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Healthy strawberry popsicles are an all-natural sweet treat made with simple ingredients. These strawberry pops are a perfect treat on a hot summer day, made with strawberry puree as a natural sweetener.
Popsicles are an all-around wholesome treat any time of year but especially perfect on hot days. By making homemade strawberry popsicles, there are no additives, preservatives, or artificial dyes, which add to healthy options disguised as tasty treats!
Personally, during strawberry season, I tend to buy too many fresh berries. Instead of wasting ripe strawberries, I find a great option is to make homemade popsicles while the fruit is at its peak. This solution is the best of both worlds.
Check out my lemonade popsicles and natural fruit popsicles for other zero-waste popsicle recipes.
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Ingredients
Strawberries - 2 cups - You can use fresh or frozen strawberries with this recipe. If using frozen strawberries, place the berries in a bowl and thaw at room temperature (roughly 1 hour.) Drain any liquid that has collected at the bottom of the bowl.
Sweetener - ¼ cup - I like to add sugar. That is a personal preference, and you can adjust the sweetener based on your preferences. Sweetener suggestions include agave (vegan), maple syrup (vegan), sugar (some are vegan), and honey.
Water - ¼ cup - Use either tap or bottled water.
Lemon Juice - 1 tablespoon - Always use freshly squeezed lemon to balance out the flavor. I stand firm on this point. Bottled lemon juice is not the same. If you prefer lime juice, use freshly squeezed lime.
Instructions
1. Prepare the Strawberries
Prepare fresh strawberries by rinsing and hulling them. If the strawberries are extra-large, cut them into a smaller sizes. Frozen strawberries are already washed and hulled.
2. Sweeten the Strawberries
In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with sugar (or another preferred sweetener) and let stand for 20 minutes. This step helps to draw out the sweetness of the strawberries and balance any bitterness.
3. Blend
Place the strawberries, water, and lemon in a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Mold and Freeze
Pour the popsicle mixture into the mold, place the top, and insert the popsicle sticks. Freeze for 6 hours.
5. Unmold
To unmold the popsicles, gently try to remove them from the mold. If they are not budging, run warm to hot water over the mold for 30 seconds, using caution not to get the popsicle wet. Gently release the popsicle from the mold.
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Substitutions and Variations
Spices and Herbs - Here are some recommendations if you would like to add complexity to the flavor profile.
- Anise - Adds a sweet licorice flavor. This flavor is strong, and I recommend limiting the addition to .5 teaspoon of dried anise.
- Basil - Add 4 - 5 fresh basil leaves.
- Mint - Add 4 - 5 fresh mint leaves.
Strawberry Popsicle With Yogurt - For creamy popsicles, replace the water with 1 cup of non-dairy, regular, or greek yogurt when mixing. Use vanilla yogurt to add a layer of flavor complexity.
Strawberry Popsicle With Milk - For a mildly creamy popsicle, replace the water with 1 cup of non-dairy milk or regular milk when mixing
Freeze-Dried Strawberries - Add ¼ cup of freeze-dried strawberries to increase flavor and color during the blending stage.
Boozy - Like a jello shot recipe, replace the ¼ cup of water with ¼ cup of vodka. You can always add more or less vodka, depending on your preference.
Storing
Line an airtight container with wax or parchment paper. Lay the popsicles on top of the paper. Continue to add paper before each layer. Popsicles can be stored for up to one month. Alternatively, wrap each popsicle tightly in plastic wrap and store it inside a plastic freezer bag.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Unmolding Popsicles - Frozen popsicles tend to become stuck within the mold. Run the mold under warm to hot water for 30 seconds if this happens. After that, gently pull the popsicle from the mold. If the popsicle does not release, repeat in 15-second increments until it frees. Use caution not to get water in the mold.
Blending - for the best results, use a blender or a high-performance blender. You can use a food processor; however, note that the result will be mealy instead of smooth.
FAQs
Popsicles generally will freeze in four hours. After they are frozen, unmold the popsicles and savor them or store them to enjoy them later.
Yes, they are very healthy. They are made with fresh fruit and natural sugars and have limited sweeteners. All of these ingredients make homemade popsicles a tasty treat and very healthy.
Yes, frozen strawberries are accessible, always available, and create a creamy texture.
Other Delicious Frozen Treats
Recipe
Strawberry Popsicles
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Popsicle mold
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries (288g)
- ¼ cup sugar (59g)
- ¼ cup cold water (355ml)
- 1 tablespoon lemon
Instructions
- Wash and hull the strawberries. If the strawberries are extra-large, cut them into a smaller size.2 cups strawberries (288g)
- In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with sugar (or another preferred sweetener) and let stand for 20 minutes.¼ cup sugar (59g)
- Place the sweetened strawberries, water, and lemon in a blender and blend until smooth.1 tablespoon lemon, ¼ cup cold water (355ml)
- Pour the mixture into a mold, top, and insert the popsicle stick. Freeze for 6 hours.
- To unmold the popsicles, gently try to remove them from the mold. If they are not budging, run warm to hot water over the mold for 30 seconds using caution not to get the popsicle wet. Gently release the popsicle from the mold.
Katie
Such a perfect summer treat! Can't wait to make these all summer long!
nancy
this is too perfect for the summer without all the addictives