Red, White & Blue Popsicles

If your kids are like mine and would prefer to eat red, white, and blue popsicles year-round, try this healthier recipe. It’s made with no artificial food dyes or refined sugar!

I originally posted this recipe 10 years ago, when I had a toddler who would eat anything I put in front of him. Now that my kids are older, their taste buds are a little more discerning, so I needed to revisit this recipe.

(More fruit juice and less coconut milk is key to a better flavor.)

Grab yourself a popsicle mold and find an afternoon where you’ll be home for a while, because while these are super-easy to make, you’ll need to check on them every now and then to add the next layer.

Fourth of July Popsicle Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fresh strawberries. Using fresh berries is better than frozen in this case, so you’ll only need minimal liquid for blending. The sweeter they are, the better!
• 100% white grape juice. Juice is a popular base for popsicles, without using added sugar. This one has a light hue to it not interfere with the colored layers. (Apple juice might work as a swap.)
• Coconut milk. This provides the white color in the middle layer. Since it has a strong flavor, we’re using only 2 tablespoons for a hint of coconut flavor. Check out the ideas I share below to use the rest of your can. Alternatively, you could probably use your favorite vanilla yogurt for a white color.
• Blue Spirulina. This is the only natural ingredient I can find that produces a truly blue color. I initially tried this with frozen blueberries, but they made a bright purple color, not blue. It’s sold in a very small bag, so you can use the rest for smoothies or make blue milk if you have a Star Wars fan in the house.
• Banana. I add fresh banana to the white and blue layers for a creamier texture. However, you can omit this if you prefer.

The only other thing you need is a popsicle mold. I use this star-shaped mold because it makes the popsicles look more like the store-bought variety.

How to Make Fourth of July Popsicles

Step 1:

Add the sliced strawberries and two tablespoons of juice to a personal-sized blender. Secure the lid and blend until the mixture is smooth. (For a sweeter red layer, use maple syrup instead of juice.)

Pour a tablespoon and a half of the mixture into the bottom of each popsicle mold. If there is any extra smoothie, distribute it evenly. This recipe assumes you’re using a similar popsicle mold with six servings.

Place the mold in the freezer to set for 1 hour. (Set a timer so you don’t forget!)

Step 2:

When your timer goes off, blend the next layer. Add the juice, coconut milk, and banana to the personal blender again and blend until the mixture is smooth.

Remove the popsicle mold from the freezer and pour two tablespoons of the white layer on top of the red one. Because the red layer has been freezing for one hour, the layers should not mix.

You will not use all of the white smoothie mixture at this point. Place it in the fridge to keep it cold, and then put the popsicle mold in the freezer to set for an additional hour. (Set a timer again!)

Step 3:

When the timer goes off, add 1/4 teaspoon of blue spirulina to the white smoothie that has been stored in the fridge. Secure the lid and blend until the mixture is smooth and bright blue.

Remove the popsicle mold from the freezer and pour two tablespoons of the blue layer over the white layer. They should not mix, thanks to the white layer freezing slightly. You should use all of the blue smoothie mixture at this point.

Place a popsicle stick into the center of each popsicle. It should slide through the white layer, since it’s only partially frozen. Then return the popsicle mold to the freezer to freeze for at least 4 to 6 hours. (Ideally, overnight.)

The popsicles are ready to eat as soon as they are frozen solid.

How to Remove Popsicles from Molds

If you’re not familiar with making homemade popsicles, here’s a quick trick to remove them. (Particularly for this mold, which has individual covers.)

Pour hot water into a tall travel mug, being careful only to fill it 2/3 of the way full. Dip one of the popsicle molds into the hot water, dipping only the popsicle area in, and count to 10.

Remove the popsicle from the water, and the popsicle should quickly release from the mold. If you hold it under the hot water too long, the blue layer may start to bleed into the white layer, but it still looks pretty good!

Leftover Coconut Milk Ideas

Since this recipe only requires a small amount of coconut milk, use the rest of the can to try one of these recipes (that won’t miss two tablespoons of milk):

• Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream
• Panang Curry
• Vegan Chocolate Pie

More Recipes to Try

• Flag Cake
• Paleo Berry Crisp
• Beet Smoothie

If you try these Fourth of July Popsicles, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them!