MAN, it’s humid. Granted, I live in the United States in South Central Pennsylvania. It’s quite possible in this region to go from saying “MAN, it’s humid,” to “Has anyone seen my winter boots because there’s a foot of snow outside” within a 12-hour period. This week, humidity has been the name of the game. Sounds like a good opportunity to try some homemade popsicle recipes!
The good news is that I have three awesome homemade popsicle recipes to share with you today, in case you’re looking for ways to stay cool this summer, too! If you don’t have air conditioning, you’ll want to check out this article while you’re waiting for your homemade popsicles to freeze!
Homemade popsicle recipes provide healthier options
Many parents are becoming more health-conscious these days. They’re looking for new ideas to provide their children with non-toxic snacks. Processed, store-bought food is loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other toxic ingredients that wreak havoc on human health. Homemade popsicle recipes enable you to get creative in making tasty frozen treats made with natural ingredients! 
It’s difficult to inspire our kids to develop health eating habits if we constantly stock our pantry, fridge and freezer with unhealthy snack foods. Growing children need snacks. When it’s so hot outside that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk, kids want snacks to be cold and refreshing. These homemade popsicle recipes will have them coming back for more, and because they’re non-toxic, you won’t mind if they have seconds!
To make popsicles, you’ll need to purchase some molds ahead of time. Some people use craft sticks and small-sized cups while others prefer a package deal that comes with the base, covers and sticks all in one.
Use greek yogurt and berries in your homemade popsicle recipes
Yogurt is so good for you, as long as it’s real yogurt, not processed style yogurt that’s loaded with sugar. When you’re experimenting with homemade popsicle recipes, be sure to try these festive, patriotic-striped delights: Greek yogurt and berry popsicles! They’d make a perfect addition to your next Fourth of July party! To make six greek yogurt and berry popsicles, here’s what you need:
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- A total of 1 cup plus 4 tablespoons of greek yogurt
- 4 tablespoons of honey
You’ll pour three distinct layers into your mold to attain the striped effect. First, combine the strawberries, 2 tablespoons of yogurt and one tablespoon of honey in a blender. Fill each cup or mold about one third of the way. Place them in your freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat the process for the second layer, which is a blend of 1 cup of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of honey. Let this one set in the freezer a little longer, maybe 45 minutes or so. For the final layer, blend the blueberries, 2 tablespoons of yogurt and 1 tablespoon of honey. This time, you will leave the popsicles in the freezer for approximately 4 hours or until frozen solid.
Pretty much anything with fresh basil in it tastes good
My family LOVES fresh basil. I keep two small pot s of it growing on our dining room window sill. You can add “lemon yogurt and basil” to your list of homemade popsicle recipes for a super tasty, summer treat. At the risk of being redundant, may I once again share my excitement that these frozen snacks are healthy! And, if you’re counting calories, these delightful treats only have about 57 calories each for the win! Can you say “guiltless snack food”???
Once again, you’ll need Greek yogurt — about 1 and 1/4 cup to make six popsicles. You’ll also need 1/4 cup of milk. Choose almond milk or plant-based milk if you don’t want cow milk. Also have lemon juice on need because you’ll use about 1 tablespoonful. Finally, choose a natural sweetner, such as 2 tablespoons of honey or agave syrup AND…don’t forget — fresh basil — about 2 tablespoons’ worth. Add all ingredients to your blender and mix until smooth. Fill your molds and freeze for about 6 hours or more.
Mint is another herb you can use in your homemade popsicle recipes
It’s so refreshing to have frozen popsicle treats on hand to help everyone cool down on a hot, summer day! Here’s another low-calorie option that includes watermelon, strawberries and fresh mint leaves! YUM! Some people like to add chunks of the strawberries in the bottoms of the popsicle molds, then again near the top. I prefer a smoother texture for popsicles, but you can experiment to your heart’s content until you find a combination that your family loves! To make a smooth version, blend approximately 4 cups’ worth of cubed watermelon with at least 10 strawberries and a dozen mint leaves. Pour into your molds and freeze for several hours! You’ll probably get around eight popsicles out of this recipe.
Get creative with more frozen treat
Making homemade popsicles is a fun activity to do with your kids this summer. Besides the recipes we’ve shared in this post, you can also use other natural ingredients to make healthy frozen treats. I found the recipes in this post. Check out that page for more ideas using ingredients such as peaches, Mandarin oranges, bananas and white chocolate!
How do you like your popsicles? Creamy? Chunky? Sweet or tart?
