Homemade Watermelon Popsicles/Ice pops are the perfect summer treat.Fresh, bright, light and refreshing watermelon popsicles make a delicious afternoon kid friendly treat in summer.
They are vegan, paleo, healthy treats in that they are low fat, made sweet with the natural flavors of the watermelon and help balance electrolytes.These watermelon popsicles are homemade with 100% fruit and can be easily stored in popsicle molds or standard ice cube trays.
What is an Ice Pop or Popsicle?
An ice pop /popsicle is a water or milk-based frozen snack on a stick.
Unlike ice cream or sorbet, which are whipped while freezing to prevent ice crystal formation, an ice pop/popsicle is “quiescently” frozen-frozen while at rest-and becomes a solid block of ice.
The stick is used as a handle to hold it.
Why choose Watermelon popsicle?
Watermelon is a nutrient dense food, with high amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.Unlike popular belief that it contains only water and sugar, this fruit is packed with vitamins like A,B6 and C, apart from antioxidants, amino acids and trace amounts of potassium too. It is a low calorie fruit and highly refreshing and light.
Learn all about how to pick and choose the perfect watermelon in my earlier blogpost here.
To help you with eating healthy and to make your grocery shopping a breeze by budgeting smart with the right seasonal produce for the month, presenting you with my E-Book :The 12 Monthly Seasonal Produce Guide, here.
The Back Story
Summer holidays meant visiting grand moms, in their quaint little village near the coastal city of Mangalore, in Southern India. Back then we called popsicle, ‘Ice candy’. The ancestral home was filled with grand kids, during summer holidays, noisy as could be with laughter and giggles and endless fun.
Through all that din, one thing we kids heard clearly was the familiar bell of the ‘ice candy’ man. He would roll his bicycle gently with the ‘ice candy’ box fixed at the back, slowing down at each home where he could hear children.It was obvious he couldn’t miss ours, there were one too many.
Our grand mom would give us coins to buy ‘ice candy’, after we kids had spent all day outdoors playing in the sun. Childhood, to me is colored with as many colors, as that of of the popsicles. Its the little things really, that are the BIG ones!
We ran to the candy man, coins jiggling in our pockets & bought ‘ice candy’ in our favorite color (I don’t think we really knew much about the flavors they came in then, just that the brighter the color the happier we were).
Sitting under the coconut palms around the ancestral home, sticking our colored tongue at each other to see who had the brightest one is still among my favorite childhood memories.
Is popsicle a food or a drink?
Popsicles are perfect summer treats. They usually are small, and come conveniently-sized in single servings. This makes them perfect for easy portion control.
The flavor possibilities and combinations are endless! Most homemade popsicles are fruit-flavored and are nutrient rich and healthy.
Who invented the popsicle?
Back in 1905, a San Francisco Bay Area kid by the name of Frank Epperson accidentally invented the summertime treat.
He had mixed some sugary soda powder with water and left it out overnight.It was a cold night, and the mixture froze.
In the morning, Epperson devoured the icy concoction, licking it off the wooden stirrer. He declared it an Epsicle, a portmanteau of icicle and his name and started selling the treat around his neighborhood.
History has it that later on, his children renamed it and called it “Pop” sicle and thus the name Popsicle came to be.
Are popsicles better than ice cream?
Popsicles tend to be lower in fat than ice cream, but ice cream is cool comfort food. While most people prefer one type of frozen treat to the other, some opt for popsicles because the calorie count is lower.
Why do popsicles sometimes have two sticks?
Popsicle sticks are made from Baltic birch wood, which is used to make wooden aircraft and are popular in their own right. They are often sold by the box for use in craft projects.
The dual Popsicle featuring two sticks is one Popsicle that could be split in half. It was introduced during the Great Depression as a way to split the treat across two children for the same cost.
What can I use instead of popsicle sticks for popsicle?
Plastic spoons can be used instead of popsicle sticks. Popsicle sticks are cheap to buy, however, and would be easier to use.
How do you make popsicles without the mold?
- Plastic cups
- Standard ice trays
- Glass cups
Fill them with your chosen pop mix ( either juice or yogurt work best),.Next, place a sheet of cling wrap over the top and gently poke a hole through the wrap with an ice-pop stick. Place in the freezer for a few hours, then wiggle the pop out of the cup and enjoy.
How do you make watermelon taste better in the popsicle?
In the watermelon popsicle the addition of lime juice, makes the watermelon taste sweeter.
Squeeze lemon (about 1 tbsp) or lime juice onto watermelon for a refreshing treat.This tip works well for cubed watermelon too.Some people find that a boost of acidity makes the melon taste sweeter.
Try adding salt and pepper to round out the flavor when trying out any other watermelon based recipe.
How long do homemade Popsicles last?
Homemade Popsicles last for 6-8 months in the freezer if kept at a constant temperature.
The shelf life of popsicles depends on a variety of factors, such as the best by date, the preparation method and how they were stored. Since popsicles are typically made of sugar, water, fruits and flavorings, it is important to note the best by date to eat healthy.
What can you make out of watermelon?
- Watermelon Feta Mint salad
- Watermelon cooler
- Watermelon Chia juice
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Watermelon Mint Sherbet
- Homemade Watermelon Popsicles
Watermelon Popsicle recipe
Homemade Watermelon Popsicles
6
servings10
minutes3
hours64
kcal3
hours10
minutesIngredients
2 cups 2 Deseeded Watermelon cubes Pureed
1/2 cup 1/2 Water
1 tbsp 1 Honey
1 tbsp 1 Lemon/Lime Juice
1 tsp 1 Rose water
Directions
- Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth
- Pour the mix into popsicle moulds and put them in the freezer.
- Remove from freezer in 2-3 hours after popsicle is frozen.
- Place the popsicle moulds in lukewarm for 20-30 seconds.This helps un-mold the popsicles.At this point you may insert the popsicle sticks into the popsicle & serve chilled.
Notes
- Rose water was used for flavoring. It is completely optional
Nutrition Facts
6 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories64
- % Daily Value *
- Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
- Dietary Fiber 7g 29%
- Sugars 17g
- Protein 1g 2%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
The Bottom Line
Summer is almost here. Watermelons have started rolling into the fresh markets here. With so many choices to make with watermelons, you can pick yours for the summer treat.
Homemade Watermelon popsicles are the perfect kid friendly frozen summer treat, especially when they spend all day outdoors. These popsicles will keep them healthy & hydrated.They are perfect for grown ups too, since they are low on calories and packed with nutrition.
Are you going to give this Homemade Watermelon popsicle a try, this summer?If you do, share it on social media with friends with #stirringmyspicysoul to help us spread the word around.
Please feel free to share in your comments below, how you have used watermelon in your recipes.