Cool & fruity Mango Popsicles are a summer treat that is easy to make and even easier to eat. They are refreshing, not too sweet, & 100% delicious.
When the weather heats up, a cold snack or dessert is the best. There is nothing better than a popsicle made with real fruit. These homemade mango popsicles will surely be a hit with kids, teens, & adults.
This recipe like my Mango Ice Cream, is a mango lover's dream. Slightly sweet, tangy, & tropical in one yummy bite. Once you try mango popsicles from scratch, you will never go back to store-bought.
Jump to:
Ingredients for Mango Popsicles
This recipe has just 3 ingredients. They are made with real fruit & small amount of sweetener. You can use fresh or frozen chunks of mango. Frozen & thawed mango is perfect for making popsicles when the fruit is not in season.
All of the ingredients are vegan, gluten-free, & dairy-free. This recipe is made without any kind of dairy, cream, or plant-based kinds of milk (including coconut milk), or yogurt. I share below some variations for creamy mango popsicles with yogurt or ice cream layers.
- Mango - fresh or frozen (thawed) cubes/chunks
- Lime Juice - a touch of citrus to elevate the flavor.
- Corn Syrup - sweetens the popsicles while also lending a softer texture than honey, sugar, or maple syrup.
- Water - as needed to thin out the popsicles for a smooth texture.
See the recipe card for quantities.
What You Will Need
Here are the items you will need to make homemade popsicles. I am using a popsicle maker that has 10 3-ounce molds. This recipe fills up 8 or you can make 10 by layering the mango with yogurt or ice cream on a few.
- Blender
- Popsicle Mold
- Tiny Funnel
- Popsicle Sticks
- Popsicle Storage Bags - optional
The Best Popsicle Making Kit
Online you can find everything you need in one fun, cheap, & complete popsicle-making mold & kit. This is the one I use & it is top-rated on Amazon.
They are easy to use, clean, & the popsicles release easily! I love that it is silicon - that little bit of wiggle you can press or squeeze on the popsicles from the bottom to pop them right out.
How to Make Mango Popsicles
Just 3 ingredients & 10 minutes of prep are all you need. The hard part is waiting for the mango ice pops to freeze solid so you can enjoy one.
Here are the 4 easy steps for making, freezing, & unmolding mango popsicles...
- Blend Ingredients
- Fill Popsicle Molds
- Freeze
- Unmold the Popsicles
1 - Blend Ingredients
Combine all ingredients plus some water in a large blender bowl. Puree until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the side & add more water & blend if needed.
Taste test the puree! This way you can adjust the sweetness for the perfect flavor.
2 - Fill Popsicle Molds
Using the funnel, pour the mango puree almost to the top of each mold opening. Add wooden or plastic sticks once filled.
You can also layer the mango puree with yogurt or vanilla ice cream - see the section below for steps.
NOTE: the popsicles will expand as you freeze so do leave just a tiny bit of space and not overfill each mold.
3 - Freeze
Place the mold into the freezer. Make sure it is on a level shelf so it freezes evenly & does not tip over.
Wonder when these homemade mango ice pops will be ready? Depending on the size of your molds and your freezer, the freezing time will vary.
Homemade popsicles take between 4-8 hours to freeze solid. I like to make these early in the morning or the night before. This way by late afternoon when we are craving a cool treat, these are ready to enjoy.
4 - Unmold the Popsicles
Now is the time to enjoy your not-so-hard work. Unmolding or releasing homemade popsicles can be a bit tricky.
These silicone mold I find does make it easier. If you plan to remove all of the mango popsicles at once, here is the best way to help them release easily.
Grab a large bowl or basin bigger than the popsicle mold. Fill it halfway with warm water and then submerge the popsicle mold into the water and let sit for just 15 seconds. The popsicles should wiggle right out.
To release one popsicle at a time from the silicone mold, here is what works best:
- Run warm water over the bottom & sides of the mold holding a popsicle.
- Using your hand gently push one popsicle from the bottom & press upwards.
- Once the popsicle is releasing and a bit is exposed, grab the stick and wiggle it right out.
How to Make Mango & Cream Popsicles
If you want to layer the fresh mango puree with something creamy, go for it. The popsicles will not only taste great but will also be pretty. You can do this easily but it does involve a bit more patience & steps.
Here is how to layer yogurt or ice cream with mango to make homemade striped popsicles.
- Fill each mold ⅓ the way up with the mango puree & freeze for 30-45 minutes.
- Fill the next ⅓ of the mold with softened vanilla ice cream or yogurt & freeze for 30-45 minutes.
- Top the yogurt with more mango puree until the top of the mold is level - insert the stick & freeze until solid.
Hint: do not let each layer freeze completely or you will not be able to insert to stick. Freezing until slushy allows the layers to form while soft enough to slide a stick through all 3 layers at the end.
Substitutions & Variations
Here are some great recipe variations & ingredient substitutions that can be made. Add, omit, or use one of these alternatives for other delicious recipe ideas for mango popsicles. These may help you enjoy this recipe even with dietary, health, or personal nutritional & taste preferences.
Substitutions
- Lime Juice - instead of lime, use a splash of lemon juice or even orange juice.
- Corn Syrup - use maple syrup instead for a sweetener.
This mango popsicle recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, & gluten-free. If you have extra mango, use it for a Mango Pineapple Smoothie.
Variations
- Spicy - add a pinch of cayenne and/or Tajin to the mango puree before freezing for a cold & hot combination.
- Chunky - Do not puree the mango until smooth if you want tiny bits of fruit in the popsicles.
- Creamy - Add 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (or coconut/almond milk for vegan/non-dairy) to the puree before freezing.
Layer the mango with ice cream or vanilla yogurt - see the section above for how to make creamy mango popsicles with stripes or layers.
Equipment Needed
The right ingredients, supplies, & equipment help recipes taste amazing & turn out well. Here are recommendations for products that are needed for making this recipe. Shop this recipe & buy these top-rated items today.
The Short Order Cook participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you!
Storing Homemade Popsicles
Popsicles can last a long time in the freezer. Homemade mango popsicles can last for up to 3 months if stored properly & kept frozen. They will taste best in the first 30 days.
You can store them in your mold or unmold them. If you choose to unmold them, wrap each one individually in popsicle storage bags.
Top Tips
All of these great tips are shared in the post. But these are so good and important they are worth mentioning again so you don't miss them.
- It's okay to use fresh or thawed frozen mango chunks.
- Corn syrup is the secret ingredient for a sweet but not an icy-hard taste & texture.
- Check the puree for sweetness before freezing in the molds.
- Try a fun layered mango & cream popsicle recipe variation.
- Use a bit of warm water before pressing the molds to release the popsicles.
- Store in the molds or individual bags for up to 3 months in the freezer.
FAQ
This recipe is vegetarian & vegan-friendly. All 3 ingredients are plant-based. Corn syrup is vegan & is processed through an enzyme process that most vegans are okay with. Decide if this is right for you.
If you have never tried a mango before, you may not know what a mango tastes like. It is mild, a tiny bit sweet, & has just a touch of tartness to it.
You will get about 22 ounces of puree once blended. The mold I recommended above makes 3-ounce popsicles or about 8 in total. For smaller skinny pops, you can get up to a dozen popsicles.
It can take between 4-8 hours for homemade fruit popsicles to freeze. It will depend on your freezer, the ingredients, & the size of the mold/popsicles you are making. I recommend making them in the evening so they can freeze overnight & be ready the next day.
When making popsicles, the ratio of liquid - in this case, water and juices from the mangos - is what becomes solid. When a recipe has too much sugar, alcohol, or other ingredients, the ratio may not freeze as well. If you put in too much corn syrup or other ingredients, these mango popsicles may not freeze to a solid state.
It is easy to cut this recipe in half. It will then make 3-4 popsicles. When making a small batch of homemade popsicles, this 4-piece stackable popsicle mold is the best.
Easy Mango Popsicles
Equipment
- popsicle mold
Ingredients
- 2 cups mango chunks fresh or defrosted from frozen
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- water
Instructions
- In the blender bowl, add the mango chunks, lime juice, & corn syrup. Add ½ cup of water. Blend on high to puree until smooth. ** add more water for a puree that is more thin/smoother. We like one cup of water since we want a smooth popsicle without chunks or bits.
- Taste test the puree with a tiny spoon. Add more corn syrup if you want it sweeter - do not add more than one more tablespoon or the popsicles will not freeze well due to the higher sugar content.** some mangoes will be more tart or more sweet so this will help adjust that.
- Using a tiny tunnel, pour the mango puree almost to the top of each mold opening. Add wooden or plastic sticks once filled.
- Place the filled popsicle mold into the freezer so it is level. Let them freeze for 4-8 hours.
- To unmold the popsicles, run warm water along the sides of the molds and wiggle each popsicle free. Enjoy immediatley.See notes above for unmolding tricks & tips.
- Store the popsicles in the mold or wrap each one individually in popsicle storage bags. They will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Notes
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 39 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0.2g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 10.3g | 4% |
Dietary Fiber 0.7g | 2% |
Total Sugars 7g | |
Protein 0.4g | |
Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
Calcium 5mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 76mg | 2% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Recipe analyzed by |
Leave a Reply