Nothing says kids and summer time like something frozen on a stick! Making home made popsicles totally makes me feel like a child again. I realize that if your kids are like mine and eat 27 popsicles a day that the most economical thing to do is head to Costco and buy a box of otter pops, but take a break every once and a while and have some fun creating your own flavor combos in homemade popsicles. There’s something magical about it! Kids love helping out and these recipes are so quick and easy that you won’t mind extra “helpers.”
You can pick up all kinds of shapes and sizes of molds just about anywhere these days. The ones in this picture are from Target and Walmart. They’re only a couple of bucks too. Totally worth the tiny investment! You can use the plastic sticks they come with, or just buy a bag of popsicle sticks and then you can make multiple batches.
I started thinking about pudding pops about a month ago and I couldn’t stop dreaming about different flavor combos that sounded good. I kept a list on my fridge and kept adding to it thinking I’d just try out as many as I could and then post the best one. Problem: they were ALL good! So since my family has had pudding pops coming out of their ears for the last month, you all will as well. I’m going to share all of them with ya! First of all, read this:
Notes on dairy:
I tested a lot of different dairy combos from non-fat milk to low-fat to whole milk to heavy cream. You can choose what you put into these. Just know that the higher the fat percentage the creamier the end product. Don’t go up to full cream though, that doesn’t work so well. My most favorite result was half and half so that’s what I wrote in most of the actual recipes. You can absolutely substitute low-fat milk (or even soy milk if you’ve got allergy issues), it just makes the pops a little icier whereas the half and half obviously makes them richer and more creamy. Also, I used the sugar free puddings, and Jello brand definitely tastes the best.
Are you ready for this?? Here we go! (The first one is totally my favorite)
Mint-Chocolate Cookie Pudding Pops
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
1 3/4 C half and half
10 Oreo cookies, crushed (about 1 heaping cup)
1/4 t peppermint extract
Blend pudding mix, extract, and half and half in a blender until smooth. Stir in crushed cookies by hand. Place in molds and freeze.
* I loved Aubri’s idea in the comments- try banana pudding with crushed nutter butters. Yum!!
Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Pudding Pops
1 small box cheesecake instant pudding
1 3/4 C half and half
1 C blueberries
1 t lemon zest (or more if you like your lemon!)
In a blender mix cheesecake pudding mix and half and half until smooth. Add in lemon zest and blueberries and pulse a couple of times to break up the blueberries. Place in molds and freeze.
Cherry Almond Fudge Pudding Pops
1 small box instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding
1 3/4 C half and half
about 20 cherries ( 1 1/4 C) pitted and halved
1/4 t almond extract
1/3 C mini-chocolate chips
Blend pudding mix, half and half, and almond extract in blender until smooth. Add in cherries and pulse 2-3 times. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Place in molds and freeze.
Piña Colada Pudding Pops
1 small box instant coconut pudding
1 13.5oz can coconut milk
1 8oz can crushed pineapple
1/3 C shredded coconut
1 T fresh lime juice
optional: coconut extract*
Blend coconut milk, lime juice, and pudding mix in a blender until smooth. Add crushed pineapple and shredded coconut and pulse a couple of times to incorporate. Add extract if desired. Place in molds and freeze. * the coconut flavor was more mild than I expected. If you want a boost, add a little coconut extract.
These might be my 2nd favorite!
PB Banana Pudding Pops
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 3/4 C milk
1 ripe banana*
1/4 C Peanut Butter
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Place in popsicle molds and freeze. *Bananas that aren’t quite ripe yet tend to taste especially bitter when frozen, so make sure you use a sweet, ripe, banana.
Strawberries and Cream Pudding Pops
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 C milk
6oz vanilla yogurt (strawberry is great too)
12 medium strawberries (about 1 3/4-2 C roughly chopped)
2-3 T sugar
remove stems from berries and pulse with 2 T sugar in a food processor until completely smooth. Taste and add more sugar if needed. You should have just over a cup of puree. Set aside.
In a blender combine pudding, yogurt, and milk and blend until combined. Layer or swirl the pudding mixture with the strawberry mixture in popsicle molds and freeze until solid.
Other
Posts from Kids Week:
Hand-Tossed Ice Cream
Edible Playdough and Finger Paint
Homemade Hot Pockets
Giveaway
Questions & Reviews
Umm…ok. It's after midnight and my mouth is watering. This does not bode well for my waistline! They all look delish but I'm wondering…how did you store these bad boys?
WOWIE! What can I say more? These look amazing! I was just telling DH the other day that I need to learn how to make pudding pops! Mmmmmmm! I'll have to try these out!
I can't wait to try some of these, I think I love popsicles more than my kids. I have just been pouring our leftover smoothies in them.
Oh my goodness so many yummy flavors!
You ROCK!! I'm printing now so I can experiment tomorrow!
YUMMY!
Yum! I can't wai to try them!
Those strawberry ones look amazing!
Got to get myself some popsicle molds!
I can't wait to make these – I might even share with my kids!
These all look so delicious. I can't wait to make them for my kids (& me of course!)
I'm curious, Sara, about why you used sugar-free pudding instead of regular? Would it make any difference to use regular pudding?
Thanks for all the fabulous ideas!
We made the PB banana ones today.. YUM! i have always loved pudding pops, why don't they sell them anymore? weird. thanks for the recipes!
These look completely amazing. I can't wait to make them and impress my family!
Mint chocolate cookie pops? You must have known me in a previous life!!! OOOH, that sounds so good!!
i'm drooling over these…literally drooling!
I loved pudding pops when I was a kid. I can't wait to make these with mine. Thanks for the tip.
These look delicious, easy, and fun!
!! I would LOVE to try making the cherry one!
These look so good! Will have to try this for sure. Thank you!
could those look any more delicious?!?! major yum!
WOW those look soooo good! I have 3kids at home that would love to try all of those. Well I guess only 2 of my kids could try, one is only 5 months so that might not be a great idea for him. ha
LOVE all your popsicle creations and my boys would, too!
Who needs kids for this stuff, I want them just for myself!
My kids love homemade pudding pops. Thanks for the great ideas!
I've been wanting to make popsicles this summer. Thanks for all the ideas!
i'm making these today! first, i just have to find a mold, and then pudding, maybe a little half and half…. a trip to the store might be in order.
These look DELICIOUS!
Forget my kids I want to eat these! These look great girls! Good job.
Those are all such fun combos! I'm definitely going to have to try some of those out!