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April 27, 2022 By Karen

Lemonade Popsicles

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When it's hot outside, nothing beats the heat quite like this refreshing lemonade popsicles recipe! It's like a frozen homemade lemonade. The perfect balance of sweet and tangy comes together in just 3 ingredients and will be a hit all summer long!

3 lemonade popsicles on a tray of ice with cut lemons and sprig of mint.

Note: that links to products you find in this post are Amazon affiliate links which means I do make a small amount of money when you click and make purchases. 

I'm a huge fan of homemade popsicles because I like the control I have over how much sugar to add. Sometimes, store-bought popsicles are too sweet for my taste and they are often made with high fructose corn syrup.

That's why this lemon popsicle recipe is one of my summertime favorites! My kids love the tart and lightly sweet flavor of the ice pops and I love that they are getting a healthier sweet treat.

If you like making your own homemade popsicles, you may also enjoy these fruit popsicles which are loaded with chopped fresh fruit.

Other summertime treats that are a big hit are this Strawberry Poke Cake and a fresh fruit smoothie with cherries when I want something healthier.

Jump to:
  • Tools to Make Homemade Popsicles
  • Ingredients for Easy Lemonade Popsicle Recipe
  • How to Make Lemonade Popsicles
  • Storage
  • Variations for Lemonade Ice Pops
  • Expert Tips
  • FAQS
  • More Summertime Treats
  • Lemonade Popsicles

Tools to Make Homemade Popsicles

To make homemade popsicles you need a few basic kitchen tools:

10 lemonade popsicles in a mold with cut lemons in the foreground.
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Citrus juicer
  • Popsicle mold: These are easy to find at any major retailer or on Amazon. There are tons of different shapes and sizes, but for this recipe, I used a standard rectangular-shaped popsicle mold that makes 10.
  • Wooden sticks

Ingredients for Easy Lemonade Popsicle Recipe

This lemonade popsicles recipe is made with only three simple ingredients!

2 whole lemons 1 lemon sliced in half a pitcher of water and a bowl of sugar.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: You'll need about 4 medium to large lemons to make ½ cup of juice for this recipe.
  • White Sugar: I love the taste of a simple lemonade with sugar, but you could also use honey if you wanted.
  • Water: Helps to melt the sugar granules by making a simple syrup.
  • Lemon Zest: Lemon zest is optional, but I love the extra lemony tang! The popsicles also look beautiful, spotted with flakes of yellow.

How to Make Lemonade Popsicles

It takes just a few simple steps to make homemade fresh lemon popsicles.

Simple syrup in a pan with a whisk with lemons and sugar in the background.

First, make your simple syrup by bringing water to a simmer and stirring in the sugar until it's completely dissolved. Turn off the heat.

Next, stir in your lemon juice and zest if using.

popsicle mold filled with lemonade and lemons and sugar in the background

Pour the liquid into your popsicle molds, add the sticks and lid to the mold then freeze for at least 5 hours and enjoy!

Storage

These fruit popsicles can stay in their molds until you are ready to serve them.

Remove them from the freezer and let them sit on the counter for a few minutes and they should easily slide out.

However, sometimes, popsicles can get a little stuck, release them easily by running them under warm water for a few seconds.

Variations for Lemonade Ice Pops

Swap out the lemon juice with fresh-squeezed lime juice.

Use half lemon and half lime juice for the ultimate lemon-lime popsicle treat!

Make citrus popsicles with any combination of your favorite citrus fruit.

Mix in fresh herbs to take this lemonade popsicle recipe up a notch! Add chopped tender herbs like fresh basil or mint directly to your popsicle mixture before filling the popsicle molds.

For a more subtle herb flavor, steep fresh sprigs of thyme or rosemary in your simple syrup for an extra 5 minutes to infuse the flavor. Remove the herbs before mixing the popsicle mixture together.

Add fresh raspberries or chopped strawberries to the molds before adding the liquid for fruit-filled strawberry lemonade popsicles or raspberry lemonade popsicles.

Hosting a summertime happy hour? Replace some of the water with vodka for a tasty adult frozen treat!

Expert Tips

Use a liquid measure or something else with a spout to pour the juice into the molds without spilling it everywhere.

Don’t fill the molds up all the way as the liquid will expand as it freezes and you don’t want it to overflow.

If you have trouble releasing the popsicles from the molds, run them underwater for a few seconds or let them sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Either one should work.

If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can easily use an ice cube tray for smaller pops and use toothpicks or small skewers for the handles!

FAQS

What’s the best way to keep the sticks straight when making homemade popsicles?

If you are using a mold, like the one I recommended, then the lid has special little slots to keep the center of the popsicle. If yours doesn't, let them freeze without the sticks for about 30 minutes - 1 hour first. At this point, they are partially frozen and you can insert the wooden sticks and they should more easily stay in place.

Can I use bottled lemon juice to make lemonade popsicles?

I am sure it seems like a simple solution, but for the best flavor, freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential. Most bottled lemon juice has a slightly artificial flavor to it that comes from the preservatives added to it.

How long does it take homemade popsicles to freeze?

The time it takes to freeze may depend on the temperature of your freezer but in most cases, the popsicles will be frozen solid in 4-6 hours.

How can I make lemonade popsicles with a more intense lemon flavor?

It's really easy. All you need to do is use the lemon zest as I recommend and replace some of the liquid with additional lemon juice.

Honey is a great sweetener replacement. However, because honey is slightly sweeter than sugar, you might want to scale back slightly in your simple syrup.

3 lemonade popsicles on a metal tray of ice.

More Summertime Treats

  • Fruit Popsicles Recipe
  • Peach Smoothie Bowl
  • Cracker Barrel Coca Cola Cake Recipe
  • Buggy Fruit Kabobs For Kids

Did you try this recipe?  Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!

3 lemonade popsicles on a metal tray of ice.

Lemonade Popsicles

Nothing beats the summer heat quite like this lemonade popsicles recipe! This sweet and tangy treat is easy to make with only 3 ingredients.
4 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade popsicles, lemonade popsicles, lemonade popsicles recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 10 popsicles
Calories: 22kcal
Author: Karen

Equipment

  • Popsicle Molds
  • Popsicle Sticks
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Citrus juicer

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest optional

Instructions

  • In a small pan, bring water to a simmer and whisk in sugar until completely dissolved.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  • Stir in fresh lemon juice until fully incorporated.
  • Carefully pour the mixture into the popsicle mold.
  • Freeze for 5 hour or overnight.

Notes

Tips:
Use a liquid measure or something else with a spout to pour the juice into the molds without spilling it everywhere.
Don’t fill the molds up all the way as the liquid will expand as it freezes and you don’t want it to overflow.
If you have trouble releasing the popsicles from the molds, run them underwater for a few seconds or let them sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Either one should work.
If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can easily use an ice cube tray for smaller pops and use toothpicks or small skewers for the handles!

Nutrition

Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
Pin It and Save It for Later!!Mention @FreshCoastEats or tag #freshcoasteats!
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Hi, I'm Karen! I’m a food stylist, photographer and recipe developer living in the Great Lakes area with my husband and four kids. I can’t wait for you to try my simple, clean, produce driven recipes inspired by the four seasons 

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