Fun and easy to make popsicle recipes
Images adapted from: Teak & Thyme, Sun Diego Eats, and China Global Mall
It’s the perfect time for frozen treats now that summer approaches. Whatever your situation, popsicles are one of the coolest ways to beat the heat and help boost your mood after months of lockdown.
Instead of settling for store-bought orange or cola-flavoured popsicles, try these easy-to-make homemade popsicles.
General tips:
- Adjust proportions according to mould size.
- It takes around 8 hours to freeze popsicles, so make them ahead of time if you plan to serve them within the day.
- Let warm water run under the mould for under a minute for easier un-moulding.
- Pouring ¾ of your filling into each mould allows it to expand while freezing.
Also read:
1. Mango Sticky Rice
Image credit: Pholfoodmafia
You can now turn one of the most popular Thai desserts into a popsicle. The chewy texture of the sticky rice complements the salty sweetness of the coconut milk. The mango chunks add a fruity tang to each bite.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup of mangos (diced, preferably ripe for extra sweetness)
- 13 oz. of coconut milk
- 1 cup of sticky rice or ½ cup of sushi rice (any starchy rice should work)
- ¼ tsp. of salt
- Heavy cream (can be substituted with milk and butter)
- Roasted or fried mung beans (optional)
- Black and white sesame (optional)
Steps:
- Mix and stir all the ingredients except the mangos in a saucepan for 20 minutes. Gradually go from medium to medium-low while stirring.
- Once the rice softens and the ingredients mixed well, let cool for 15 minutes before stirring with mango.
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: NYT Cooking and Steve’s Kitchen
2. Bubble Milk Tea
Image credit: Teak & Thyme
The bubble tea craze is not going away any time soon, and we’re always looking for new ways to fill our cravings. Instead of the usual straw and cup, try bubble tea as popsicles instead.
Ingredients:
- 6 Chinese black tea bags
- ½ tapioca pearls
- 1 cup of condensed milk
- 2 oz. of Chinese brown sugar or palm sugar
Steps for making milk tea:
- In a saucepan, brew the tea bags in medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes* and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Then, remove the tea bags and add condensed milk. Stir them together.
Steps for tapioca pearls**:
- In a separate pot, boil the tapioca pearls for 15-20 minutes until soft but chewy.
- Put the pan with pearls aside from heat and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Rinse pearls with cold water in a strainer and place them aside.
- Next, add the brown sugar to boiling water and stir to medium-low heat to make syrup.
- Stir the syrup with the tapioca pearls and let cool for 15 minutes.
Steps for popsicle:
- Add a few tapioca pearls from earlier inside each mould.
- The remaining pearls go at the top of the milk tea.
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
*Brew according to how strong you want the tea.
**May vary depending on the brand. Follow instructions on the packet if available.
Recipe adapted from: Asian Inspirations, Chowhound, and Instructables.
3. Durian Potong
Image credit: Chinaglobalmall
Durian is a “love it or hate it” fruit, but there’s no doubt that chilled durian or it in popsicle form is one of the best ways to have it during summertime. The sweet but strong-smelling fruit can make you feel heaty, so eat in moderation.
Ingredients:
- 200g of durian flesh
- 250ml of coconut milk
- 100ml of milk
- 4 tbsp. of sugar (optional)
Steps:
- Cook and stir the ingredients in low-heat until you get a white, creamy mixture.
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: JewelPie
4. Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)
Image credit: Seasonal and Savory
You can find cha yen in almost every street coffee vendor in Thailand, sometimes served with boba. The cha yen’s overly-sweet taste and aromatic black tea is the go-to flavour for frozen treats.
Ingredients:
- 8 Ceylon or black tea teabags
- ½ of condensed milk
- 14 oz. of coconut milk
- 2 star anise pods (optional)
Steps for Thai iced tea (cha yen):
- Simmer the tea bags and condensed milk in boiled water until mixed well
- While boiling the water, crush and add the anise pods (optional)
- Remove bags and then mix with coconut milk
- Refrigerate the mixture for an hour before stirring again
Steps for popsicle:
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: Oh My Veggies, Naive Cook Cooks, Food.com, and Eating Thai Food
5. Kids’ Cereal and Milk
Image credit: In Katrinas Kitchen
You’re never too old for sugary cereal, and the whole family can enjoy this breakfast popsicle. There are many times where you want to chug the bowl of cereal milk but feel a little embarrassed for yourself. For best results, use colourful ones like Fruity Pebbles or with marshmallow bits like Lucky Charms.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of cereal of your choice
- 3 cups of milk
- ¾ cups of sugar
Steps:
- Mix and stir the milk and sugar in a medium heat saucepan.
- Then, add the cereal and let sit for several minutes before blending.
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: A Spicy Perspective
6. Peanut Butter-Banana
Image credit: My Fussy Eater
Banana and peanut butter work surprisingly well between toasts; they make great late-night snacks. As a popsicle, the sweet and nutty flavour is also a healthy choice for snacking on.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 bananas (preferably ripe)
- 3 tbsp. of peanut butter
- ½ cup of chocolate chips (optional)
- 1 tbsp. of chopped mixed nuts (optional)
Steps:
- Mix the banana and peanut butter in a blender until smooth
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: @myfussyeater
7. Thai Pink Milk (Nom Yen)
Image credit: Allwin Food Thailand
Nom yen tastes very similar to strawberry milk but distinctly smells of sala syrup. The combination of the red syrup and condensed milk is a favourite among children and adults who are sweet tooths. You can swap out nom yen for the popular bandung (rose syrup milk) drink as well.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of Hale’s Blue Boy (sala syrup) – can be substituted with strawberry or raspberry syrup
- 2 cups of milk
- ¼ cup of evaporated milk
- 1-2 tbsp. of condensed milk (optional)
Steps for pink milk:
- Mix all ingredients together and stir.
- Add syrup or condensed milk if you need it sweeter.
Steps for popsicle:
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: Cooking With Nart
8. Red Lime Soda (Dang Manao)
Image credit: Tripadvisor
Dang manao soda is the Thai equivalent of an Italian soda, combining the sala syrup with lime to make a taste that somewhat resembles a Red Fanta. When frozen, it’s refreshingly on par with store-bought soda popsicles.
Ingredients:
- ½ tbsp. of Hale’s Blue Boy (sala syrup)
- 1 cup of soda water
- 1 lime or 2 tbsp. of lime juice
Steps to make dang manao:
- Mix the soda and syrup together
- Add lime or before stirring again
Steps to make the popsicle:
- Pour mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: cookpad and Openrice
– Alcoholic –
9. Gin & Tonic
Image credit: Bremer’s Wine & Liquor
The simple cocktail is convenient to make at home after a long day. Its bittersweet flavour makes for a refreshing popsicle that goes to your nose – keep this treat away from children!
Ingredients:
- 1-3 oz. of gin
- 8 oz. of tonic water
- 6-10 thin slices of cucumber
- 6-10 mint leaves (optional)
- ¼ lime juice (optional)
- 6-10 thin slices of lemon or grapefruit (optional garnish)
Steps:
- Shake the gin, tonic and optional lime juice together.
- Wedge cucumber slices and mint leaves into moulds before pouring the mixture into ¾ of each mould.
- Freeze and wait.
Recipe adapted from: Port and Fin and BBC Good Food
10. Gummi Bears-Sprite/7Up
Image credit: One Little Project
We’re cheating and including one recipe using store-bought soda. Does the gummy bear grow in a soda? Maybe not, but you’ll get a fizzy, gummy popsicle from this experiment.
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. of gummy bears
- 1-2 cans of Sprite (or ginger ale)
- ¼ cup of vodka
Steps:
- Put gummy bears inside moulds.
- Fill about ¾ of each mould with the soft drink.
- Freeze and wait.
Steps for alcoholic version:
- Soak gummy bears in vodka for 1-3 days
Recipe adapted from: Keyingredient and A Spicy Perspective
Staying cool through the crisis
Things didn’t go quite as planned this summer, but we’re looking forward to reopening in July. We have to make the most of things from home by being there for our family, and what better way than to cook with each other.
You’re not only making and sharing frozen treats but spreading a bit of joy to others. Stay cool!
Check out our other recipes:
- 8 New Dalgona Coffee Inspired Drink Recipes To Make At Home
- 9 Simple Thai Home Recipes Using Pantry Ingredients From Panic Buying
- 9 Instant Noodle Recipes To Become The Next MAMA Masterchef At Home
- 10 Easy No-Bake Desserts To Make At Home During Quarantine
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