These tart yet sweet lemonade ice pops are the perfect light and refreshing summer dessert. The popsicles only require four ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time.
I'm always looking for a quick and easy dessert during the hot summer months. Something you can eat poolside or as an after dinner sweet treat. As it turns out, popsicles (sometimes called ice lollies) are the perfect answer!
This recipe is perfect because it takes only a few minutes to prepare before placing in the freezer. It's a great recipe to make in the evening so the lemon popsicles will be ready to eat in the morning.
If you have kids, they can easily help you make these ice pops. It's a family-friendly recipe everyone will love!
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What You'll Learn In This Recipe
- How to make super creamy lemon popsicles (and what to avoid for icy popsicles)
- The best way to store popsicles in the freezer
- My favorite lemonade frozen concentrate that makes the lemon ice pops super delicious
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Ingredients You Need
I have to say, the best part about these lemon popsicles is the super simple ingredients you need. There are only four ingredients, and each one serves an important role:
- Frozen lemonade concentrate: This is the main ingredient that flavors the ice pops. I prefer to use Minute Maid - it has the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness. However, other brands or flavors (like raspberry lemonade or limeade) would also work. If you choose a brand that has less added sugar, your popsicles will taste less sweet.
- Whole milk: The whole milk adds creaminess and also helps add enough water to the popsicles so they can properly free. Don't be tempted to use lower fat milk or plant-based milk. It will turn the lemon popsicles icy.
- Heavy cream: Just like ice cream uses heavy cream to help with the texture, this lemonade popsicle recipe is super creamy thanks to the heavy cream. Make sure not to use more heavy cream than the recipe calls for or you'll end up with a greasy aftertaste.
- Lemon zest: The peel of the lemon adds an extra fresh and bright taste! Use a microplane to remove the lemon peel. Only take off the yellow part of the peel. The white part of the peel (it's called the lemon pith) is bitter, so avoid that!
How To Make This Recipe
Similar to the ingredient list, this recipe isn't hard to make! It only requires 10 minutes of time to prepare the mixture before placing the popsicle molds in the freezer.
Make Lemonade Mixture
First, add the lemonade concentrate, whole milk, heavy cream, and freshly zested lemon peel into the container of a high-powered blender. I love using my Vitamix blender, but any blender or even a food processor will work!
Pour Into Popsicle Molds
This recipe makes ten perfectly sized popsicles using this silicone mold. However, any popsicle mold should work! You may just yield a different final amount of popsicles.
Evenly pour the lemonade mixture into the popsicle molds. Attach the lid and insert a popsicle stick into each mold.
Finally, place the popsicles in the freezer to set and harden. This usually takes about 8 hours. I like to make the popsicles in the evening, then allow them to set overnight.
Expert Tips
- Low on time? Prepare the lemonade mixture ahead of time and pour it into the popsicle mold whenever you have time. Simply store the lemonade mixture in the refrigerator until you're ready to transfer it to the popsicle mold. This can be made 24 - 48 hours ahead of time. Stir the lemonade mixture with a spoon before pouring it into the popsicle mold.
- Use a funnel to help pour the lemonade liquid into the popsicle molds. This is a helpful trick if your blender doesn't have a pour spout.
- Switch up the flavor of these popsicles. Try using other concentrates such as pink lemonade, raspberry lemonade, or even limeade in place of the lemonade concentrate.
- Every freezer varies in temperature. It's best to leave the popsicles to set and harden for about 8 hours to ensure they don't break when removed from the molds.
Recipe FAQs
The secret to super creamy and smooth lemon popsicles is the heavy cream and whole milk. It makes the entire popsicle silky and creamy.
Be sure not to cut down on the fat in this recipe. This means, don't use lower fat milk or plant-based milk. It will cause the popsicles to become icy.
Lemonade popsicles only take 10 minutes of prep time. Then, place the popsicles in the freezer overnight to fully set. Every freezer is slightly different, so it's best to let them set overnight to ensure they won't fall apart when removed from the mold.
You can leave the popsicles in the mold until you're ready to eat them. Or, you can package them up in individual bags. This would be perfect for a summer party!
If you're using a silicone popsicle mold, it's best to remove the popsicles by running cool water over the bottom of the mold for 10 - 15 seconds. Pull on the popsicle stick while gently pushing the bottom of the mold.
More Summer Desserts
Do you love these frozen lemonade popsicles? Try more of my favorite summer desserts:
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Lemonade Popsicles (4 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 12 fluid ounces frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel
Instructions
- Add lemonade concentrate, whole milk, heavy cream, and grated lemon peel into the container of a high-powered blender. Cover and blend for 30 - 45 seconds until all ingredients are combined.
- Evenly pour the lemonade mixture into popsicle molds. Attach the lid and insert a popsicle stick into each mold.
- Place the mold in the freezer and freeze for 8 hours until the lemonade mixture has fully set and hardened.
- To remove the popsicle from the mold, run cool water over the bottom of the mold for 10 - 15 seconds. Pull on the popsicle stick while gently pushing the bottom of the mold.
- Place individual popsicles in a storage bag. Popsicles will last in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Heather
My kids LOVED making and of course eating these lemonade popsicles. These are going to be made on repeat at our house this summer!