Healthy Popsicle Recipes for Kids (& Moms Too!)

Who doesn’t love a refreshing popsicle on a hot day? And while store-bought options may be convenient, they’re often loaded with sugar, artificial ingredients, and other nasties that aren’t exactly the healthiest option, especially for our little ones. 

That’s where these homemade, healthy popsicle recipes come in! When you make your own popsicles, you have control over the ingredients and get to decide exactly what you put in them. We wanted to share our favorite bases and add-ons so that you can choose exactly which healthy homemade popsicles to make for your unique family. 

Discover our favorite delicious and nutritious healthy popsicle recipes for kids and moms alike! From herbal and tea popsicles to kombucha and fruit juice options, learn how to make healthy homemade popsicles that are perfect for cooling down on hot summer days. Find out how to create refreshing, healthy popsicles packed with flavor and antioxidants, and get inspired to make your own icy treats at home!

Start with Your Liquid Base

When we discovered that we could use fruit juice and tea to make homemade tea popsicles, our entire world changed! Y’all know how much we love our herbal teas around here, and we are always looking for ways to use them. Why use plain old water as a base for healthy popsicle recipes when you can use tea or juice instead?! Below are a few of our favorite bases and their benefits. We’ll start with your base, then move on to some fun (and wholesome) add-ons and mix-ins. After a rundown of all of the yummy options, I'll share with you the recipe I used to create a Pina Colada Popcicle, Lemon Balm Blueberry Popcicle, and a Passionfruit Popcicle.

Green Tea

Full of antioxidants, green tea could also help improve brain health and heart health. Its herby flavor and subtle bitterness pair so well with fruit! That said, if you decide to use it in a popsicle, you’re going to want to keep it aside for yourself. A little bit of green tea here and there is okay for your littles, but you really don’t want to load them up on caffeine. A fruity green tea would also make for delicious tea popsicles. If you’re in the market for a pre-made blend, Farmer’s Market Strawberry Green Tea, Front Porch Peach Green Tea, and Bonafide Blueberry Green Tea are all great options!

Rooibos

Also rich in antioxidants, rooibos may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and support digestive health. It’s also caffeine-free, making it the perfect base for tea popsicles for kids. You can use plain rooibos or try this Sugar Bush Blueberry Rooibos blend for something a little more fruity. It tastes like a blueberry cobbler!

Herbal Tea Blends

There are so many herbal tea blends available out there! They’re also caffeine-free, so you can feel good about giving them to your littles too. 

Kombucha

Full of probiotics and antioxidants, kombucha is another unexpected ingredient to use in homemade healthy popsicles. It also boasts a tangy flavor that’s even tastier when used in frozen treats.

Fruit Juice

A classic choice for homemade healthy popsicles, fruit juice is another excellent base. Try to opt for juices with zero added sugar, or consider making juice yourself. Orange, lemon, and lime juice are particularly nice for a refreshing punch, plus tons of vitamin C!

Infused Water

I know we said that regular water is boring… but it doesn’t have to be! You can also use infused water for your popsicles. Basil is one of our favorite herbs to use, or you can try cucumber and mint, or lemon and ginger.

Choose Your Add-Ons

Now that your base is covered, it’s time to get creative with your preferred add-ons and mix-ins. We love adding herbs, edible flowers, and fruit to our healthy popsicle recipes — all add a burst of freshness and flavor, plus many may offer some pretty amazing benefits. You’ll find our top choices below.

Mint

Refreshing and bright, mint pairs well with a variety of different fruits like melon and berries! It can help with digestion, contains antioxidants, and may soothe coughs and congestion. Catmint and spearmint are great options as well — catmint has been used in the past for fevers, coughs, and digestive issues, while spearmint contains antioxidants and can also help with digestion. Lemon balm is also (somewhat surprisingly!) a member of the mint family. It boasts a mild, lemon flavor and can help with relaxation and digestion.

Basil

A little bit sweet and a little bit peppery, basil tastes great with fruit like peaches and strawberries. It’s rich in vitamins A, K, and C, and boasts anti-inflammatory properties. Use basil-infused water as your base to make some healthy homemade popsicles that are totally packed with basil and all of its benefits! 

Lavender

Works so well with citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. Lavender is also known for its calming effects — it may also help you sleep. Additionally, this small yet mighty herb has also been shown to help with digestion. 

Hibiscus, Aloe, and Sage

Go with an herbal trio! Cooling and hydrating, hibiscus, aloe, and sage couldn’t be more perfect for homemade healthy popsicles. Hibiscus, in particular, may help lower blood pressure and aid in blood sugar control, plus it’s another ingredient on our list that’s packed with antioxidants. Aloe is most well-known for its topical benefits (bye-bye sunburn!), but it can be helpful when ingested in small amounts. Sage may have antimicrobial properties and some studies suggest it may improve memory and cognitive function. 

Edible Flowers

While edible flowers are most often used to add a bit of beauty to food, they can be both pretty and nutritious! They’ll add a pop of color, interesting texture, and unique (though often subtle) flavor to your healthy homemade popsicles.

Our preferred edible flowers include: 

• Calendula: Peppery, citrus flavor and could contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
• Chamomile: Slight apple-like flavor and may help you relax and sleep.
• Borage flowers: Cucumber-like flavor and are good sources of vitamins A and C. 
• Marigolds: Peppery and contain lutein, an antioxidant that may protect your eyes.
• Roses: Delicate floral flavor and yet another great source of antioxidants and vitamins A, C, E, and B.

Lemon Verbena

For a bright, summer flavor! Lemon verbena is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which means it could help reduce inflammation in the body. It may also help with digestion and with sleep. Most of these herbs would make for great after-dinner popsicles… so many will help your little ones drift off to dreamland. 

Rosemary

Pairs great with citrus and has been linked to improved cognitive function and memory. It’s another herb that’s rich in antioxidants and antimicrobial properties too. It could help with blood sugar management and circulatory health as well.

Fruit

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to different fruits to add to popsicles! Try to choose ones that are in abundance in your home garden this summer for even more vitamins and hydration. Here are a few initial ideas to get you started:

• Blueberries 

• Strawberries 

• Raspberries

• Blackberries

• Watermelon 

• Cantelope

• Honeydew

Other Things You’ll Need to Make Healthy Homemade Popsicles

You’ll be in really great shape to get started on your popsicles once you’ve chosen your liquid base and add-ons — but some recipes may need a bit of sweetener. You can use any of the following:

• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Stevia
• Agave

We recommend adding just a little bit at a time and then taste testing. You can always adjust and add more, but you can’t take it out once you add your sweetener!

Other things to make sure you have on hand include plenty of popsicle molds and sticks. There are tons of options online. We used these teal popsicle molds here, blue popsicle ones here, and these plastic tube popsicle molds here. Try to choose molds made with BPA-free silicone, as those are non-toxic and safe for food. Stainless steel is another excellent option! 

Healthy Popsicle Recipes Frequently Asked Questions

What are the healthiest popsicles?

The healthiest popsicles are those made with natural, nutrient-rich ingredients like fresh fruits, herbal teas, and kombucha. It’s best to choose recipes that are free from added sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives. Incorporating ingredients like berries, tea, and herbs can add antioxidants, vitamins, and probiotics which can help make them even healthier. 

How do you make homemade popsicles that aren’t icy?

You can prevent your homemade healthy popsicles from getting icy by using ingredients that have a naturally higher sugar or fat content, like fresh fruits and honey. These help create a smoother texture by lowering the freezing point in your popsicle mixtures. You also need to make sure to blend everything thoroughly before freezing for a better consistency. Leaving a bit of space at the top of the mold can be helpful too.

Why are my homemade popsicles so hard?

Homemade popsicles can become too hard if they contain too much water and not enough sugar, causing them to freeze solid like ice cubes. You can prevent this by increasing the sugar content with fruit and honey. And, if all else fails storing the popsicles separately in a freezer with a slightly warmer temperature can help! 

From Flowers to Tea, to Freezy Goodness!

With all of these creative and nutritious popsicle recipes, you’ll never run out of inspiration again! Feel good about the treats you give your kids and make one of these healthy popsicle recipes instead of reaching for the store-bought stuff. Herbs, teas, fruits, and more are wonderful ingredients to use — and you don’t have to worry about weird preservatives, dyes, or other artificial ingredients sneaking their way into your littles’ bellies. And isn’t that what making homemade, well, everything, is all about? Make sure to grab your free copy of the Cooking with Tea e-book so that you can use herbs and tea in all of your dishes - not just popsicles!

 Before you go, I'd love to know which flavors of popsicles you are going to make. Or have you already made popsicles at home and you were looking for more ideas? Let me know below, I'd love to hear what you came up with!

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