Cool off with do-it-yourself popsicles made from simple ingredients like watermelon, smoothies, pudding and juice.

Frozen sweet treats are nothing new, but upscale popsicles are all the rage in summer. Besides saving money and packaging, the best thing about homemade popsicles is that they’re made with real ingredients—fruit, good quality juice and yogurt with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colours or flavours. Use your imagination—anything you can freeze, you can freeze on a stick. If you don’t have an ice pop mold, freeze your ingredients in small paper cups, cover with plastic wrap and poke a wooden popsicle stick or chopstick through. The plastic wrap will hold it upright as the mixture freezes.

Melon Pops

Because it is so high in water content, watermelon is perfect for pureeing and freezing, and the resulting pops taste like summer on a stick. This is also a great way to use watermelons that have a disappointing texture, or the end of a melon once everyone’s had their fill. Makes 6.

Here's how: In a food processor or blender, puree chunks of watermelon until smooth, and pour into popsicle molds. Insert sticks or caps and place in freezer until firm.

Smoothies on a Stick

Any smoothie freezes well, and yogurt adds a creamy texture. Feel free to come up with your own creations. Makes 6.

Here's how: Mix together one banana, 2 cups fresh or frozen fruit (berries work very well and are nutrient-dense), 1 cup yogurt and 1 cup juice. Blend until smooth

Pudding Pops

For a special treat, freeze chocolate, butterscotch or vanilla pudding into ice-creamy popsicles that don’t drip as much as those made with puréed fruit or juices.

Here's how: Homemade pudding works well—just mix according to package instructions and pour into molds. You can also buy pre-made pudding cups, poke a wooden popsicle stick through the top of each cup and stick them in the freezer—the lid will help keep the stick in place as it freezes. Once solid, peel back the lids and pop out the popsicles.

Juice Pops

Juice is easy to freeze, of course, so these are the OG homemade popsicles. TIP: If you use white grape juice, you can drop a few whole grapes or berries into the mold first, and they’ll be visible through the ice once frozen.

Here's how: Buy juice or make juice from concentrate (you can easily mix and match flavours, so let your kiddos make their own concoctions). Pour into a popsicle mold and freeze.

Originally published in May 2011. Updated in July 2026.