Beat the heat with fun & easy homemade ice lollies (popsicles)! Quick, refreshing recipes kids can help make — perfect for summer days & parties.
The UK is experiencing a delicious heatwave right now. Rare, and divine, however, we’re not prepared for this type of weather. AC isn’t standard in most UK buildings, so when it gets hot — it really gets hot!
What better way to cool down than with some fun, fruity, and oh so refreshing homemade Ice Lollies, aka popsicles!
Whether you’re cooling the kids down, planning a summer party, or simply craving an ice-cold treat for yourself, making your own lollies at home is a brilliant way to enjoy natural flavours — with no artificial nasties.
And the best bit? They’re so quick and easy to make — even little hands can get involved. 🍓
In this article, we’ll show you how to create fabulous homemade lollies with simple ingredients and give you plenty of flavour ideas to keep your freezer well-stocked all summer long.
In This Article, You’ll Find:
✅ Why make your own ice lollies?
✅ Simple steps for the perfect homemade lolly
✅ Quick & easy recipes — no fancy kit needed
✅ Fun flavour combos for summer 2025
✅ Tips for getting kids involved
If you’d like to head straight to our Quick & Easy Ice Lolly Recipes, please use the following code, or read along for more ideas and inspiration.
Why Make Your Own Ice Lollies?
Just like with all of our homemade ice creams, when you make your own lollies, you’re in full control — from sweetness levels to the ingredients you use — with no artificial nasties in sight!
Here’s a list of all the pros for making your own;
- You control the ingredients — no hidden sugars or additives
- They’re budget-friendly (and better than shop-bought!)
- You can customise flavours to your liking
- Great for using up ripe fruit
- Fun & creative activity for kids
Whether you fancy zingy citrus, creamy yoghurt swirls, or even a cheeky grown-up version with a splash of fizz — homemade lollies are endlessly adaptable.
How To Make Homemade Ice Lollies — The Basics
Making homemade lollies couldn’t be easier:
1️⃣ Choose your base — juice, smoothie, yoghurt, fruit purée, or milk-based mix
2️⃣ Add flavour — think fruit, herbs, spices, natural sweeteners
3️⃣ Pour into moulds — reusable silicone moulds are best
4️⃣ Freeze for at least 4–6 hours (overnight is ideal)
5️⃣ Run the mould under warm water to release — enjoy!
Tip: Want perfectly smooth lollies? Strain fruit purées for a silkier finish.
👉🏽 For information on equipment needed, head over to our article – What Equipment Do You Need To Make Homemade Ice Cream? – which lists all the items you might need.
Quick & Easy Ice Lolly Recipes
Here are a few quick recipe ideas to get you started — but honestly, there are no limits! If you can dream it, you can freeze it. 🍦 These are five of our favourite combos to inspire you — but feel free to get creative and make them your own!
🍓 Strawberry & Yoghurt Swirl
• Blitz fresh strawberries with a little honey
• Alternate layers of fruit and Greek yoghurt
• Freeze & swirl with a skewer before freezing solid
🍑 Peach & Raspberry Ripple
• Blend ripe peaches with a little maple syrup or honey
• Lightly mash fresh raspberries to create a chunky purée
• Layer peach and raspberry mixtures in moulds for a pretty ripple effect
• Freeze & enjoy!
🍊 Citrus Cooler
• Mix orange juice, lemon juice & lime juice
• Add a splash of honey or agave to balance tartness
• Freeze — zingy & super refreshing!
🍉 Watermelon Ice Lollies
• Blitz fresh watermelon (strain if preferred)
• Add a squeeze of lime & a little sugar if needed
• Pour & freeze
🥭 Tropical Mango & Coconut
• Blend ripe mango with coconut milk
• Optional: add shredded coconut for texture
• Pour into moulds & freeze
Get The Kids Involved!
Making ice lollies is the perfect kitchen project for kids:
✅ They can help choose fruits & flavours
✅ Practice measuring & mixing
✅ Get creative with layers, colours & shapes
✅ Learn about healthy treats
And best of all — they’ll love eating their own creations! 🍦✨
👉🏽 Click on the following link for more ideas and inspiration for getting the kids involved in the kitchen – Fun Ice Cream Recipes for Kids – Getting Children Involved in the Kitchen
Our Top Pick — Ice Lolly Moulds For Easy Freezing
If you’re planning to make lollies regularly this summer, a good set of moulds makes life much easier:
These silicone moulds are brilliant — flexible for easy release and big enough to make plenty of lollies at once (perfect for parties or batch freezing!).
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Vegan & Dairy-Free Adaptations
Most fruit-based ice lollies are naturally dairy-free — making them a brilliant option for anyone avoiding dairy or following a vegan lifestyle.
For complete dairy-free and vegan comfort, simply:
🌱 Use plant-based milk (almond, oat, coconut) in place of dairy milk or yoghurt
🌱 Opt for maple syrup, agave, or date syrup instead of honey
🌱 Use coconut cream for extra creamy popsicles
🌱 Double-check that chocolate chips or add-ins are vegan-friendly
Once you’ve got your base, the method stays exactly the same — so you can enjoy fun, flavour-packed vegan ice lollies all summer long! 🌞
Want to Adult-Up Your Lollies? 🍸
And of course, ice lollies aren’t just for little ones! With a few clever twists, you can easily create grown-up versions that are every bit as refreshing, and perfect for summer parties, BBQs, or a little indulgent treat for yourself.
Here are some fun ways to “adult-up” your ice lollies:
🍸 Add a splash of your favourite tipple — rum, Prosecco, gin, rosé or even tequila work beautifully with fruity bases (approx. 1–2 tbsp per batch — too much alcohol and they won’t freeze properly)
🍋 Try adding herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary for an elegant flavour twist
🥂 Blend fizz (Prosecco or sparkling water) into the base for lighter, bubblier lollies
🍹 Play with cocktail-inspired flavours — mojito, piña colada, Aperol spritz, margarita, gin & tonic or even espresso martini popsicles!
Tip: If adding alcohol, freeze in smaller moulds or mini pops for a better set and easy portioning.
Perfect for summer BBQs, garden parties, or simply treating yourself on a hot day! 🍧✨
🍦 We’d love to know — what’s your ultimate ice lolly flavour combo? Got a tried-and-tested family favourite — or an exciting new one? Drop us a comment below or tag us @FrostedFusions on Pinterest & Instagram — we love seeing your summer creations! ☀️
The Final Scoop
Homemade ice lollies are a fun, refreshing way to beat the heat — and a brilliant way to get creative in the kitchen. 🍦
Whether you go for fruity, creamy or tropical, once you’ve made your own, you’ll never go back to shop-bought!
We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Fun & Easy Homemade Ice Lollies (Popsicles) — The Perfect Summer Treat! – and that we have inspired you to give our recipes a go. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below, and we will be happy to get back to you.
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I liked the post. The recipe’s sounded good. OF course the adult ones did also. I do remember my mom making something like them when I was growing up. She would get fruit juice and pour into those plastic things and then place a piece of saran wrap over the end and place a slit and then place the stick in the slit to hold the in place. They were delicious and worked very good for us kids. We played outside all day in the summer.
Hi Neal,
Thank you so much for your comment — we really enjoyed reading about your childhood memories!
Your mum’s homemade lollies sound very cool, pun intended, and I love that clever trick with the saran wrap to keep the sticks in place — simple but so effective.
It’s great to hear how these simple frozen treats brought so much joy on those long summer days.
We hope our recipes might inspire a bit of that same fun and flavour for you now!
If you’re particularly interested in the ‘adult’ versions, we have a selection of cocktail sorbets and ice creams listed that you might want to check out in our alcohol-infused recipes.
Thanks again for sharing, and wishing you many more deliciously cool moments this summer.
Warm wishes,
Cherie