Easy watermelon popsicles can be prepped in 10 minutes with yogurt, lime, and agave or honey - they're the best healthy summer treat for kids (or adults)!
These watermelon popsicles have me swooning! They're perfect for teething babies and kid approved, yet healthy enough for us mamas to dole them out without batting an eye. My daughter begged for them all summer long.
The yogurt makes them more filling and adds a hint of creaminess while the lime adds complexity and brings out the watermelon flavor. The lime also helps with emulsification so the water doesn't separate from the juice at the bottom of the popsicle mold. The agave syrup adds more sweetness to make it taste like the treat that it is. Sure, you can skip it, but I think it really helps enhance the watermelon's natural sweetness. Read on for more details on the recipe or click the button above to jump right to the recipe!
Why Make THIS Watermelon Popsicle Recipe
They're just really really good. That not a good enough reason? This recipe is tried and true. I tried different variations with various ingredients and quantities and this was ultimately and overwhelmingly the best combo.
I know you can just blend up watermelon, freeze it and call it a day but those aren't going to be the popsicles your kids go crazy over. Making them more flavorful and filling just takes a few simple additions but makes a world of difference.
Some watermelon popsicle recipes call for more sugar and/or heating the juice up. I assume you're just as busy as I am and are looking for a healthy treat and don't want to put in a whole lot of effort. If I pegged you right, these watermelon popsicles are your new best friend. Sure, adding sugar and creating a syrup makes popsicles that taste more like store-bought, but that takes time and make them way less healthy. Aren't we making homemade popsicles to avoid all the crap that goes into store-bought ones?
This recipe accomplishes all goals: easy, low in sugar, and absolutely delicious!
In addition to all of that, it's a fun recipe to let kids help with too. Letting kids participate in the kitchen is so helpful for getting them to eat the food you try to feed them. My daughter helped dump ingredients into the blender and squeeze the lime. It makes it that much more exciting when you pull them out of the freezer a few hours later.
Ingredients and Equipment Needed for Watermelon Popsicles
While popsicles are pretty easy to make, they're not possible without the right tools. Here is what you need to make watermelon popsicles:
- a popsicle mold (wood popsicle sticks if your mold requires them)
- a blender or food processor
- watermelon
- lime
- agave syrup or honey or even maple syrup
- plain yogurt (regular or Greek yogurt is fine, flavored is fine too in a pinch but will increase the sugar content)
A popsicle mold is obviously essential. I used this mold that allows you to use your own wooden sticks. There are plenty of others that have re-usable sticks though.
I have this ring pop mold that I use too sometimes for any extra popsicle juice left in the blender. I love the ring mold, especially for babies, but you've got to keep an eye on those popsicle sticks cause they don't sell them separately and they're easy to lose. This watermelon popsicle recipe is intended for a larger mold with standard sized popsicles so you'll have a lot of juice left over if you use a mini-mold like this. its a pretty healthy juice alternative though so you can give leftovers to kiddos in a cup too!
How to Make Watermelon Popsicles
I can think of few simpler recipes than this one. As long as you've got the right stuff, all you need is 10 minutes of prep work and some patience while waiting for the popsicles to freeze.
- First, you measure the ingredients.
- Then you blend them.
- Then you pour into popsicles molds and place in the freezer (add sticks after an hour or two in the freezer if your mold doesn't come with built in sticks).
- You wait for at least 4 hours and then you eat!
In my opinion, the hardest part is cutting the blasted watermelon (juice everywhere every damn time) and then washing the blender. When you end up with beauties like these, it's well worth that wee bit of effort though.
Tips for Making the Best Watermelon Popsicles
Although they are really easy to make, I've got some tips for making the best watermelon popsicles.
Here are the tips that will make you a homemade popsicle master:
- Depending on the popsicle mold type you're using, you may need to insert popsicle sticks after 1-2 hours in the freezer to keep them from sinking in too far. In my regular sized mold with wooden sticks this is essential. In rings with re-usable plastic or silicone sticks, this isn't needed.
- For pulp free popsicles, pass blended mixture through a cheesecloth before pouring it into the mold. We don't prefer it this way and it isn't worth the effort in my opinion, but it is an option.
- It's best to remove all popsicles from their mold within the first couple days of freezing. After removing, wrap each one in wax or parchment paper and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Removing soon after freezing makes them easier to remove and keeps them tasting fresher.
- Use the best, perfectly ripe watermelon. Look for a watermelon that sounds hollow when you hold it up to your ear and knock on the side. Also look for a yellow spot to show it's been sitting in the sun for awhile.
- I used regular yogurt, but you can use plain Greek yogurt instead. This will add more protein of course, but will add more tanginess too so you might want to add a little more agave to help even that out. You can certainly use any flavored yogurt you have on hand instead, just know that it will affect the end flavor and it won't taste as strongly of watermelon.
Other Homemade Popsicle Recipes
While watermelon popsicles might be a favorite around here, let's get real. A good popsicle is a good popsicle regardless of the flavor. So check out the rest of these tasty options:
- Simple fruit popsicles from iFoodReal
- These incredible cherry pineapple popsicles from Platings and Pairings
- Wholesome Yum's blueberry lemon popsicles
- A definite one to note for cold season - Sustainable Cook's tea popsicles for sore throats
- A Couple Cooks' creative Acai Bowl popsicles
And if popsicles aren't your thing but you still want a healthy treat, try this piña colada vegan ice cream or this coconut mango chia pudding or these avocado chocolate truffles. Or if you're itching for watermelon, try these watermelon feta mint skewers or this watermelon fruit salad - both are favorites around here!
Watermelon Popsicles
Equipment
- blender
- popsicle mold
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon
- 1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Add watermelon, agave, yogurt, and lime juice to a blender or food processor and blend until fully blended.
- Pour into a popsicle mold. Place in freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours, preferably 6-8.
- Remove each popsicle from its mold and serve.
Notes
- Pour into a popsicle mold. Place in freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours, preferably 6-8. Depending on popsicle mold type, you may need to insert popsicle sticks after 1-2 hours in the freezer to keep them from sinking in too far.
- For pulp free popsicles, pass blended mixture through cheesecloth before pouring into mold.
- It's best to remove all popsicles from their mold within the first couple days of freezing. After removing, wrap each one in wax or parchment paper and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- I use regular full fat plain yogurt, but you can use plain Greek yogurt instead. This will add more protein, but will also add more tanginess so you may want to add more agave syrup to balance the flavors. Flavored yogurts can be subbed as well if needed but will affect how pronounced the watermelon flavor is and the overall sugar content.
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