Everyone wants to stay cool in the summer, and one of the best ways to do that is with frozen treats. As you look through our hand-picked selection of delicious goodies, you’ll see that popsicles aren’t just for kids anymore.
General Popsicle Tips
There are a lot of popsicle suggestions on our list, so it seems prudent to start with a few general tips. Popsicle moulds are inexpensive, and if you’re going to make popsicles throughout the summer they’re worth the investment. Many even have little trays that help catch the drips. However, if you’re not ready to buy something new you can usually make popsicles in plastic or paper cups using spoons as the stick. Once your popsicle is ready and you want to remove it from the mould, run it under warm water for a few seconds. It should pop right out.
Smoothie Popsicles
If you can make a smoothie, you can make a smoothie popsicle. Blend together your favourite fruits, juices, or milk, then pour the mixture into your moulds. The great thing about this idea is that you can even blend a few vegetables into the smoothie and your kids won’t know the difference. Alternatively, add protein powder and these could be your post-workout treat.
Frozen Lemonade
When it comes to staying cool, nothing is cooler than this frozen lemonade treat. It's intended to simulate the recipe used in restaurants, but now you can enjoy it at home as well. If you don't want to squeeze your own lemons, you can use a frozen powdered drink mix for the same effect.
Gummy Bear Popsicles
Your kids are going to love this idea, but you’ll think it tastes great too. Stuff your popsicle moulds with gummy bears, then fill up the mould with a lemon-lime soda. Expect the soda to be a bit cloudy when it freezes, but you won’t care when you discover how delicious it is. It’s extra fun to try to get the gummy bears out of the ice!
Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Treats
If you’d rather have something you can sink your teeth into, frozen fruit and yogurt popsicles are the summer treat for you. Simply dip fresh strawberries into some Greek yogurt, put them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and enjoy. The yogurt gives the treat a bit of a protein boost, so they’re extra-healthy. If you don’t feel like dipping your fruits, though, many people enjoy eating frozen grapes or blueberries on their own.
Conversely, you can simply freeze yogurt, and by adding food colouring and lollipop sticks, you have an easy-to-make and super-fun treat for the kids. While you can stick with just the yogurt and fun designs with colour, you can also add a few extras like mini chocolate chips, crushed nuts, or small pieces of fruit before you put them in the freezer.
Coffee Popsicles
Now we’re talking. These coffee popsicles are going to give you the afternoon pick-me-up you really need. Of course, you may not want the kids to have the caffeine, so it might be a treat that you just save for yourself. Alternatively, try making them with decaf coffee.
Frozen S’Mores
S’mores are a classic summer treat usually eaten by the fireside, but you can enjoy the taste even when it’s too hot to light a campfire. This recipe uses marshmallow cream rather than the usual marshmallows, and you can freeze them like an ice cream sandwich or insert a stick to make it more like a popsicle.
Nutella and Cool Whip
By blending Nutella with Cool Whip and milk, you end up with a popsicle that has a more sophisticated taste. You won’t feel embarrassed about passing these out to neighbourhood kids or to their parents. It’s delightfully refreshing and a nice change from all the fruit-flavoured popsicles out there.
Fresh Fruit Popsicles
These popsicles are probably the prettiest treat on our list, and are surprisingly easy to make. You start by cutting up a variety of fresh fruits, then putting them in the popsicle moulds with some apple juice. What’s especially nice about this one is that kids can customize their own popsicles, adding only the fruits they really like. You might even want to try making this recipe with lemon-lime soda like in the gummy bear popsicles (if you try it, let us know how it tastes).
Summer’s hot, but the right treats can keep you cool. Mix it up with our various recipes and have a great Edmonton summer!
