Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

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Nothing is more refreshing on a hot summer day than Strawberries and Cream Popsicles. They are healthy, vegan, and easy to make using just 4 ingredients! Blend fresh strawberries and layer them with a simple coconut milk mixture for a beautiful frozen treat. Or, if you are crunched for time, combine all the ingredients together to make creamy strawberry popsicles without layers.

Homemade Strawberries and Cream Popsicles are healthy and easy to make using just four ingredients including fresh fruit. | aheadofthyme.com

Once you make homemade popsicles, you will never go back to the store-bought kind. Not only are these homemade strawberry popsicles pretty (almost too pretty to eat!), they don't have any refined sugar or other filler ingredients which is common in the store-bought variety. I mean, all these have are fresh fruit and can be sweetened if you want with natural sugar like maple syrup or honey.

Why You'll Love these Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

Incredibly refreshing flavor. These homemade strawberries and cream popsicles are a fun twist on a timeless flavor combination. The strawberry mixture is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and the cool, creamy coconut milk mellows it all out. They'll make you want to sit out on the porch and soak up the summer sun!
Stunning presentation. The swirls of red and white always get a big reaction! They're pretty enough to serve at a potluck or summer party, but they're so flavorful you'll want to keep a stash of them in the freezer for yourself.
Naturally sweetened and dairy-free. Unlike store-bought options, these homemade strawberry popsicles are made with pure, simple ingredients you can feel good about serving. There are just four total ingredients, including fresh ripe strawberries, honey or maple, canned coconut milk, and a little vanilla. No additives, dyes, gums, stabilizers, high fructose corn syrup, or other junk allowed!

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Strawberries and Cream Popsicles, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

fresh strawberries - these will be blended into strawberry puree, so rinse, hull, and slice them.
sweetener - choose any liquid sweetener you like. I recommend pure maple syrup or honey.
coconut milk - use full-fat canned coconut milk for a smooth, creamy texture without the dairy. For a dairy version, feel free to use Greek yogurt.
vanilla extract - this is entirely optional, but it adds an extra layer of flavor. Skip it for a non-alcoholic version.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a blender, a mixing bowl, a popsicle mold, and popsicle sticks.

How to Make the Best Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

First, make and fill the popsicle molds.

Method 1: Layered Strawberries and Cream Popsicles

Prepare strawberry layer. Place 2 cups of the sliced strawberries into a blender. Add 4 tablespoons maple syrup and blend until combined. Set aside.

Prepare coconut milk layer. Slice the remaining ½ cup of strawberries very thinly. Transfer into a large mixing bowl and add coconut milk, remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and vanilla extract (if using). Stir to combine.

Assemble. Scoop two tablespoons of strawberry puree mixture into each popsicle mold. Scoop two tablespoons of coconut milk mixture into each popsicle mold, leaving about ¼-inch space at the top. Repeat until popsicle molds are evenly filled to the top.

Method 2: Creamy Blended Popsicles

Blend. Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Fill mold. Fill the popsicle molds with the strawberry mixture, leaving about ¼-inch space at the top.

Then, freeze and serve the popsicles.

Freeze. Cover with the lid (if your popsicle mold has one), and add popsicle sticks halfway into each filled mold. Place molds in the freezer and freeze until set, at least 8 hours or overnight (recommended).

Serve. Once popsicles are ready, run the mold under warm water for about 20 seconds to help loosen the popsicles and serve!

Recipe Variations

Blend it all up. The two-tone color looks amazing, but if you're in a rush, feel free to blend the strawberry and coconut milk portions together into one creamy pink dream.
Change the fruit. Play around with replacing some of the strawberries with your favorite fruits, like mango, raspberries, or blueberries. Make sure you keep the total quantities of fruit the same to get the right balance of flavor but have fun with it! You can also tuck a few larger pieces of strawberries into the popsicles for extra texture.
Try different milks. Canned full-fat coconut milk has a really rich, creamy texture and a subtle coconut flavor that adds an extra layer of flavor to this recipe. If you aren't a fan of coconut milk, try using equal parts half-and-half and heavy cream. To keep them as dairy-free popsicles, look for other non-dairy milks with a richer consistency, like unsweetened oat milk coffee creamer.
Drizzle with chocolate. For a more decadent dessert, drizzle melted white chocolate or dark chocolate over the bars after you remove them from the popsicle molds.
Make them extra creamy. For a creamier texture, replace a small amount of the coconut milk with coconut cream. You won't need much — just a few tablespoons at most.

How to Serve

These Strawberries and Cream Popsicles are a delicious and refreshing treat to enjoy on a hot day. They are also a great treat to serve after a big BBQ or potluck, along with some of our other favorites

For more recipes, see our 40 Best Summer Desserts.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Freeze the sticks. If your popsicle mold requires wooden sticks, freeze for an hour first and then insert the sticks. This will keep them in place and prevent them from floating to the top. Then continue to freeze for another 7 hours or overnight.
Freeze solid. You really can't rush the freezing process. If the popsicles aren't frozen solid, you'll have a mess trying to remove them from the molds. Be patient and let these creamy strawberry popsicles freeze all the way. (It helps to make them right before bed, so they're ready any time the next day!)
Release with warm water. To remove the popsicles neatly from the mold, gently run them under warm water. Hot water will melt them too quickly. You want them to soften enough to pop them out of the mold. Less is more.
Use seconds quality berries. Since you're blending the berries anyway, this is a great way to use up berries that are starting to get a little soft or have slight imperfections.

Storing Instructions

Homemade popsicles can easily become icy and freezer-burned if not properly stored. The secret is to freeze the popsicles until they are frozen solid, then wrap them in parchment paper or plastic wrap before storing them in a freezer bag or airtight container. It's best to have two layers of protection to keep them fresh for as long as possible. Try to eat them within 2-3 months, if you can make them last that long!

FAQ

Can you use frozen strawberries?

Frozen strawberries are a great alternative to fresh in this easy recipe, as they can be used straight from the freezer. You'll need to blend them with your sweetener to break them into smaller pieces. If they are too firm to blend, let them rest on the counter at room temperature for 10-20 minutes to soften up slightly.

Do you have to sweeten homemade strawberry popsicles?

That's entirely up to you. Personally, I find that adding a little maple syrup balances the tartness of the strawberries, and the coconut milk needs it to stand on its own. If you want to skip the sweetener entirely, it's best to blend the strawberries and coconut milk together and make creamy popsicles instead of separating out the two sections.

Which molds are best for making your own popsicles?

There are lots of options out there, but I'm a huge fan of this popsicle mold. It has a classic popsicle shape, can make 10 popsicles at once, and it's easy to tuck in the freezer. Plus, it's surprisingly durable! We've used it dozens of times and have had no issues with the mold breaking or cracking. You will need to keep a stash of popsicle sticks on hand, but those are very inexpensive and easy to buy, even at the grocery store. The price is great, too!

More Frozen Dessert Recipes

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