Easy and Healthy Homemade Popsicles

Summer temps have arrived in the Northeast, and that means it's time to stock the freezer with all the summer goodies. Today I am sharing one of my favorite things to make for my kids in the summer - these easy and healthy homemade popsicles.

My kids love an ice pop in the summer. I mean, who doesn't? And it turns out that it is actually pretty easy to make healthy, homemade popsicles with very few ingredients. All you need is a popsicle mold and you can make a variety of popsicles to pull out on a hot day. I've even let my kids have these with breakfast because, why not? These popsicles have little-to-no added sugar, no artificial ingredients or added colors, and they can be tweaked to your liking.

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Why should I make my own popsicles at home?

ONE: Better choice ingredients. Many store-bought popsicles are full of sugar, artificial ingredients and food dyes. When you make your own, you are in control of the ingredients.

TWO: Easy to customize. The flavor options are endless when you make your own homemade popsicles.

THREE: A great way to sneak in some nutrient-dense foods. Just like with my beloved smoothie, a popsicle can be a great way to sneak in some nutrition in the form of an icy cold treat. Fruit provides vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, while additions such as yogurt can provide protein and probiotics.

FOUR: It's fun! If you want an easy DIY to do with your kids this summer, try these! Let them experiment with the flavor combos. You really can't go wrong.

FIVE: These are an easy make-ahead treat. They store well in your freezer and last a long time.

What are some easy and healthy homemade popsicle recipes?

Here are a few I've gathered up for you from around the internets...

Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles. These are so easy, and I love the tip about using up an old or not so great watermelon. The watermelon has a mild flavor, so you may want to add your favorite berries for more of a flavor punch.

Berry Swirl Popsicles. For a high protein treat, try these popsicles made with berries and full-fat yogurt.

Strawberry Mango Popsicles. My kids are mango-obsessed, so I had to try this one. I left out the sugar, and just combined strawberries with coconut milk, mango with coconut milk (mixing each separately in my NutriBullet, until it was smoothie-like), then layered it into the molds. My kids loved these.

4-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Popsicles. These look really creamy and yummy.

Fruit & Veggie Freezie Pops. I haven't tried these, but they look so simple, and I had no idea you could buy ice pop sleeves! You can also use a regular popsicle mold.

Electrolyte Popsicles. For an easy way to boost electrolytes and stay hydrated this summer, try making popsicles with this electrolyte drink. My kids love the strawberry watermelon flavor. You just mix the drink according to the package directions, pour into your popsicle molds, and freeze. These have no added sugar, my kids love them, and I feel good about giving them a healthy treat. (You can save 10% on your order with code 'NOTES')

What do I need to make homemade popsicles at home?

You don't need much! Just a mold and a blender.

I used this mold for my popsicles. I also have this one, if you want something a bit smaller - it makes 6 pops. For younger kids, these little popsicle molds are so cute!

Blender. Some of the recipes called for blending. I used my trusty NutriBullet.

Ice pop sleeves. Totally optional, but a fun idea.

What are some tips for making homemade popsicles?

Tip #1: Let them freeze for 3-4 hours (at least) before eating them.

Tip #2: You can take them out of the molds and store in a freezer bag so your mold is free for another batch (and to save room in your freezer).

Tip #3: If you are having trouble removing the popsicles from the mold, run the mold under water for a few seconds. Then just move the stick back and forth a bit and it should come right out.

Tip #4: Try different variations based on your favorite fruits!

Tip #5: Many recipes call for lemon juice, which helps to brighten the flavor and preserve the color.

Try out these easy and healthy homemade popsicles and let me know what you think! For more healthy summer snacks, check out my list of the best gluten free snacks.

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