Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Jun 09, 2019, Updated Sep 08, 2021

4.98 from 39 votes

33 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Homemade Fruit Popsicles recipe is an easy, healthy and refreshing treat or snack to make for your kids this summer! These healthy popsicles are made with only 5 ingredients including fresh fruit and vegetables, in 5 minutes (plus freezing time)! Make a variety of flavors by using different combinations of fruits, juices, and yogurts! A great healthy dessert to enjoy after a day of fun in the sun!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (2)

This post is sponsored by my friends atVitamix. As always, all opinions, photos, videos and the recipe are completely my own!

Summer is here! And there’s nothing like enjoying an ice-cold popsicle after a day of fun in the sun! However, many store-bought varieties contain artificial ingredients, high fructose corn syrup and food dyes.

That’s why I created this recipe for Homemade Popsicles with only 5 wholesome ingredients including fresh fruit and yogurt or pure fruit juice! It only takes 5 minutes to blend up the mixture for this fruit popsicle recipe! The hardest part is waiting for them to freeze before enjoying them!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (3)

Homemade Fruit Popsicles: Ingredients for different Varieties

There are many different combinations and flavors you can create with this healthy homemade popsicle recipe! I listed the three varieties I made in the recipe card. But let’s chat about some of the different options here!

The important thing to keep constant is the ratio of ingredients! As long as you use the suggestedamountfruit, yogurt, juice, etc. your popsicles will turn out great! The only thing to note is that if you add a watery vegetable like zucchini, you will need to decrease the amount of liquid used!

Just be aware that if you are hoping to make pretty colored popsicles, you must choose fruit/juice/yogurt that combine beautifully (e.g. peeled apples and zucchini) or are in the same color family (e.g. red strawberries with red grape juice).

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (4)

Fruit Suggestions

Here are some of our favorite fruits to use to make this popsicle recipe:

  • Strawberries
  • blueberries
  • raspberries
  • apples (peeled if you are looking to create a color other than that of the outside of the skin).
  • grapes
  • pineapple
  • mango
  • peaches
  • plums
  • nectarines
  • cantaloupe
  • watermelon
Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (5)

Yogurt/Juice Suggestions

In this post I used Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt. I love the creaminess it adds to this popsicle recipe! I also love the added protein and flavor! Here are some other suggestions that you can use! If you use fruit juice I recommend choosing unsweetened varieties not from concentrate.

  • Greek yogurt (any flavor or fat percentage).
  • Dairy-free yogurt
  • regular yogurt (any flavor or kind).
  • Apple Juice (used in the green popsicles).
  • orange juice
  • grape juice
  • cherry juice

Other ingredient substitutions

Here are a few suggestions for substitutions for the other ingredients in this popsicle recipe!

  • Honey.honey is my favorite sweetener to use in this recipe because it’s natural, imparts a subtle but delicious flavor, and is not too expensive! We tried a batch with maple syrup and while it was tasty, I don’t prefer popsicles with a maple flavor! Other suggestions are agave, pure cane sugar, or your favorite liquid sweetener!
  • Lemon juice. The acidity of lemon juice is important to this popsicle recipe because it keeps them nice and soft and balances out the sweetness. Lime juice can be used for a different flavor if desired!
  • Vanilla extract.I absolutely adore the extra flavor punch that the pure vanilla extract gives to these healthy popsicles. However, you could omit this ingredient if you don’t have it on hand, especially if you’re using a vanilla flavored yogurt.
Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (6)

How to make homemade popsicles

This popsicle recipe is very simple with minimal ingredients, but we’ll walk through it step-by-step to ensure your success! The first tip I have to share with you about making the best homemade popsicles is…

Use a Vitamix Blender!

If you’ve been around my blog for a while then you know that I exclusively blend with a Vitamix (and have for a decade)! So it’s not surprising that I will tell you that the best way to achieve silky smooth popsicles is to use a Vitamix blender!

Of course you can use a different blender to make this popsicle recipe because it’s not difficult to blend. However, if you don’t have a Vitamixyet I highly recommendgetting one!

Check out myVitamix Buying Guidewhere I give my exhaustive reasons for choosing aVitamix blender a decade ago, and my top recommendations about which model to buy!

Blend Ingredients

Now that we’ve established the best blender to use for these homemade popsicles, let’s get started! Begin by blending the ingredients in the order listed in the recipe card.

When blending anything in the Vitamix it’s important to begin by adding the liquid ingredients. So in this popsicle recipe, start by adding the yogurt or fruit juice. You can use any variety you’d like, but in these photos I used honey vanilla Greek yogurt!

Next add the honey. The amount will vary depending on the sweetness of the berries and yogurt or juice used. I recommend starting with 1-2 TBS and increasing it to suit your tastes! You can use a different sweetener if you’d prefer, but we really love the taste of honey!

Next add the vanilla, lemon juice and then the berries and blend it all together. Start on low speed and increase to medium. This pulls the ingredients down into the blades. Once the mixture starts to blend wellincrease the speed to high and blend for 40-60 seconds!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (7)

Pour Mixture into Popsicle Molds

Once the mixture is hom*ogenous (uniform throughout), evenly distribute it between the six wells of a popsicle mold. I created this recipe to perfectly fit in this Classic Popsicle Mold and make 6 popsicles.

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (8)

Freeze

Once the molds are filled, place the lids and sticks on top and freeze for 8 hours, or overnight. I recommend making these homemade popsicles the day before you would like to enjoy them so you don’t have to wait for them to freeze!

I like to make a couple batches of this healthy popsicle recipe and toss them in the freezer so we always have some on hand for when the craving strikes on a hot summer day!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (9)

Release from Molds

Whether you use a store-bought mold or make your own, you will need to remove the popsicles from the molds. It’s really easy to do!

To release the popsicles from the molds simply run each one under warm water for 30-60 seconds and pull to release. Then you can freeze them for later or enjoy right away!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (10)

Store

These homemade popsicles can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months in an airtight container. Enjoy frozen.

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (11)

FAQs about making fruit popsicles

How do you store homemade popsicles?

If you plan on making these fruit popsicles in advance and not eating them as soon as they’re removed from the molds, here’s how to store them:
Remove popsicles from molds.
Place on a large baking sheet.
Put baking sheet in the freezer.
Once the popsicles are completely frozen, place them in a freezer-friendly container or plastic bag to store!

How long do homemade popsicles last?

These homemade fruit popsicles can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months (if they don’t get eating right away)!

How do you make smooth popsicles?

The trick to creating smooth popsicles with fresh, whole fruits and vegetables is using the Vitamix blender! With it you can blend any variety of fruit or veggies into a silky smooth, delicious icy treat for you and your family!

How do you make popsicles without a popsicle mold?

It’s actually super easy to make your own homemade popsicles without a store bought mold, (although I highly recommend buying one because it makes it very easy to whip up a batch of these healthy popsicles)!

How do you make popsicle molds at home?

If you don’t have a popsicle mold you can make your own mold using cups, popsicle sticks and tin foil! Here’s how:
Place cups on a baking pan.
Pour popsicle mixture into the cups.
Place tin foil over each cup and use a sharp knife to cut a small slit in middle of the tinfoil on top.
Slide a popsicle stick into each slit.
Freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (12)

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (13)

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (14)

SavePinPrint

Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicles

Laura

This Homemade Fruit Popsicles recipe is an easy, healthy and
refreshing treat or snack to make for your kids this summer! These popsicles are made with only 5 ingredients including fresh fruit and vegetables, in 5 minutes (plus freezing
time)! Make a variety of flavors by using different combinations of fruits, juices,
and yogurts! A great healthy dessert to enjoy after a day of fun in the sun!

4.98 from 39 votes

Course baby food, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 6 popsicles

Calories 100.1

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Freezing time4 hours hours

Total Time8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to the container of your Vitamix in the order listed.

  • Blend for 50-70 seconds or until the mixture is smooth.

  • Evenly distribute the mixture into the six wells of a popsicle mold.

  • Secure the lids and sticks on top of the mold and place it in the freezer.

  • Freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

  • Remove the molds, run each one under hot water for 30 seconds and then release the popsicle.

  • Enjoy immediately! 
To freeze for later, once the popsicles are removed from the molds place them on a baking sheet to flash freeze them for 30 minutes.

  • Place them in an airtight, freezer-friendly container or Ziploc bag until you are ready to enjoy them!

Video

Notes

Red Popsicles:

  • 2.5 cup strawberries
  • ¾ cup vanilla honey greek yogurt
  • 4-6 TBS honey
  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp lemon juice

Purple Popsicles:

  • 2.5 cup blueberries
  • ¾ cup apple juice
  • 4-6 TBS honey
  • ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp lemon juice

Green Popsicles:

  • 2 cups apples, chopped and peeled (2 small or one medium apple)
  • 1 cup zucchini (1 small zucchini chopped)
  • ½ cup apple juice
  • 4 TBS honey
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • ¼ cup spinach (if zucchini isn’t making it green enough)

If you don’t have a popsicle mold use this method:

  1. Place cups on a baking pan.
  2. Pour popsicle mixture into the cups.
  3. Place tin foil over each cup and use a sharp knife to cut a small slit in middle of the tinfoil on top.
  4. Slide a popsicle stick into each slit.
  5. Freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

Nutrition information was calculated for the strawberry popsicles using honey vanilla Greek yogurt.

Store

These homemade popsicles can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months in an airtight container. Enjoy frozen.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Honey.honey is my favorite sweetener to use in this recipe because it’s natural, imparts a subtle but delicious flavor, and is not too expensive! We tried a batch with maple syrup and while it was tasty, I don’t prefer popsicles with a maple flavor! Other suggestions are agave, pure cane sugar, or your favorite liquid sweetener!
  • Lemon juice. The acidity of lemon juice is important to this popsicle recipe because it keeps them nice and soft and balances out the sweetness. Lime juice can be used for a different flavor if desired!
  • Vanilla extract.I absolutely adore the extra flavor punch that the pure vanilla extract gives to these healthy popsicles. However, you could omit this ingredient if you don’t have it on hand, especially if you’re using a vanilla flavored yogurt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1popsicle | Calories: 100.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.5g | Protein: 1.5g | Fat: 2.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 6.1mg | Sodium: 21.5mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 49.7mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase aproduct through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!

Easy & Healthy Homemade Fruit Popsicle Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are fruit popsicles healthy? ›

Fruit popsicles can be healthy, refreshing snack, or they can be a vehicle for too much sugar, pesticides, and other junky ingredients. As with many food choices, making your own will result in the very healthiest popsicles, especially since every store-bought pop comes in plastic.

How do you make popsicles creamy and not icy? ›

Fortunately, there's an easy way to prevent this unwanted outcome by using an unexpected ingredient: cornstarch. When you're creating the mixture for your popsicles, you can add a few teaspoons of cornstarch. Blend it with the rest of your ingredients, then pour the liquid into the popsicle molds as usual.

How to make homemade popsicles soft? ›

To get a slightly softer texture, add more sweetener or a fatty milk product like heavy cream. Both lower the freezing point of the puree and gives it a less icy final finish.

Are sugar-free popsicles healthy? ›

While Sugar Free Popsicles do contain added sweeteners and dyes, they clock in at only 15 calories, making them a bit healthier than some of the other frozen novelties out there.

Why do doctors recommend popsicles? ›

Cold, sweet treats such as popsicles, ice cream, and Jello can meet a few needs during the recovery process. They can help reduce body temperature as well as provide much-needed hydration. The ingredients also coat and soothe irritated tissue in the mouth and throat as well.

Do popsicles raise blood sugar? ›

If an ice pop includes significant amounts of sugar, it can result in a quick spike in blood glucose levels, resulting in hyperglycemia. Try making ice pops at home with stevia or plant sweeteners, as they do not impact blood glucose levels.

Why are store bought popsicles softer than homemade? ›

Pectin, like other common popsicle 'secret ingredients' like gelatin, cornstarch, alcohol, or the various gums/stabilizers used in commercial popsicles, is often used in popsicles to keep the ice crystals small. Like with ice cream, smaller ice crystals means a smoother mouthfeel and a less icy consistency.

What liquid is used to freeze popsicles? ›

Popsicle machine freezes ice-pops in few minutes using a tank of super-chilled Propylene Glycol + Water. RXSOL Propylene Glycol is pure and suitable to use in ICE freezing machine.

Why do you put cornstarch in popsicles? ›

The cornstarch is what keeps the popsicles creamy. It's a little secret ingredient we add to our cream-based popsicles. It makes the popsicle so it's not icy when you bite it, which is essential for flavor and texture.

How to make fruit popsicles without molds? ›

Ice cube trays, small disposable cups and muffin tins lined with foil cupcake wrappers can be used in lieu of a popsicle mold. Simply pour the ingredients into your DIY mold, cover with aluminum foil and spear a wooden popsicle stick through the foil into the center of the mold.

How long do you leave homemade popsicles in the freezer? ›

Popsicles that are wrapped up properly can keep in the freezer for three to four weeks. After that, they start to lose their flavor. Try this summer favorite orange popsicle recipe. Oranges are the citrus fruit that have the highest amount of vitamin C.

Why are my popsicles so hard? ›

Popsicles are very easy to make at home, and regulating their hardness is very simple. If the water content of the pop is too high, they end up extremely hard - like ice cubes. Sugar and alcohol both help keep this from happening. By lowering the freezing point of the solution, they make the pop softer.

What is the healthiest popsicle? ›

Annie's Cheerful Cherry Popsicle

Made with real fruit juice and no artificial anything – that means artificial colors and artificial flavors. Annie's stands out as one of the low-sugar popsicles available.

Are fruit bars healthy? ›

There's no protein, there's no healthy fat, there's no fibre in those bars to keep you feeling fuller longer.” The only time a fruit bar might be a good option, she said, is if you're doing a high-intensity activity for over an hour that requires a quick source of energy.

Is snacking on frozen fruit healthy? ›

Nutrients in fruit are at their peak right after being picked. Because fruit is frozen quickly, it retains nutritional value. If your fresh fruit is truly fresh, the nutrient value may be similar. If your fresh fruit was shipped and sat on store shelves for a while, it may contain fewer nutrients.

Are fruit popsicles good for hydration? ›

Yes! Popsicles are a fun way to help you increase your water intake. Especially if it's a super hot summer day, a nice refreshing popsicle is a great way to cool down and help you hit your water goals.My kids also loved these popsicles! I used sliced strawberries, blueberries and sliced peaches in these ones.

What kind of popsicles are good for you? ›

Certain popsicles can be loaded in antioxidants, fresh fruits, and natural ingredients. Consider store brand options such as Outshine, Goodpop, and Halo Top. If you're up for making your own, visit www.aicr.org for recipes.

Are fruit bars good for you? ›

There's no protein, there's no healthy fat, there's no fibre in those bars to keep you feeling fuller longer.” The only time a fruit bar might be a good option, she said, is if you're doing a high-intensity activity for over an hour that requires a quick source of energy.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 6188

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.