Everyone needs a little sweet, refreshing treat when the weather is scorching hot outside. Store bought ice cream is good, but homemade ice popsicles are even better! They are incredibly easy and inexpensive to make, super yummy and you can also play around with the ingredients depending on your preference. If you’re feeling a little fancy, you can even add alcohol to take your popsicles to the next level. Tempted yet? Here are five popsicle recipes you can try!
1. Watermelon Lime Pops
You’ll need:
The flesh of 1 watermelon
Half a lime
Some honey
Blend the flesh of one whole watermelon, the juice of half a lime and a little squirt of honey for added sweetness. Then, pour the mixture into the popsicle moulds, insert the popsicle sticks, pop them in the freezer and they should be ready after a few hours.
2. Cookies and Cream Pops
You’ll need:
7 Oreos (cream filling removed)
Some sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
First, crumble the cookies into small pea-sized pieces. In another bowl, stir the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Then, stir in the sour cream, milk, cream and vanilla extract. Add the crumbled Oreos and stir to mix. Divide the mixture across the moulds, insert the sticks and freeze until solid.
3. Mojito Pops
You’ll need:
Handful of mint leaves
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups white rum
1 1/2 cups flattened club soda
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Add the mint leaves to a saucepan with the water and sugar. Bring to a boil slowly until the sugar is dissolved, then raise the heat and boil for one minute. Then, lower the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Take the saucepan off the heat and let it sit for half an hour. Strain the mixture and cool the syrup.
In another bowl, combine the rum, flattened soda, lime juice and cooled infused syrup. Gently divide the mixture into the popsicle moulds, insert the sticks and freeze until solid.
4. Strawberry Champagne Pops
You’ll need:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbs lemon juice
500g strawberries
1 cup champagne
In a saucepan, add the water, sugar and lemon juice, bringing it to a slight boil. Boil until sugar dissolves and set aside to cool. Remove the stems, cut the strawberries in half and throw it in a blender together with the syrup you just made as well as the champagne. Blend until you have a puree. Pour the mixture into the popsicle moulds and freeze overnight.
5. Berry Mint Ice Pops
You’ll need:
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs finely chopped mint leaves
Combine all the berries, lemon juice and mint, then mash it with a potato masher or spoon. Let the mixture sit for half an hour. In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water, then simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool for five minutes and combine it with the berry mixture. Fill in the popsicle moulds with the mixture, put in the popsicle sticks and freeze until solid.
