7 Popsicle Recipes You Need to Make for a Cool Summer

We’re about to reach those days in the summer season where it is hot, hot, and triple hot. The time where even the most prolific bakers among us think twice before turning on the oven. And when anything other than sitting still with something ice cold in your hand sounds like some punishment for a crime you had no part in. Ice cold water, cocktails, and ice cream can do the trick but…they are also things that many of us enjoy all year long. Let’s instead focus on something that might take a little bit more time to pull together, but really can only be enjoyed at this time of the year, when the ultimate goal of the day is to remain as cool as possible. Popsicles fit the bill — they’re refreshing, simple, and infinitely adaptable to your tastes. Here are some of my favorites to make…

Double Fudge Birthday Cake Pops {via the sugar hit}
Let’s start out decadent, shall we? These are a amplified version of a more traditional fudgesicle. The main source of chocolate in these babies comes from cocoa powder but there are additional chocolate cake crumbs folded into the popsicle, fence the double fudge in the name. May I suggest these for when you are having a major chocolate craving that can only be settled with the most chocolaty chocolate sweet on the planet. A little note: you’ll see “caster sugar” as a listed ingredient. If you’re in the UK (where this recipe is from) you’re familiar and can ignore me but for us Americans, sub in an equal amount of granulated sugar with no problems.

Image Credit: jessica merchant

Late Night Snacksicles {via how sweet eats}
These have late night snack in the title but are really appropriate any time of the day that you want ice cream + candy + salty pretzels. Which in my experience, is not just limited to the dark hours of the day. There’s no getting around that these popsicle are a definite treat — not only are they stuffed to the brim with candy but the pop base is made from full fat coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half & half. Super rich, but super worth it.

Banana Peanut Butter Yogurt Popsicles {via not enough cinnamon}
In contrast to the previous super-indulgent recipe, this is one that can truly be a snack. Just three ingredients (bananas, peanut butter, & greek yogurt) make up these popsicles and they can function as a filling snack or as a late night dessert. Even though there’s no cream or milk in these, the bananas get creamy enough when they are blended that you will feel like you’re eating ice cream. If you aren’t a greek yogurt fan, you can use regular, but I’m not a greek yogurt fan myself and I can’t even taste that it’s in these. The banana and peanut butter flavors are so strong that the yogurt really just acts as a supporting base.

Moscow Mule Popsicles {via shutterbean}
I think the only thing better than drinking a moscow mule might be turning it into a popsicle. Moscow mules are a must for any ginger fan, so even if you’ve never had one before I suggest these popsicles. These are another pop with only 3 ingredients – just the juice of 2 limes, ginger beer, and vodka – that you are essentially stirring together, pouring into molds, and shoving in your freezer for a few hours. Cocktails are refreshing enough on a hot day, can you imagine a cocktail popsicle? I can. And I just died.

Chocolate Covered Toasted Coconut Pops {via an edible mosaic}
Full disclosure: I am not a coconut fan. In fact, I think I might even be allergic to it. But I’ve made these popsicles for coconut lovers (and just likers) and they were a hit, so I think you should make them too. The toasted coconut really sets the flavor of these apart and I’ve seen enough coconut & chocolate recipes to know that the flavors marry well, even if I’ve never been able to try. These pops seemed super creamy as well, which was a nice treat.

Image Credit: sarah coates

Blackberry & Nectarine Margarita Popsicles {via she eats}
We’re putting booze in popsicles AGAIN? Yup! We are. I love a moscow mule but my heart really belongs to a well made margarita, and this is especially true in the summer when you can add all sorts of in-season fruit to pump it up. Pouring the drink into popsicle molds just makes sense and the result is similar to what happens to the moscow mules: a cocktail that is already refreshing on it’s own turns even more refreshing when it’s frozen. And in pop form. My favorite part of these is how the sweetness of the nectarines and the tartness blackberries go with the tequila, it’s the perfect combo.

Peach Mango Lemonade Popsicle {via tried and tasty}
It seems like mango has been having a moment lately. For a good reason, too, because despite how big of a pain it is to peel and slice the fruit (a real, huge, large, PAIN) a good ripe mango might be the epitome of summer. When it added to lemonade? It definitely is the epitome of summer. The peaches here add just the right amount of sweetness and work to counter the tartness of the lemons and the bold flavor of the mango. I like to think of these as a more gourmet frozen lemonade.

Do you have a favorite popsicle recipe?

Featured image is from 84thand3rd .