These refreshing Cantaloupe Popsicles are the perfect healthy summer dessert! They only have 3 ingredients and they are so easy to make! They can be made ahead and they're great popsicles for kids and adults alike! If you're looking for vegan ice cream or sorbet, you'll love these popsicles!
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Why You'll Love These Popsicles
Refreshing ice pops for summer - Fresh melon of any kind is the perfect refreshing snack for a hot summer day, especially when it’s frozen in the form of popsicles! They’re simple but so refreshing!
Healthy treat - The popsicles are made with blended cantaloupe, fresh orange, and lime. Adding a sweetener is optional since the melon and citrus are already naturally sweet. They make a great refreshing snack and a healthy vegan dessert all in one!
Easy to make - All you need are 3 ingredients, a blender, popsicle molds, and some popsicle sticks. They’re super easy and simple. The hardest part is just waiting for them to freeze!
Ingredients
- Cantaloupe - The sweeter and juicier your cantaloupe, the better the popsicles will be. Pick a ripe cantaloupe that feels heavy, smells sweet, and doesn't have any soft brown spots. The ones that have soft spots may be too ripe and starting to rot.
- Orange - You can add freshly squeezed orange juice or a whole peeled orange. I like adding a whole orange because it adds a little bit of fiber and it's easier.
- Lime - You can either add peeled whole lime or just lime juice. Keep in mind that adding a whole lime with the white parts will make the popsicles more bitter. I recommend only adding lime juice.
- Sweetener - This is optional and it's not necessary if your cantaloupe is sweet enough and you don't like your popsicles too sweet but you can add a little bit of honey, agave, maple syrup, or simple syrup. Everything always tastes less sweet once it's frozen.
Variations and Substitutions
- Different melon - If you don't have cantaloupe you can add a different melon like charentais, snap melon, galia, honeydew, canary melon, or even your classic watermelon.
- Grapefruit - You could use grapefruit instead of orange if needed but keep in mind the popsicles may be more bitter and they'll probably need more sweetener.
- Lemon - If you don't have lime juice, you can add lemon juice instead.
- Yogurt or coconut milk - If you want creamy popsicles, you can add 1 cup of yogurt or canned coconut milk. I like yogurt more because the milk could seize up due to the acidity of the lime juice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cantaloupe, orange, lime juice, and agave (if using) to a high-speed blender. You can also do this in a food processor.
- Blend on high until smooth.
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- Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds and insert a popsicle stick into each one. If the popsicle sticks aren't staying upright, you can freeze the mixture in the molds without them for 1-2 hours and then insert them when the ice cream is slightly frozen.
- Freeze for at least 8 hours.
- To take the popsicles out, run them under hot water briefly and gently pull on them to get them out. I like to wiggle them gently to avoid them breaking.
- If the popsicles aren't coming out, run the molds under hot water again very briefly and repeat the process.
- Enjoy right away or add them to a large freezer bag in a single layer so they don’t stick together and place back in the freezer.
Tips & Tricks!
- Ditch the popsicle molds lid - Most popsicle molds come with a lid and while it might make it easier for the popsicle sticks to stay straight, it can make it tricky to remove the pops once they're frozen because it usually sticks to them. Because of this I usually don't put it on and if the cantaloupe puree is too liquid, I recommend just waiting an hour or so until the sorbet is slightly hardened and then put in the popsicle stick.
Serving Suggestions
You can enjoy the popsicles on their own or you can make your summer cocktails extra fun by adding one of these popsicles into your cocktail.
They're great in margaritas, and mojitos but also in non-alcoholic drinks like mocktails, lemonades, or iced teas!
Storing
Store the popsicles in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 6 months if stored properly.
I recommend first storing them in a single layer in a freezer bag or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. They might be slightly soft right after you take them out of the molds, especially if you had to run the molds under hot water a couple of times. Refreezing them in a single layer prevents them from sticking together or to your container.
Once they're frozen solid again, you can transfer them to a container or keep them in the freezer bag.
FAQs
If you want to make them creamier, you can add 1 cup of thick Greek yogurt or coconut milk to the blender with the rest of the ingredients.
Melon and orange are naturally sweet but everything tastes less sweet once frozen, if you like your popsicles sweeter, I highly recommend adding sweetener. Agave or maple syrup are great options.
Other Popsicle Recipes
If you're looking for other refreshing fruity popsicles, check out the four recipes linked below! They're all incredibly easy to make and perfect for summer. Head to Desserts to see all the latest ones!
- Mango Popsicles - The best tropical flavor!
- Pineapple Popsicles - Delicious with a little sprinkle of Tajin.
- Watermelon Popsicles - A summer classic!
- Orange Strawberry Sunrise Popsicles - All-time reader favorite!
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Have you tried these Cantaloupe Pops? Please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
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Print📖 Recipe
Cantaloupe Popsicles
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Freeze Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 popsicles 1x
- Category: Ice Cream
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These refreshing Cantaloupe Popsicles are the perfect healthy summer dessert or snack! If you're looking for vegan ice cream or sorbet, you'll love these popsicles!
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped cantaloupe
- ½ orange, peeled
- Juice of 1 lime (2 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp agave (optional)
- 12 popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Add cantaloupe, orange, lime juice, and agave (if using) to a high-speed blender. You can also do this in a food processor.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds and insert a popsicle stick into each one.
- Freeze for at least 8 hours.
- To take the popsicles out, run them under hot water briefly and gently pull them out. I like to wiggle them gently to avoid them breaking.
- Add to a large freezer bag or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer so they don’t stick together and place back in the freezer.
- Once they're frozen fully again, either keep them in the freezer bag or transfer them to a freezer-safe container.
Notes
- The popsicles can be stored in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag in the freezer for 3-6 months.
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Choclette says
I have never had a melon ice lolly - before now. Wow! What a gorgeous flavour. I used the whole orange as you suggest - always up for a bit more fibre.
Ana says
Refreshing and healthy treat! Perfect for cooling down on hot days.
Marie-Pierre Breton says
It is such a lovely fresh snack for the kids on a hot summer afternoon!
mandy says
LOVE this recipe using fresh in season cantaloupe. SO good!