Beat the heat with these easy strawberry lemonade popsicles — a fruity, tangy frozen treat made with just 3 simple ingredients that kids and adults will absolutely love.
Okay, real talk — the second the temperature creeps above 80°F, my kids start circling the kitchen like little sharks asking for something cold. These strawberry lemonade popsicles were basically born out of desperation on a scorching afternoon, and honestly? Best. Decision. Ever. They’ve become our go-to cold snack for summer, and I have a feeling they’re about to be yours too.
Table of Contents
What Makes These Popsicles So Good
These aren’t your average freezer pops. We’re talking bright, tangy lemonade wrapped around sweet little bursts of fresh strawberry — all frozen into a pretty, gorgeous popsicle that looks way fancier than the effort it took to make. This is the kind of cold snack recipe that makes you feel like a rockstar without actually doing much. Three ingredients. One bowl. Done.
There’s no cooking, no blending if you don’t want to, and no complicated steps. Just mix, pour, freeze, and enjoy. Whether you’re making these for a backyard BBQ, a pool day, or just a random Tuesday when everyone needs a treat, these fit the bill perfectly.
Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles
Equipment
- popsicle mold
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 container Simply Lemonade
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Add diced strawberries to a bowl, sprinkle with sugar, stir, and let sit for 5–10 minutes until juices release. Lightly mash some of the strawberries if desired.
- Spoon the strawberry mixture evenly into popsicle molds. Slowly pour lemonade over the top, leaving a little space for expansion.
- Insert sticks, cover, and freeze for 4–6 hours or until fully solid. For even fruit distribution, gently stir every 30–45 minutes during early freezing.
- To remove, run warm water over the mold for a few seconds, then gently pull out and enjoy.
Notes
Ingredients
| Category | Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Simply Lemonade | 1 container |
| Fruit | Fresh strawberries, diced | 1 cup |
| Sweetener | Sugar | 1 TBSP |
That’s it. Seriously, that’s the whole list. Simply Lemonade is the secret weapon here — it’s got that perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor that makes these popsicles taste like summer in a stick. You could experiment with other lemonade brands or even a homemade version if you’re feeling ambitious, but Simply Lemonade keeps things easy and consistently delicious.
Let’s Make These Popsicles
Step 1: Macerate the Strawberries
Add your diced strawberries to a small bowl and sprinkle the tablespoon of sugar right over the top. Give everything a good stir, then let it sit for about 5–10 minutes. You’ll start to see the most beautiful little pool of pink strawberry juice forming at the bottom — that’s the magic happening.
We lightly mashed a few of our strawberries with a fork while leaving most of them mostly whole. This gives you little pockets of real strawberry throughout the popsicle, which is chef’s kiss. That said, if you’d rather have a smoother pop, go ahead and fully mash or even blend them into a puree. No rules here!
Step 2: Fill the Popsicle Molds
Grab your popsicle mold and equally spoon the strawberry mixture into each cavity. Try to distribute it as evenly as you can so everyone gets their fair share of the good stuff. Don’t rush this part — it takes like two minutes and it’s kind of satisfying.
Once your strawberry mixture is all spooned in, slowly pour the Simply Lemonade over the top of each section. Leave just a little bit of space at the top (about a quarter inch or so) because liquids expand as they freeze and you don’t want a popsicle explosion situation. Ask me how I know.
Step 3: Freeze Until Solid
Place the lid on top of your mold and slide in the popsicle sticks. Pop the whole thing into the freezer and let it do its thing until completely solid — this usually takes around 4–6 hours, but overnight is even better if you can wait that long (we usually cannot).
Quick note on the strawberries: Some of ours floated down to the bottom of the popsicle during freezing. We honestly didn’t mind — my kids thought it was the best surprise, like a little strawberry jackpot at the end.
But if you want your strawberries distributed throughout, you’ll need to give each mold a gentle stir every 30–45 minutes for the first couple of hours of freezing. We went the lazy route and it was still a total win.
Expert Tips, Variations & Troubleshooting
Tips for the Best Popsicles
Don’t skip the macerating step with the sugar — it draws out the juices and makes the strawberries taste sweeter and more intense. Even 5 minutes makes a noticeable difference. Also, make sure you’re using ripe strawberries. The redder and more fragrant, the better your popsicles will taste.
When it comes to removing the popsicles from the mold, run warm water over the outside of the mold for 10–15 seconds. They should slide right out without a fight. If they’re being stubborn, just give it another few seconds of warm water — patience is key.
Fun Variations to Try
Want to switch things up? These make amazing soda popsicles if you swap the lemonade for strawberry lemonade soda or even sparkling lemonade — the tiny bubbles create a slightly different texture that’s super fun. You could also layer different fruit mixtures for a tie-dye effect, which looks absolutely stunning and earns major parent points.
If you’re a fan of other cold snack recipes like our Kool-Aid Slushie, you’ll know that simple ingredients can make seriously impressive summer treats. These popsicles have that same easy-but-amazing energy.
Troubleshooting
Popsicles won’t come out of the mold? Warm water is your best friend — don’t try to force them or you’ll break the stick.
Popsicles are too icy or hard? This is usually normal for water-based pops. If you want a creamier texture, stir in a splash of coconut milk or Greek yogurt before freezing.
Strawberries all sank to the bottom? That’s just gravity doing its thing — totally normal and totally delicious. Use the stir method mentioned above if it bugs you.
Storage Instructions
| Storage Method | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer (in mold) | Up to 2 weeks | Cover tightly with plastic wrap if no lid |
| Freezer (individually wrapped) | Up to 1 month | Wrap in wax paper or place in zip-lock bags |
| Refrigerator | Not recommended | They’ll melt — just eat them! |
Reheating & No-Waste Ideas
There’s no reheating a popsicle (unless you’re into soup, which, no), but if one melts or breaks, don’t toss it! Pour the melted popsicle liquid into a glass over ice for an instant strawberry lemonade. It’s actually delicious and feels very fancy with zero extra effort.
Leftover strawberry mixture that didn’t make it into the molds? Stir it into yogurt, spoon it over ice cream, or blend it into a smoothie. Nothing goes to waste around here.
Nutritional Information
Approximate values per popsicle (based on 6 servings)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~90 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 10mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 23g |
| Sugars | 20g |
| Protein | 0g |
| Vitamin C | ~15% DV |
Note: Values will vary depending on the size of your popsicle mold and the specific lemonade brand used.
More Cold Snacks for Summer You’ll Love
If these strawberry lemonade popsicles have you in full summer snack mode (same), here are a few more recipes to keep the good times rolling. Our Frozen Yogurt Bark with Peanut Butter is another ridiculously easy cold snack that the whole family goes wild for. And if you’ve got little ones, the Beach Bear Dirt Cups are basically the most adorable thing you’ll ever serve at a summer party.
For when you need something more meal-like between all the frozen treats, our Creamy Chicken and Corn Pasta with Bacon and Chicken Caesar Wraps are always crowd-pleasers. You know, balance.
Strawberry Lemonade FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Yes, absolutely! Thaw them first and drain off the excess liquid, then use them the same way. Fresh strawberries give you the best texture and flavor, but frozen work great in a pinch — especially in the off-season when fresh ones aren’t at their peak.
What kind of popsicle mold should I use?
Any standard popsicle mold works great here. Silicone molds are especially easy because the popsicles pop right out without any warm water tricks. You can also use small paper cups with popsicle sticks if you don’t have a mold — just peel the cup away when they’re frozen.
Can I make these lemonade popsicle recipes without added sugar?
Totally. The sugar is just there to help draw out the strawberry juices faster, but if your strawberries are super ripe and sweet, you can skip it. The Simply Lemonade already brings plenty of sweetness to the party.
How long do these strawberry lemonade popsicles take to freeze?
Plan for at least 4–6 hours, though overnight is the safest bet. If you try to pull them out too early, they’ll be soft in the middle and fall apart when you remove the sticks. Good things come to those who wait — or in this case, good popsicles do.
Can kids help make these?
This is one of the most kid-friendly cold snack recipes out there! Little ones can help dice strawberries (with supervision), stir the sugar mixture, and spoon everything into the molds. It’s a great summer activity that ends with an edible reward, which is honestly the best kind of activity.
Go Make These — You Won’t Regret It!
Seriously, if you’ve been looking for the easiest, most refreshing treat to get you through the summer heat, this is it. Three ingredients, minimal effort, maximum deliciousness. These strawberry lemonade popsicles are the kind of recipe that makes you look like you have your life together, even when you definitely do not.
Give them a try this week and let me know what you think in the comments below — I love hearing how they turn out for you! And if you make them, please share them on Pinterest so more people can discover their new favorite cold snack for summer. Just tag me so I can see your gorgeous popsicles and live vicariously through your frozen treat adventures.
