How to Make Healthy & Homemade Popsicles (Complete Guide)

Arguably one of the easiest and most fun treats to make (and eat!), homemade popsicles will keep you feeling cool all summer long. Learn how to make a variety of healthy popsicles, including fruity, creamy, and hidden veggie popsicles in this ultimate guide. Plus, this guide has our favorite popsicle molds, expert tips, recipes, and so much more!

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Homemade Popsicles

What’s the only thing I love more than a refreshing popsicle? How about a popsicle that’s homemade, healthy, bursting with fruity flavors, and cheaper than store-bought?

I absolutely love making my own homemade popsicles. They’re a great alternative to store-bought popsicles, as you get to control the ingredients and sugar content. No added colors, no preservatives, and no high fructose corn syrup here!

Plus, making your own popsicles with reusable popsicle molds reduces waste and is budget-friendly. And if I’m being completely honest, I also love that homemade popsicles are a fun way to get my kids a couple extra servings of fruits and veggies with a mid-day treat.

In this guide, you will find step-by-step instructions on how to make fruit popsicles, cream popsicles, hidden-veggie popsicles, expert tips, our favorite popsicle molds, and so much more!

If you are looking for more easy and healthy recipes for your kids, then be sure to check out these delicious 15 Healthy Smoothies for Kids, 100 Breakfast Ideas for Kids, these reader favorite 40 Family Favorite Dinner Ideas, or the popular 100 Lunch Ideas for Kids. You can also find more recipes and information in my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.

Reasons to Love Homemade Popsicles

• A great way to stay cool during hot summer days
• Fun and easy to make with kids
• Can be made with reusable molds, reducing waste
• A tasty way to add extra fruits and vegetables into your child’s diet
• Naturally sweetened for a healthier treat
• Easy to eat and can be enjoyed on-the-go
• Quick source of hydration and nutrients for kids who don’t drink enough water
• Endless flavor combinations

Best Popsicles Molds for Toddlers and Kids

Before we get started, it’s good to ensure you have one (or a few) popsicle molds on hand. Here are some of our favorite popsicle molds for kids, that we have used over and over again through the years.

Toddlers

• Zoku Mini Mold: I LOVE these mini popsicle molds for toddlers and younger kids. They are the perfect size for smaller tummies, plus they have the drip guard on them, so they aren’t as messy. 😉
• Helistar 6 Popsicle Molds: sightly bigger than the mini popsicles but smaller than the regular size, makes this mold a great option for toddlers who might not be able to finish, or need, a full size popsicle yet.

Kids

• Zoki Classic Popsicle Mold: are great for kids that want more than the mini version. They still have a drip guard, so again, not so messy!
• Silicone Ice Pops Tray: such a cute and fun popsicle tray. I found the popsicles were super easy to remove from the tray!

No Molds – No Problem: if you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can simply use leftover yogurt containers, muffin tins, ice cube trays, baby puree trays, disposable paper cups, or even a loaf pan! If you can’t get the sticks to stay upright, simply cover the mold you are using with aluminum foil and then poke your sticks through.

Ingredients

• Fruit: Fresh or frozen fruit will work to make these popsicles.
• Sweetener: Adding just a bit really brings out the fruity flavors – you can use maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, sugar or a simple syrup. You can adjust the amount to your liking.
• Yogurt or Liquid: If using yogurt, I recommend a plain whole milk yogurt for the added healthy fats and nutrients, but you can also use regular yogurt or a plant-based alternative. If using a liquid, I recommend a fruit juice, coconut water, or plain water.
• Add-Ins: These are completely optional, but ideas like mini chocolate chips, a dash of vanilla extract, or chopped fruit can really take your popsicle game to the next level.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds and place in the freezer.
3. Freeze for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
4. Pop the popsicles out of the molds and enjoy!

How to Make Smooth Fruit Popsicles

For fruit popsicles, you just need 3 easy ingredients – fruit, yogurt or liquid, and a little sweetener. Place all ingredients into a blender, puree until smooth and then place in popsicle molds.

Recipes to Try:

How to Make Chunky Fruit Popsicles

Don’t have a blender? Or want chunks of real fruit in your popsicles? Then this is your recipe! Place fresh or frozen fruit right inside of the popsicle molds. You can use whatever fruit you prefer! If the fruit is too big, just chop it down a little. Pour the coconut water or juice to the fill line and freeze.

Recipe to Try:

How to Make Creamy Popsicles

For creamy popsicles, blend together fruit, sweetener, and yogurt. Choosing a whole milk yogurt with a higher fat content will help to make a creamier popsicle.

Recipes to Try:

How to Make Hidden-Veggie Popsicles

Hidden-veggie popsicles work best with a ratio of 1 veggie: 2 fruits. Add in some yogurt or liquid and sweetener and puree until smooth.

Recipes to Try:

Fruit Ideas

Homemade fruit popsicles work equally well using fresh or thawed from frozen. You can pick just one fruit or choose a combination of 1-3 fruits.

• strawberries
• raspberries
• cherries
• mandarin oranges
• mango
• pineapple
• kiwi
• grapes
• blueberries
• blackberries
• watermelon
• cantaloupe

Sweetener Ideas

Adding a touch of natural sweetener to these homemade popsicles brings out their fruity flavors and helps reduce ice crystals from forming. Any of the following sweeteners will work beautifully.

• maple syrup
• honey (only serve to babies over 1 year)
• agave nectar
• simple syrup
• sugar

YOGURT OR LIQUID IDEAS

I like to add just a little liquid to ensure that the popsicle blend properly and are not too dense when frozen.

• yogurt – plain whole milk
• flavored yogurt
• plant-based yogurt
• coconut water
• kefir – plain or flavored
• canned coconut milk
• apple juice
• grape juice
• cherry juice
• orange juice

Fun Add-Ins

While definitely not necessary, sometimes it’s fun to add in some fun add-ins to your popsicles if they are vibing with your fruit.

• chopped fruit
• mini chocolate chips
• swirl of peanut butter
• swirl of chocolate
• swirl of yogurt
• squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange
• splash of vanilla extract
• pinch of cinnamon
• sprinkles
• a teaspoon of chia or hemp seeds

Veggie Boost: feel free to add a 1/4 cup of baby carrots, frozen cauliflower, spinach, or avocado to most popsicles. I like adding the same veggie color to my popsicle base so the popsicles don’t turn out brown.

Popsicles for Toddlers

Popsicles for Kids

Cooking with Kids

This recipe is great for having your little ones get more experience with helping in the kitchen.

Toddlers

• Toddlers can help measure and pour the ingredients into the blender.
• They can help put the lid on the blender and push start. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp.
• Once blended, toddlers can help pour the popsicle mixture into the popsicle molds. You may want to pour the popsicle mixture into a smaller measuring cup with pour lip to make it easier on them.
• With help, they can place the popsicle molds into the freezer. My kids always spill the tray at this point, so just give them an extra hand.

Kids

• You can pretty much let older kids make this recipe by themselves.
• They can pick out and measure all of the ingredients. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp.
• Kids can pour the popsicle mixture into the molds and place the popsicles into the freezer.

How to Store

After removing from the popsicle molds, store homemade popsicles in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months in the freezer.

How to Release Popsicles from Molds

Run the base of your popsicle mold under warm water for 15-30 seconds to help release popsicles easily.

Healthy Popsicle Recipes

And for YOU.. after the kiddos go to bed;)

Sangria Popsicle by The Novice Chef Blog