Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles – An Easy Summer Treat!

Strawberry lemonade popsicles are a tangy and refreshing treat on hot summer day. Swirling layers of strawberry and lemon make these frozen ice pops a fun snack for both kids and adults!

Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

Summer and warm weather mean a lot of things, but, living in Minnesota, summer is the most important season of my year. I love the warm weather, the bright days, and all the ways we can enjoy life outside.

For my kids, summer means playing outside. Playing outside pretty much all day, every day.

While they're outside, I get a whole bunch of stuff done inside the house. I also like to make and give the kids treats, and homemade popsicles are some of the best treats I give them. 

Why do I give kids treats, especially popsicles, when they play outside?

• Treats make kids happy.
• Low blood sugar and hangry kids = more bickering. Popsicles help kids get along.
• Popsicles can be messy. It's best to eat messy things outside.

I don't know about you, but, at first thought, I expect strawberry lemonade popsicles to be a simple, tangy but sweet mixture of strawberries and lemonade. Instead, this recipe combines some unexpected ingredients to make a creamy frozen treat!

But the thing I love about this recipe and other popsicles, like my vanilla orange popsicles, is that they're so versatile! You can easily change out just about all of the ingredients in the recipe.

That means you can either make these popsicles with ingredients you have on hand, or you can vary the recipe to try delicious new combinations of flavors!

Here are some ways you can substitute ingredients in this recipe:

• Try a different kind of frozen berry, like blueberries, raspberries or even mixed berries.
• Use vanilla yogurt or a flavored yogurt that complements strawberries (or the berries of your choice).
• Substitute a sweet juice, like apple or grape, for the lemon juice and the sugar.

You'll be able to make all sorts of popsicles if you stick to the basic recipe!

About this recipe

You'll notice that there are some weird measurements in this recipe. That's because of the popsicle-making process.

We prepare the strawberries and the lemonade separately, then we combine them in layers and they freeze into pretty patterns.

Ingredients

• 2 1/3 cups plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 23 oz package frozen strawberries
• 2 tablespoons water

I also love serving these popsicles to my own friends and family when they visit. As adults, we just don't get the same amount of frozen treats that kids do. That's a problem! Sharing strawberry lemonade popsicles is a solution.

Creamy strawberry lemonade popsicles

These popsicles are much creamier than expected because they include yogurt in the mixture.

I love the addition of yogurt, because it makes them tasty, pretty and more filling than a frozen ice pop made from just juice.

Pour 1/4 cup of lemon juice into a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30-45 seconds on high, until steaming. Add 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar and stir to dissolve.

Add 1 1/3 cups yogurt to the lemon juice and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate while you prepare the strawberries.

In a medium saucepan combine strawberries, water and 1/4 cup sugar over medium heat until simmering.

Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Cool, add the rest of the yogurt and whisk until smooth and creamy.

Layer your strawberry mixture and your lemonade mixture into paper cups (like these Dixie cups) or popsicle molds. Insert a jumbo popsicle stick and freeze until solid. 

Tips for making these strawberry lemonade popsicles

If you'd rather use traditional popsicle molds instead of cups like I used in the pictures, these are some of the best, highest-rated ice pop molds:

Popsicle Molds with 50 sticks & 50 popsicle bagsSee more detailsZoku Popsicle Molds, 6 Easy-release Molds With sticks & drip-guardsSee more detailsSilicone Ice Pop Molds, Set of 8See more detailsEco-Safe Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds & Rack with 30 sticks &12 silicone SealsSee more detailsMr Kitchen's Popsicle Mold for 16 PopsiclesSee more detailsDisposable Zip Top Popsicle Bags with funnel,125 countSee more details

 

One thing I love about popsicle recipes is that they're almost always so easy to make! But turning the delicious mixtures into a beautifully frozen pop isn't always easy! Here are a few tips to help you successfully make your popsicles.

1. Popsicle molds make for picture-perfect frozen treats, but you can use paper cups (like I did here!), plastic cups, ice cube trays, or other food safe containers if you're new to these recipes. 
2. If you use paper cups use these coated Dixie cups. The waxiness makes the popsicles pop right out!
3. Soak your popsicle sticks in warm water for 30 minutes before putting using them. This helps them freeze better and stick to the mixture. 
4. Regardless of what you use for popsicle molds, make sure you leave 1/4 to 1/2 inch at the top, because the pops will expand as they freeze. 
5. If you're using DIY popsicle molds, like our paper cups, you'll find that the sticks won't stand up straight when you put them in the not-frozen mixture. There are a few ways to fix that.
   1. Stretch plastic wrap, aluminum foil or Press & Seal across the top of the mold. Slice neat holes for the sticks or just stab them through.
   2. Put the pops in the freezer for 1-2 hours, then put the sticks in. The tops will be frozen or near frozen, which will hold up the popsicle sticks. 
6. Unmold the whole batch of popsicles by dipping the mold in a tray of warm water for about 20 seconds. Wrap the popsicles you're not eating in plastic wrap, then store them in freezer bags until you eat them. 

Below you will find an easy way to print this recipe and guide you while making your popsicles.

I love to hear your feedback, so if you loved this recipe as is or made changes, I want to see how you did it. Please come back and let me know in the comments.