Kids Popsicle Recipes
These kids popsicle recipes are simple frozen treats families can make with fruit, juice, yogurt, smoothies, pudding, and summer drink mixes. Popsicles are easy cooking activities for hot days, summer camps, classroom cooking, homeschool lessons, and beginner kitchen projects.
Use popsicle molds, small paper cups, ice cube trays, or reusable freezer pop molds. Kids can help blend fruit, pour mixtures, layer colors, add fruit pieces, and choose fun flavor combinations.
Start Here: Best Popsicle Recipes for Kids
- Healthy fruit pops - Start with Fruity Popsicles, Watermelon Popsicles, or Tropical Fruit Pops.
- Yogurt popsicles - Try Yogurt Popsicles, blueberry swirl pops, or Jell-O Yogurt Pops.
- Beginner recipes - Make Applesauce Popsicles, Juice Pops, or Simple Smoothie Pops.
- Dessert popsicles - Try Fudge Pops, pudding pops, banana pops, or strawberry cream pops.
- Summer cooking activities - Use popsicles for summer camps, classroom cooking, scouts, homeschool, or hot-weather kitchen fun.
- Quick ideas - Jump to the 35 Simply Easy Popsicle Ideas list for fast mix-and-freeze treats.
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On This Page
- Popsicle Making Tips
- Ways to Make Homemade Popsicles
- Healthy Fruit Popsicles
- Fruit Popsicle Recipes
- Best Popsicles by Age
- Yogurt & Smoothie Popsicles
- Juice & Drink Pops
- Dessert Popsicle Recipes
- Summer Popsicle Video
- 35 Simply Easy Popsicle Ideas
- Best Popsicles by Occasion
- More Frozen Dessert Ideas
- Popsicle Recipe FAQ
Ways to Make Homemade Popsicles
You do not need fancy equipment to make homemade popsicles. Kids can freeze juice, yogurt, smoothies, pudding, and fruit mixtures using a variety of molds, cups, and freezer-safe containers.
Popsicle Molds
Reusable popsicle molds are one of the easiest ways to make homemade frozen treats. They work well for fruit pops, yogurt pops, pudding pops, and layered popsicles.
Paper Cups
Small paper cups are great for classrooms, camps, and group cooking activities. Cover with foil and insert sticks through the center to help keep them straight.
Ice Cube Trays
Mini pops made in ice cube trays freeze quickly and work well for younger children. Use toothpicks, mini sticks, or reusable spoons for handles.
Silicone Muffin Cups
Silicone cups are flexible and help frozen treats release more easily. They work especially well for yogurt pops and smoothie desserts.
Yogurt Containers
Clean yogurt cups or pudding containers can be reused for homemade popsicles and frozen desserts. They are helpful for beginner cooking projects.
Freezer-Safe Bottles
Small freezer-safe bottles can hold smoothie pops, slushies, and frozen juice drinks. Leave extra room at the top because liquids expand while freezing.
Helpful Tip: Run warm water around the outside of molds or cups for a few seconds to help release frozen popsicles more easily.
Popsicle Making Tips
- To remove popsicles from molds: Run warm water around the outside of the molds for a few seconds to loosen frozen pops.
- Freeze time: Most popsicles need about 4–8 hours to freeze completely depending on the ingredients and mold size.
- Keep sticks straight: Cover cups with foil or plastic wrap and poke sticks through the center before freezing.
- For smoother popsicles: Add yogurt, pudding, fruit puree, milk, or blended fruit to help prevent icy textures.
- Add fruit pieces carefully: Small fruit chunks freeze better than large pieces and are easier for younger kids to eat.
- Layer colors slowly: Freeze each layer for about 30–45 minutes before adding the next layer.
Healthy Fruit Popsicles
Healthy popsicle recipes are easy summer treats made with fruit, juice, yogurt, smoothies, and naturally sweet ingredients. These frozen snacks are perfect for hot weather, summer camps, homeschool cooking, and healthy dessert ideas kids can help prepare.
Fruity Popsicle
Add slices of kiwi, strawberries, mango, blueberries, or other fruit into popsicle molds. Pour water, sparkling water, lemonade, or lemon-lime soda over the fruit. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.
Applesauce Popsicle
- 1 cup applesauce
Pour applesauce into popsicle molds and freeze. Add a little water or juice for a thinner texture.
Multi Layer Fruit Pops
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 3/4 cup sugar, divided
- 1 1/3 cups peaches, sliced
- 2 cups watermelon cubes
Blend strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Pour into molds about 1/3 full and freeze.
Blend peaches with another 1/4 cup sugar and pour over the frozen strawberry layer. Freeze again.
Blend watermelon with the remaining sugar and pour over the peach layer. Freeze until solid.
Lemon Fruity Pops
- 8 oz lemon yogurt
- 2 cups seedless watermelon cubes
- 1 container strawberries
- 1 banana, sliced
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze overnight.
Fruit Popsicle Recipes
Fruit popsicles are colorful frozen treats kids can make using tropical fruit, berries, yogurt, juice, and smoothies. These easy summer recipes are refreshing for warm days and help children practice blending, measuring, and layering ingredients.
Tropical Fruit Popsicles
- 1 cup mandarin oranges with juice
- 1 cup crushed pineapple
- 1 mango, chopped
- 2 cups orange, pineapple, or grape juice
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until firm.
Mango Strawberry Pops
By Caitlin M. (Perth)
- 1 small mango
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1 cup milk
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze. For extra color, press sliced strawberries or fruit pieces against the sides of the molds before freezing.
This mixture also works well as a smoothie by adding a few ice cubes.
Pineapple Popsicle Recipe
- 1 quart milk
- 20 oz crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze.
Peach-sicle
By Carmen
Add mandarin oranges or peach slices into the bottom of a plastic cup. Pour peach or orange juice over the fruit until almost full.
Push a popsicle stick through foil or plastic wrap and freeze overnight. Run warm water around the outside of the cup to release the popsicle.
Strawberry Pops
By Amy J.K. (Victoria BC)
- 1 cup strawberry or raspberry yogurt
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup strawberry kiwi juice
Blend or stir together. Pour into molds and freeze.
Mango Pineapple Popsicle
By Brianne (California)
- 1/2 cup diced mango
- 1/2 cup diced pineapple
- Fruit punch or orange juice
Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze.
Strawberry Cream Popsicle
By Brianne (California)
- 1 cup strawberry juice
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup whipped cream
Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze until solid.
Apple Swirl Popsicles
- Apple juice
- Fresh apples
Blend apples with juice until smooth. Pour into molds or cups and freeze.
Best Popsicles by Age
Preschool Popsicles
Juice Pops, Applesauce Popsicles, and Yogurt Pops are simple frozen treats younger children can help pour and freeze.
Elementary Age Popsicles
Fruit Popsicles, Smoothie Pops, Multi Layer Fruit Pops, and Yogurt Pops help elementary-age kids practice measuring and blending.
Tweens & Teen Popsicles
Older kids and teens may enjoy Layered Fruit Pops, Fudge Pops, Tropical Popsicles, and creative frozen dessert combinations.
Yogurt & Smoothie Popsicles
Yogurt popsicles and smoothie pops are creamy frozen desserts packed with fruit flavor. These recipes are easy for younger children because most only require blending, stirring, pouring, and freezing.
Yogurt Popsicle
Mix yogurt with fruit, juice, or smoothie ingredients and pour into molds. Freeze until solid. Download the yogurt popsicle picture recipe here.
Juice Smoothie Pops
By Megan & Isaac (Indiana)
- Orange juice
- Frozen or fresh fruit such as berries or bananas
Blend juice and fruit until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze.
Smoothie Pops
Many Smoothie Recipes can be turned into frozen popsicles. Blend your favorite smoothie ingredients until smooth, pour into molds, and freeze overnight.
Try berry smoothies, tropical smoothies, banana smoothies, or yogurt smoothie combinations.
Fruit Slushie Pops
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 cups watermelon or 5 cups strawberries
Heat sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool and stir in lemon juice.
Blend fruit until smooth. Combine with sugar mixture and pour into molds or paper cups. Freeze until firm.
Juice & Drink Pops
Juice popsicles are some of the easiest frozen treats for kids because they require very little preparation. Mix favorite juices, sports drinks, lemonade flavors, or fruity drink combinations and freeze them into colorful summer snacks.
Juice Pops
Try combining two different juices together for fun flavor combinations.
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup white grape juice
OR
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup mixed fruit juice
Stir together, pour into molds, and freeze until firm.
Soda Pop in a Tray
By Jazmine McCracken (Canada)
Fill an ice cube tray with soda pop or fruit drink. Insert short sticks or straws and freeze.
Check after about an hour and straighten sticks if needed before freezing completely.
Colorful Ice Cubes
By Annika (British Columbia)
- 1 packet Kool-Aid
- 1 1/2 cups water
Mix drink powder with water. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.
Serve colorful cubes in juice, lemonade, or sparkling water.
Gatorade Popsicles
By Natalie (United States)
- 1 bottle Gatorade, any flavor
Pour sports drink into molds and freeze for an easy summer popsicle treat.
Sunshine Pops
By Kayla (Mississippi)
- 1 cup pulp-free orange juice
- 1 cup peach soda
Pour orange juice into cups until half full. Slowly add peach soda for layered color.
Cover cups with foil or plastic wrap and insert sticks. Freeze overnight.
Tip: Run warm water around cups to help release frozen pops.
Teach younger children how to pour, stir, measure, and make simple frozen treats like popsicles with these beginner cooking lessons for ages 3–6.
Turn watermelon into a cool summer slush drink.
Dessert Popsicle Recipes
Dessert popsicles turn favorite sweet treats into frozen summer desserts. Kids can make pudding pops, fudge pops, banana treats, yogurt desserts, and creamy fruit pops using simple ingredients and popsicle molds.
Dark Fudge Pops
By Arabella P. (Missouri)
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup sugar or maple syrup
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into molds or small cups and freeze for 4–6 hours.
Helpful Tip: Run warm water around cups or molds if the popsicles are difficult to remove.
Easy Banana Pops
Freeze banana pieces or banana roll-ups for an easy dessert-style popsicle kids can decorate with chocolate, sprinkles, coconut, or crushed cereal.
Jell-O Pops
- 1 small package flavored gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk
Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and allow to cool slightly. Stir in yogurt and milk until smooth.
Pour into molds or cups, insert sticks, and freeze.
Explore homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice cream pies, milkshakes, and other frozen dessert recipes.
Do you have kids ages 3–6? Try these beginner kids cooking lessons for pouring and making popsicles.
Summer Popsicle Video
35 Simply Easy Popsicle Ideas
These easy popsicle recipes use pudding mixes, juice, lemonade flavors, yogurt, smoothies, and simple frozen drink combinations. Most only require mixing ingredients together, pouring them into molds or cups, and freezing.
Helpful Tip: Sugar-free drink mixes and low-calorie drinks can freeze too icy or hard. Mixing in yogurt, pudding, fruit puree, or juice creates a smoother popsicle texture.
Easy Pudding Pops
Prepare instant pudding according to package directions using milk. Pour into molds or small paper cups and freeze. Try any of these combinations.
Creative Pudding Pop Variations
Mix pudding with extra ingredients before freezing for fun dessert-style popsicles. Try any of these combinations.
Easy Lemonade & Drink Pops
Mix drink powders or juice with water according to package directions. Pour into molds and freeze.
Juice Popsicles
Pour juice directly into molds or add small fruit pieces before freezing.
Yogurt & Smoothie Pops
Blend yogurt or smoothies until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze overnight.
Best Popsicles by Occasion
Summer Camps
Easy juice pops and fruit popsicles are refreshing frozen treats for hot-weather camp activities and outdoor summer fun.
Classroom Cooking
Yogurt pops, smoothie pops, and simple fruit pops work well for classroom cooking, homeschool projects, and group food activities.
Pool Parties
Bright fruit popsicles, lemonade pops, and layered frozen treats are fun cooling desserts for pool parties and backyard gatherings.
Healthy Snacks
Fruit puree pops, yogurt popsicles, smoothie pops, and applesauce pops make healthier frozen snack options kids can help prepare.
Dessert Treats
Fudge pops, pudding pops, creamy yogurt pops, and layered dessert popsicles are fun summer sweets for families and parties.
More Frozen Dessert Ideas
These frozen dessert recipes connect popsicles with other summer treats, healthy desserts, frozen snacks, and no-bake cooking activities across the site.
Try homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, ice cream pies, and other summer frozen desserts.
Find simple no-bake cooking projects, frozen snacks, and easy summer food activities for groups and classrooms.
Browse cookies, brownies, frozen treats, candy recipes, cupcakes, and easy desserts kids can help make.
Popsicle Recipe FAQ
What is the easiest popsicle recipe for kids?
Juice popsicles, applesauce popsicles, and yogurt pops are some of the easiest recipes because they only require pouring ingredients into molds and freezing.
Can you make popsicles without molds?
Yes. Small paper cups, ice cube trays, silicone muffin cups, and reusable freezer containers all work well for homemade popsicles.
How long do homemade popsicles take to freeze?
Most homemade popsicles freeze in about 4–8 hours depending on the ingredients and size of the molds.
What healthy ingredients can kids use in popsicles?
Fresh fruit, yogurt, smoothies, juice, applesauce, bananas, watermelon, berries, peaches, and mango all work well in healthier frozen pops.
Why are homemade popsicles icy sometimes?
Popsicles made only with water or low-sugar drinks can freeze very hard or icy. Adding fruit puree, yogurt, pudding, milk, or blended fruit helps create a smoother texture.
What popsicle recipes work well for classrooms and camps?
Juice pops, yogurt pops, fruit popsicles, and simple smoothie pops work well for classrooms, summer camps, homeschool cooking, and group activities.
Share Your Favorite Popsicle Recipe
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