popsicles, making them healthy.
- Hydration – Homemade popsicles keep the kids hydrated in the hot months. Packed with fruits and veggies, they are also nutritious.
- No Limit On Quantity – As you have made popsicles with quality ingredients, your kids can have as many as they want and whenever they want.
Easy and Delicious Popsicle Recipes for Kids
You know homemade popsicles are healthy. But wonder, can I make them? And even if I make them once, the extensive recipe will be difficult to make again. Well, not all homemade popsicles require numerous ingredients or too much preparation. Find below some of the easiest and most delicious kid-friendly popsicle recipes that are easy to make and are sure to interest kids.
1. Watermelon Kiwi Pops
This healthy popsicle is super easy to make.
Ingredients
- Watermelon chunks (deseeded)– any number you want
- Kiwi fruit -1 qty
- Sugar (optional)- 1 teaspoon
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
How To Make
- In a blender, blend the deseeded watermelon chunks into juice. You can add sugar if you want a slightly sweeter taste.
- Peel the kiwi and cut it into round slices.
- Place one kiwi slice each in all popsicle molds.
- Pour the watermelon juice into the molds.
- Let the molds freeze for 4-5 hours till they solidify.
- Unmould and enjoy your watermelon kiwi popsicle.
2. Coconut Water Fruit Popsicle
This simple recipe is high in taste and good for health.
Ingredients
- Coconut water – quantity as per the number of popsicles you want to make
- Fruits – any fruit you want
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- Peel and cut the fruits you want to put in your popsicles. Remember to cut into thin and small pieces.
- Put a few fruit pieces into each popsicle mold.
- Pour coconut water into the molds to fill them.
- Let the molds freeze for 5 to 6 hours.
- Un-mold and enjoy your refreshing popsicle.
3. Orange Popsicle
It is one of the easiest popsicle recipes.
Ingredients
- Orange – 5-6 or as per the number of popsicles to be made
- Sugar – 2 tablespoons or as per taste
- Vanilla essence (optional)- ¼ teaspoon
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
How To Make
- Peel and juice the oranges in an orange extractor.
- Add sugar and vanilla essence to the orange juice.
- Mix well.
- Pour the orange juice into the popsicle molds.
- Freeze for about 5 hours till the popsicles are set.
- Un-mold and enjoy.
4. Strawberry Mango Popsicles
Mango popsicle is one of the favorites of most kids.
Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries – 1 cup (stems removed and hulled)
- Mango (peeled and cubed) – 2 cups
- Orange Low acid – 1 cup
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
How To Make
- Blend the strawberries in a blender with ¼ cup of Orange low acid till completely smooth juice is made.
- Pour the juice into popsicle molds. Fill the molds to half or less than half.
- Rinse the blender.
- Add peeled mango chunks with the remaining orange low acid juice to the blender.
- Blend into a smooth juice.
- Pour this mango juice on the strawberry juice in the popsicle molds.
- Freeze the popsicles for about 5 hours until they turn firm.
- Unmold and enjoy your strawberry-mango popsicles.
Note:- You can also add a few sliced strawberries to the popsicle mold before pouring the mango juice.
5. Chocolate Popsicle
This recipe is easy to make and loved by everyone.
Ingredients
- Thin coconut milk- 350 ml
- Sugar – 3 tablespoons or as per your taste
- Cocoa powder (unsweetened)- 1/3 cup
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- Add sugar and cocoa powder to coconut milk. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
- Freeze for about 6 hours.
- Unmold and enjoy the popsicle.
6. Yogurt fruit swirl Pops
This recipe for yogurt popsicles combines the goodness of fruits and yogurt.
Ingredients
- Frozen fruits (as per your choice) – 1 pound
- Vanilla Yogurt – 2 cups
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- Blend the fruits till they are in the form of smooth puree.
- Pour the juice into a squeeze bottle or resealable bag.
- In another squeeze bottle or resealable bag, pour the vanilla yogurt.
- Now, alternately pour or squeeze fruit puree and yogurt into the popsicle molds to make swirls.
- Freeze the molds for about 6 hours.
- Unmold and enjoy your popsicle.
7. Pink Lemonade Pops
Enjoy the deliciousness of raspberries with the tinge of lemon flavor.
Ingredients
- Frozen Raspberries- 1 cup
- Granulated sugar – ¾ cup
- Lemon Juice – 1 cup
- Water – 1 ¾ cups
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- In a pan, heat sugar with ¾ cup of water until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Pour the sugar mixture into a bowl and mix well with the remaining 1 cup of water.
- Let the sugar water cool.
- Make a smooth puree of raspberries in a blender.
- To remove seeds, push the puree through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Pour the raspberry puree into the sugar mixture bowl.
- Add lemon juice to it and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds.
- Freeze for about 5 to 6 hours until completely frozen.
- Un-mold and enjoy.
8. Hot Chocolate Popsicles
Instead of typical ice pops for your kids, try this healthy hot chocolate fudgesicle.
Ingredients
- Milk- 4 cups
- Sugar- 6 tablespoons
- Chocolate chips (semi-sweet)- 2 tablespoons
- Mini marshmallows- ½ cup
Preparation Time: 20 minute
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- In a pan, heat milk with chocolate chips and sugar until the milk simmers and the sugar and chocolate chips completely dissolve in the milk. Remember to stir frequently to prevent the chocolate or sugar from sticking to the bottom.
- Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool.
- In each of the popsicle molds, place a few mini marshmallows.
- Pour the chocolate milk into the molds.
- Freeze the molds for about 5 to 6 hours.
- Un-mold and enjoy.
9. Strawberry Cheesecake Pops
The goodness of strawberry combines with the cheesecake texture of yogurt in this yummy popsicle.
Ingredients
- Fresh strawberries (stems removed and quartered) – 2 cups
- Plain yogurt – 3 containers
- Vanilla extract (optional)- 1 teaspoon
- Honey (optional)- 2 tablespoons
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- In a blender, add all the ingredients and make a smooth puree.
- Pour the puree into the popsicles molds.
- Freeze the molds for about 5 to 6 hours until firm.
- Un-mold and enjoy your strawberry cheesecake popsicle.
Note:- Avoid the honey if making the popsicles for a baby less than 1 year.
10. Kiwi and Yogurt Popsicle
It is one of the easiest fruit popsicle recipes.
Ingredients
- Kiwis – 6 quantities
- Greek Yogurt – 1 cup
- Skim Milk- ½ cup
- Honey – 3 tablespoons
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours
How To Make
- Peel and slice the kiwis into horizontal slices and a few in small cubes. Keep them aside.
- In a bowl, mix yogurt, honey, and milk.
- In each of the popsicles molds, add a few kiwi pieces and then pour the yogurt mixture alternately till the molds are filled.
- Freeze the molds for about 5 to 6 hours till completely set.
- Un-mold and enjoy.
Tips to Remember While Making Popsicles
Here are a few tips to remember while making popsicles at home:
- Popsicles are not advisable for babies with frequent colds, fever, throat infections, or coughs.
- Use boiled and cooled milk instead of water to make healthier popsicles. Don’t keep ice-pop for more than 3-4 days in your freezer. It’s advisable to consume them within 2 days of making them. And consume milk-based popsicles within a day.
- Freeze time may vary as per the effectiveness of your refrigerator.
- Avoid feeding popsicles to babies below 1 year of age.
Your kids will enjoy these delicious popsicles. All the recipes are easy to make and require few ingredients.
Also Read:
Tasty Crock Pot Recipes for Children
Yummy Sandwich Recipes for Kids
Easy Cheese Recipes for Children
This post was last modified on April 12, 2022 8:07 pm