The idea for frozen smoothie pops came on one of those unexpected 70-degree days in March—the kind that teases spring and has the kids running outside, wanting to get the sprinkler out and asking for a treat to cool down. Of course, I had yet to stock the freezer with popsicles, but a quick look through the fridge sparked an easy solution. Using what we had—some frozen fruit, an over ripe banana, and some milk—we whipped up a batch of smoothie pops that we have since made again and again. It has since become a fun way for the kids to get creative and turn fridge odds and ends into something healthy and refreshing.
To make our smoothie pops, I blended together about 3 cups of frozen strawberries, 1 ripe banana, and 2 cups of milk—any kind works—then added a drizzle of honey to taste for a little natural sweetness without the added sugar. Once everything was blended smooth and creamy, I poured the mixture into popsicle molds. If you don’t have molds on hand, no worries—a small plastic cup and a popsicle stick work just as well. Pop them in the freezer for a few hours, and you’ve got a refreshing, feel-good treat made from simple ingredients you likely already have.
You can easily switch things up based on what you have or your dietary needs. Tossing in a handful of spinach is a great way to boost nutrients—it blends right in among the fruity flavor. For a vegan-friendly version, try using agave or maple syrup instead of honey, and swap in non-dairy milk or even coconut water. You can also add in extras like spirulina, hemp seeds, chia seeds, or flax for an extra dose of goodness.
When it comes to blending, I use my tried-and-true Vitamix. It’s definitely an investment, but I’ve had mine for over 10 years and it’s still going strong. It’s a true workhorse that has handled everything from frozen fruit, tough greens, nut butters, baby food and more without a hitch. That said, you don’t need a high-end blender to make smoothie pops—any blender will get the job done just fine. And if you’re on the hunt for popsicle molds, the ones I have are no longer available but after using the ones I have , silicone molds with reuseable sticks like the ones found [here] would work better when getting the pops out.
Leave a Reply