Mixed berry popsicles are ten times better than anything in the frozen treat aisle at the grocery store. What a delightful way to beat the heat!
Mixed berry popsicles are super refreshing and easy to put together. From the fruit-forward flavor to the tart tanginess that grapefruit juice adds and the tasty bites of berries, these pops are a real treat. Think of them as creamy sorbet on a stick. You only need simple ingredients, a blender or food processor, molds, and a little patience to make them. Honestly, waiting for them to freeze is the hardest part.
Why You’ll Love These Mixed Berry Popsicles
Quick prep – All you need to do for the popsicles is gather the fruit, wash it, blend it, and pour it into the molds. You can even skip preparing fresh fruit by using frozen, ready-to-eat berries instead.
Naturally sweetened – I use honey to sweeten the mixed berry popsicles instead of granulated sugar. Not only is honey a healthier way to add an extra dose of sweetness, but it has more depth. Honey has floral, fruity, and/or woody-earthy notes, depending on the type. Those other notes add a more interesting flavor to the pops, making them much more enjoyable than popsicles sweetened with plain white sugar.
Just five ingredients – Two types of berries, honey, water, and grapefruit juice; that’s it. Talk about easy and affordable.
Mixed Berry Popsicles Ingredients Notes
You’ll also need popsicle molds.
- Strawberries: Use fresh or frozen strawberries. I prefer fresh since you get to taste test and use berries at their peak, which yield mixed berry popsicles with the best flavor possible.
- Blueberries: Fresh or frozen is fine (they will freeze anyway).
- Grapefruit Juice: This is like a secret ingredient that sets these popsicles apart from others. Both lemon and lime are popular choices, as is orange juice, but grapefruit juice offers much more flavor. Grapefruit juice’s bitterness does an excellent job of balancing out the other flavors; the tartness is very bright and refreshing. Use 100% natural, unsweetened grapefruit juice to avoid adding unnecessary sugar to these mixed berry popsicles.
- Honey: Honey and fruit go together, and the natural sweetener pairs particularly well with berries. Use any honey you enjoy; just ensure it’s the real thing.
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below!
How to Make Mixed Berry Popsicles
- Process or blend: Add strawberries to a food processor or blender with the grapefruit juice and water. From there, process/blend until smooth. Stop occasionally to scrape the sides since the mixture tends to creep up during this step. You don’t want any chunks.
- Add fruit: Before you pour the popsicle puree into the molds, add a slice of strawberry to each.
- Time for the puree: Instead of just pouring it into the molds, add a few spoonfuls, follow with a few blueberries, and repeat until the mold is filled. Try getting the blueberries on the edge so they peak through. Little details like that will make your mixed berry popsicles super cute.
- Freeze: Once the molds are full, insert the popsicle sticks and freeze for 4-5 hours. You’ll know they’re ready when solid.
Variations, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
Mix up the fruit – If you don’t have strawberries and blueberries or don’t care for them, you can replace them with raspberries or blackberries.
Any fruit juice will do – You can use lemon, lime, or orange. Try pineapple juice or even apple. Watermelon juice would also be delicious. The great thing about popsicles is that they’re so easy to edit to your liking. If you don’t plan to add sweetener, you can even use sweetened fruit juice in the popsicles.
Try tea instead of water – Tea is an excellent way to add another layer of flavor to mixed berry popsicles. You can go with white, green, or black tea, whatever you like.
Maple syrup – If you’re vegan, sweeten the mixed berry popsicles with maple syrup. You can also use agave.
Easy release – You may find your popsicles hard to remove once frozen and ready to go but don’t worry. Dip the mold in hot water, and the popsicles will slide right out. You can also use a heat gun or steamer, although those may require more work or setup than you’d like. Other options include silicone molds that bend easily and coating the inside of each cavity with nonstick spray.
Storage and Freezer Tips
Mixed berry popsicles tend to go fast, but if a few are left over, there is a right way to store them. All you have to do is individually wrap the popsicles in either parchment or plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. Press out as much air as possible and place the bag in an area of the freezer where it won’t get crushed. Individual wrapping is recommended but not required, as it protects against freezer burn and prevents them from sticking together.
Mixed Berry Popsicles
Mixed berry popsicles are ten times better than anything in the frozen treat aisle at the grocery store. What a delightful way to beat the heat!
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 1/2 cup natural grapefruit juice (or juice of your choosing)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbs honey
- 4 slices strawberry
- 1/4 cup blueberries
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, add strawberries, grapefruit juice, water and honey and blend together until completely smooth, you may need to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times (about 5 minutes).
- For the popsicle molds, add one slice of strawberry to each, tilt the mold so that the strawberry slice stays put, and add a spoonful of the strawberry puree at a time.
- As you are adding the puree, place at least 3 blueberries in between each spoonful. I place mine on the edges of the mold so they would peek through.
- Once each mold is full, add your popsicle stick and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours or overnight.
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