As the school year is coming to a close, the temperature in Lexington is beginning to rise. People are going to be looking for a way to cool off. 

What better way of doing this than an ice cold popsicle?

Store bought popsicles are all fine and good, but the best popsicles are the ones that are homemade.

There are many benefits to making a sweet treat of your own creation. Frozen desserts made at home are eco-friendly. Instead of collecting plastic packaging and cardboard boxes, reusable popsicle molds can be used.

Do-it-yourself ice pops can also have health benefits. By inventing your own, concerns about dyes, chemicals, or artificial flavors are not used.

Coming up with recipes can be a pain, so here are some ideas for preparing delicious, easy to make, icy popsicles:

First, remember that all popsicles require some kind of mold. If going to the store and purchasing a mold is not an option, things such as small baking tins, yogurt containers, ice trays, or cups can be used instead.

Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

1 cup of lemon juice (equivalent to 5 – 6 lemons)

1 ½  cups water

¼ cup of sugar

1 cup strawberries

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a blender.

Blend until a smooth mixture is produced. Add more sugar and mix if necessary.

Pour mixture into popsicle molds.

Freezy for three hours, or until solid.

Remove popsicles from the mold.

Run hot water over the mold for approximately 10-12 seconds.

Piña Colada Popsicle

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup pineapple juice

1 ½ cups coconut milk

Instructions:

Add pineapple juice and coconut milk into a large cup.

Pour into mold, and freeze for approximately 4 hours.

Orange Creamsicle

Ingredients:

1 cup of orange juice

1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt (nonfat)

1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

Mix orange juice and yogurt together in a blender.

Add sugar.

Fill popsicle molds with the mixture.

Freeze for approximately 2 – 3 hours.

Run hot water over molds in order to releases the molds.

Strawberry Smoothie Popsicle

Ingredients:

8 fresh strawberries

¼ cup plain yogurt

¼ cup apple juice

2 tablespoons honey

Instructions:

Blend strawberries, yogurt, apple juice, and honey together.

Pour mixture blend into a popsicle mold.

Freeze until solid.

Tropical Kiwi Popsicle

Ingredients:

14 ounces of coconut milk

3 tablespoons white sugar

8 ounces crushed pineapple

1 chopped banana

1 chopped kiwi

Instructions:

Stir sugar and coconut milk into a bowl.

Pour the mixture into a blender. Add the banana and pineapple, then blend until smooth.

Pour the blend into the molds.

Press a kiwi slice into each mold.

Freeze until solid.