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The most prominent items in my freezer during summer are frozen fruit and healthy popsicles. With the brutal Oklahoma heat, having a stash of popsicles in the freezer is basically a survival strategy.
I’ve rounded up my favorite healthy popsicles recipes along with go-to clean-ish popsicle brands.
Best Healthy Popsicle Recipes
It’s really very simple and affordable to make healthy popsicles that avoid added sugars, artificial flavors, food dyes and gums. It’s become my go-to way to use up frozen fruit scraps. With just a few simple ingredients and a quick spin in the blender, the freezer does most of the work. Try these homemade recipes to see how refreshing and flavorful they can be.
Creamy Strawberry Popsicles
Green Smoothie Popsicle
Watermelon Popsicles
Creamy Lime Popsicles
Best Store-Bought Healthy Popsicles
While I love homemade popsicles, I also understand the convenience of grabbing a box from the store. Not all frozen popsicles are created equal, though. Some are packed with added sugars, artificial dyes, and ingredients I prefer to avoid. These are my favorite store-bought healthy popsicles made with simpler ingredients, real fruit, and fewer artificial additives.
- 365 Fruit Bars: Made with whole fruit as the first ingredient, these bars are one of the simplest and most wholesome options in the freezer aisle.
- Aldi Frozen Fruit Bars: Made with real fruit and free from artificial dyes, these are a solid budget-friendly option, though they do contain some added sugar.
- GoodPop: A solid clean-ingredient pick with no dyes or added sugar, and they use fruit juice for natural sweetness.
- Johnny Pops: These pops are free from artificial dyes and come in a range of flavors. Some are lower in sugar than others, so it’s worth checking the label.
- Outshine Fruit Pops: Probably the easiest to find and budget-friendly. They contain some added sugar but are made with real fruit and no artificial dyes.
Healthy Popsicle Tips
- Look for real fruit: When buying store-bought popsicles, look for options made with real fruit and simple ingredients.
- Use ripe fruit: Naturally sweet fruits like mango, pineapple, blueberries, and raspberries add plenty of flavor without needing extra sweeteners.
- Run popsicle molds under warm water: If your homemade popsicles won’t release, a few seconds under warm water usually does the trick.
Best Homemade Popsicle Molds
If youโve ever tried making homemade fruit popsicles and ended up wrestling with a mold that just wonโt cooperate, you know it can either make or break the whole experience. Here are the ones I like to use:
- Silicone reusable popsicle holders
- Plastic popsicle sleeves
- Small paper cups + wooden popsicle sticks
- 10-Slot molds
- 6-Slot molds
If you make any of these healthy popsicles, Iโd love to hear how they turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if youโre interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Common Questions
Yes, healthy popsicles can absolutely be a better-for-you option, especially when theyโre made with whole ingredients like real fruit, coconut milk, or yogurt. Instead of artificial flavors and dyes, youโre getting vitamins, minerals, and natural sweetness from real food. Of course, theyโre still a treat, but one you can feel a lot better about enjoying regularly.
Most healthy popsicle recipes start with simple, real ingredients like blended fruit, fruit juice, coconut water, or non-dairy milk. Some recipes also include yogurt, nut butter, or even leafy green vegetables like spinach for an extra nutrient boost.
They can, but it usually comes naturally from fruit instead of refined sugar. Thatโs the big difference. Fruit already brings plenty of sweetness on its own, so most homemade versions donโt need much (or any) added sugar. If you do add natural sweeteners, itโs typically something lighter like honey or maple syrup, and totally adjustable to your taste.
If stored properly in an airtight container or well-sealed mold, theyโll last about 2โ3 months in the freezer. After that, theyโre still safe to eat, but the texture and flavor may start to decline a bit. For the best texture, freeze popsicles overnight before serving.
Great ideas! I love the creamy sweet idea for strawberry popsicles.
Hi Erin! The strawberry ones are such a great summer staple!
It has been miserably hot in Florida this past month, so thank you for the new popsicle recipes! My daughter and I have been choosing a new recipe each time our molds are emptied from the last batch, and working our way through this list.
Used this recipe last weekend and no one new they had spinach in their popsicles!
My kids love these popsicles and have no idea they’re good for them. ๐
We love this lime popsicle recipe! And with the full fat coconut milk it’s a surprisingly filling snack, perfect for the afternoon pick-me-up. Also… toddler approved, so that’s always a win
Excellent taste. Taste like Keylime pie. Iโm going to make them into a smoothie also