How to Make 4th of July Homemade Popsicles

Remember the way you used to look forward to the Fourth Of July when you were a kid? The holiday is the penultimate symbol of summertime. Even as adults, we return to the classics of our childhood every year: barbecue, effervescent drinks, fireworks, and of course, popsicles. Other than a dip in the neighborhood pool, nothing is as refreshing. With a few gourmet tricks, few things will beat the endless flavor combinations you can concoct. Whether you’re hosting the festivities this year, or looking for an easy way to delight your hosts, plying your guests with the following gourmet popsicles will make the soiree a chilled out blast.

What You Will Need:

Popsicle molds are easy to find as soon as the summer seasonal cookware hits store shelves. Plastic molds are available in all shapes and sizes, but kids and grown ups alike will be dazzled by pops in the shapes of stars, rockets and so forth. For extra flair, visit a local craft store‘s candy making aisle. There, you’ll find candy molds in wild shapes like hearts, flowers and even teddy bears that can just as easily be used for frozen treats as sweets. As a bonus, a whole summer season’s worth of popsicle sticks can be bought for a song here.

Classic Flavors to Try Making:

Most of us recall breaking into peals of laughter when our favorite iced treats would leave us with purple tongues or cherry red lips. These were the classic flavors of sweet, cold refreshment enjoyed on one of the dog days of summer. This year, you can revisit those flavors in a more wholesome form as you treat guests to popsicles in holiday-appropriate hues of red, white and blue.

Begin by preparing a sweet liquid base of simple syrup by dissolving sugar in water over a high heat. As a bonus, adding sugar to your water does more than sweeten your popsicles; it lowers the temperature at which they’ll freeze, thereby shortening the time it will take for your popsicles to set.

Now you can flavor your base with red raspberries, cherries or strawberries. Blue pops can be made with blueberries. The white pops can be made with a combination of lemon and lime. Whichever fruit you choose can be added as a puree, or for a more traditional looking popsicle, strain the fruit puree and use the juice for flavoring. If you prefer a more intense fruit flavor, the addition of flavor extracts can be made.

Keep in mind that flavors lose intensity when a food is chilled, so make your popsicle mixes a touch more potent. For more “wow factor,” fill your mold with 1/3 red berry mixture. Freeze, and then fill with another 1/3 white lemon lime mixture. Freeze again, and finish by adding the blue mix. The extra effort of layering your popsicle mixes will result in gourmet bomb-style pops, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane for everyone who eats them.

Grown Up Gourmet Popsicles

For more adventurous chefs, the potential for avant garde frozen delicacies beckons. Why not experiment with unexpected flavors? A delicious combination can be inspired by your favorite ethnic cuisine. Try layer of mango puree, then top with a layer of coconut milk enhanced with curry, sugar and cinnamon. Alcohol can be added for a more ‘grown up’ treat – but make sure your kids don’t get hold of them! Guests will be floored by your culinary creativity and will skip the ice cream shop for your house in future summers to come.