How to Make Pineapple Popsicles

What could be better on a hot day than homemade pineapple popsicles? These sweet treats are dairy-free, gluten-free, filled with fresh fruit, and only lightly sweetened. Get ready to indulge in a refreshing and flavorful treat that will delight the whole family.

These homemade popsicles combine the tanginess of lime, the creaminess of coconut, and the tropical sweetness of ripe pineapple. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal preparation, you can make your own healthy and refreshing treat while saving money and cutting down on waste with reusable popsicle molds.

Jump to:

• Why You're Going To Love This Recipe:
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Related
• Pineapple Popsicle Recipe

In this post, you will learn how to make pineapple popsicles from start to finish. From selecting the freshest ingredients to freezing them to perfection, I will guide you through each step of the process. Along the way, we'll explore the tropical trio of pineapple, coconut, and lime, discovering their unique flavors and health benefits. You'll also learn helpful tips and tricks to customize the popsicles to your liking, allowing you to create your own signature tropical delight.

So, grab your popsicle molds, put on your imaginary beach hat, and get ready for a burst of tropical goodness.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe:

• Easy and Homemade: Making these popsicles at home is a breeze. With just a handful of simple ingredients and a blender, you can create your own batch of frozen tropical delights. Plus, you have full control over the quality and freshness of the ingredients, ensuring a truly homemade and wholesome treat.
• Versatile and Customizable: This recipe serves as a wonderful base for creativity and personalization. You can easily customize the popsicles by adding other tropical fruits, adjusting the sweetness, or even incorporating additional flavors like coconut flakes or a hint of mint.
• Healthy and Nourishing: Along with their incredible taste, these popsicles offer some health benefits. They contain vitamin C from the lime and pineapple, providing an immune-boosting antioxidant punch. Additionally, the hydrating properties of coconut milk make them a refreshing choice.
• Family-Friendly and Crowd-Pleasing: Whether you're enjoying these popsicles with your family or serving them at a gathering, they are sure to be a hit. Their vibrant colors, tropical flavors, and frozen allure appeal to both kids and adults alike, making them a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.
• A Taste of Summer: Even when the warm weather fades, you can bring a taste of summer back with these popsicles. They can be enjoyed year-round, reminding you of sunny days and carefree moments no matter the season.

Ingredients

Pineapple

A ripe pineapple is a treasure trove of sweetness and flavor. Fresh, juicy pineapple will elevate the flavor of your popsicles. You can use canned pineapple without added sugar if that's what you have on hand, but the flavor won't be as good.

When selecting a pineapple, look for one with vibrant golden skin, a sweet aroma, and slight softness when gently squeezed. Not only is pineapple delicious, but it's also packed with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that aid digestion and boost immunity (Source). Here are some more tips on how to find a ripe pineapple:

• Look for a Golden Exterior: A ripe pineapple will have a vibrant golden color on its exterior. Avoid pineapples that are mostly green or have dark spots, as they may indicate that the fruit is either underripe or overripe.
• Check for Firmness: Gently squeeze the pineapple to assess its firmness. It should give slightly when pressed but still feel firm overall. Avoid pineapples that are overly soft or have a mushy texture, as they may be overripe.
• Sniff for Sweet Aroma: Take a whiff near the base of the pineapple. A ripe pineapple will have a sweet and fragrant aroma. If you can smell the sweet tropical scent, it's a good indication that the pineapple is ripe and ready to be enjoyed.
• Check the Leaves: Examine the leaves at the top of the pineapple. They should be green and fresh-looking. Avoid pineapples with brown or dry leaves, as this could indicate that the fruit is past its prime.
• Size and Weight: While size doesn't necessarily determine ripeness, larger pineapples tend to have a higher chance of being sweet and juicy. Additionally, a ripe pineapple should feel heavy for its size, indicating that it is filled with juicy goodness.

Coconut Milk

To achieve a rich and creamy texture, opt for full-fat coconut milk with no added sugar. Before opening the can, give it a good shake to ensure that the coconut cream is well-mixed. The creamy coconut milk adds a luscious texture and authentic tropical flavor to the popsicles. It's also a great dairy-free alternative, providing healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Lime

Lime brings a zingy and refreshing twist to the popsicles. Look for limes that are firm, smooth-skinned, and heavy for their size. A bright green color and fragrant aroma indicate their freshness. Limes are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, providing a burst of tanginess that balances the sweetness of the pineapple and coconut. The zesty citrus flavor adds a delightful kick to the popsicles and enhances the tropical experience.

Honey

Honey acts as a natural sweetener in this recipe. You can use maple syrup instead for a more subtle sweetness.

Guar Gum Powder

This ingredient is completely optional, but it will make the texture of your popsicles smoother, less icy, and a lot more satisfying. Guar gum is made from legumes, called guar beans. It will bind, thicken and stabilize any liquid it is mixed in. (We even use it in non-food projects like our Giant Bubble Solution).

You can find guar gum at your local health food store or online.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Hint: for mess-free popsicles look for molds that come with a little ledge, or are pop-up style (see equipment section below).

Variations

Don't be afraid to get creative and customize these popsicles according to your taste preferences. Here are some ideas to inspire your own variations:

• Tropical Fruit Medley: Add chunks of other tropical fruits like mango, papaya, or passion fruit to the popsicle molds before pouring in the mixture. This will create a medley of flavors and textures that will take your taste buds on a tropical journey.
• Creamy Coconut Swirl: For a visually stunning and ultra-creamy popsicle, create a coconut swirl effect by pouring the popsicle base halfway into the mold, freezing it partially, and then adding a layer of pure coconut milk before freezing it again. Repeat the process until the molds are filled. The result will be a beautiful, marbled effect that combines the flavors of pineapple, lime, and coconut in every bite.
• Strawberry Pineapple Popsicles: you can replace up to half of the pineapple in this recipe with fresh strawberries for a delicious berry pineapple treat.
• Zesty Lime Explosion: If you're a fan of tangy lime flavors, increase the amount of lime juice or zest in the popsicle mixture. This will intensify the citrus kick and give the popsicles a more zesty profile.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, you can find my full disclosure here.

Equipment

For this recipe I recommend using a high-speed blender for extra smooth and creamy popsicles. You could also try using a food processor if you don't have a blender.

Although a proper popsicle mold isn't required to make this recipe and can be replaced by small paper cups or ice cube trays. I find that classic popsicle or silicone molds are easier to handle, clean, and reuse. Here are some options I like to use.

Storage

When stored in the freezer these popsicles will keep fresh for 6 -8 weeks.

Related

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