Homemade Summer Ice Pops You'll Love

There's nothing that says summertime like frozen ice pops, right out of the freezer. While you can definitely head to the grocery store and pick some up, why would you? They're not only incredibly easy to make at home, but they freeze overnight, can be made with minimal ingredients, and they're going to lack any and all of the not-so-great, unpronounceable ingredients that you usually find in commercially produced foods. So, pick up some reusable ice pop molds and use these ideas to get started making your own summertime treats you'll go nuts for.

Sometimes, the perfect treat for a hot summer's afternoon is equal parts decadent and creamy, and that's exactly where these come in. If you love Nutella (and honestly, who can't eat it with just a spoon), check out this idea from Big Bear's Wife. All that's needed to make these are three simple ingredients: Nutella, Cool Whip, and milk. Two of those might be complete guilty pleasures, but no one's looking!

Peanut butter is another great ingredient for making the most delicious, creamy, summertime treats you can imagine, and Marsha's Baking Addiction has an incredible recipe for pops that are filled with peanut butter and yogurt, then finished off with a dip into chocolate and a sprinkling of crushed peanuts. For another way to combine peanut butter and chocolate into a frozen fudge bar, A Few Shortcuts offers up this recipe for peanut butter fudge bars that will give you a gorgeous, layered mix of flavors that all but guarantees you're going to be picking up a few more molds and doubling — or tripling — this recipe.

There's no reason the kids should have all the fun when it comes to hot summer afternoons, and there are plenty of options when you're looking to make an adults-only trays of icy treats. If you're entertaining friends, a tray or two of Broma Bakery's frozen blueberry mojitos will take the afternoon to the next level. They're filled with everything you'd expect from a classic mojito — mint, lime, and a dash of light rum — as well as blueberries for a flavor combination that's nothing less than summer on a stick.

If you happened to have picked up a watermelon and you're looking for some extra-exciting ways to serve it, take a page from the book of I'm Bored, Let's Go, and slide a batch of tequila-filled watermelon margarita ice lollies in the freezer. If wine is more your thing, Salt and Lavender has an incredibly simple recipe for a strawberry moscato pop. The only thing that makes something so tasty even better is the simplicity you'll find in this frozen cinnamon roll cocktail. This one only takes cream soda and Fireball whiskey.

If you've ever baked a cake just because, this recipe from Just Add Sprinkles is for you. Using a dash of yellow cake mix in the vanilla ice cream gives you the perfect amount of creamy and cakey, and it'll change how you think of cake.

But, what if you're more of a brownie person? Then you need to try these brownie cow pops from Lady & Pups. Chunks of brownies (made from her recipe or your own favorite one) are broken up and frozen in milk for a simple dessert made with an easy concept you can tweak to your own tastes. Dip them in chocolate, throw in some chocolate chips... in short, make them as chocolaty as you want!

There's nothing worse than getting up in the morning to a sweltering house, and if it was a long, sleepless, hot night? That's even worse. Fortunately for you, it's a completely legitimate breakfast option to turn your yogurt or morning smoothie into a frozen treat, and if you're a fan of fruit-filled yogurt and granola for breakfast, check out this idea from I Heart Naptime. Can you think of a better way to start the day? If you said, "With chocolate!", then Baker by Nature has you covered with their Greek yogurt chocolate fudge pops. They're decadent enough for dessert, but these creamy, healthy pops are just right for breakfast, too. 

And, if you're the smoothie type, it's super-easy to make that breakfast into a frozen treat. For some guidance, check out this recipe from Baking Mischief for frozen smoothie pops filled with yogurt, strawberries, and blueberries. Not only are these just what you need on those uncomfortably hot mornings, but they're great for on-the-go mornings, too.

Quick, when's the last time you had a root beer float? If it's been too long you're in luck, because Eating on a Dime has a super-simple way to take this already easy treat to the next level. With just vanilla ice cream and your favorite root beer, it's just a matter of mixing it up, pouring it into the molds, and then waiting while magic happens in your freezer. You can do the same thing with Coca-Cola.

You don't have to stop there, either — it's a simple concept that can be adapted to any kind of soda and any kind of ice cream. How about using cream soda or birch beer for a change, or strawberry ice cream with your cola? The sky's the limit.

On special occasions, you want to be able to serve something that looks even more beautiful than it tastes, and on those occasions, you might want to take the opportunity to include herbs and edible flowers into your desserts. Transparent ice pops are the perfect way to show off any floral design, and you can start by taking the advice of The Nest. They recommend using edible flowers and herbs with pale, light-colored juices or teas to really accent the beauty of what's inside. 

You don't have to see the flowers to appreciate them, though. Broma Bakery has whipped up these amazing honey and lavender pops that aren't just delicious, but check in at only 67 calories each. They're sure to satisfy your craving for something sweet, and with milk and Greek yogurt, they're just the right amount of creamy without compromising on the calories. Lavender and lemonade are an amazing combination, too, and that's exactly what Salt and Lavender used to make their pretty purple pops, easy enough for every day and elegant enough for a backyard book club.

If you've never considered taking all the flavor of a cookie and turning it into a delicious frozen treat, you're seriously missing out on one of the finer things in life. Fortunately for you, The View from Great Island has an amazing idea just waiting for you to try.

Sometimes you just can't beat a good, old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie, and you can make those into frozen treats, too. Freutcake developed an ice lolly with all the flavor of a spoonful of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough, and it's surprisingly easy.

If you're in the mood for something that's a little bit cookie, a little bit creamy, try this recipe for Baileys cookies-and-cream pops that will make you slightly more grateful than usual to be an adult. It's the vanilla and chocolate pudding that makes this one creamy, the Oreos that give it texture, and the Baileys that makes it a 100 percent win.

Chocolate lovers can rejoice, secure in the knowledge that Cincy Shopper has come up with a homemade version of frozen fudge bars that will give any commercial variety a run for their money. With only a few ingredients, you probably don't even have to go on a special trip to the grocery store to get everything you need. If you do happen to head out, though, be sure you pick up the coconut milk, agave syrup, and cherry jam you need for these incredible chocolate pops from The Artful Desperado. What makes them special? These pops are black forest cake in a frozen form, and they're sure to be a win.

Chocolate is great on its own, but sometimes pairing it with the right flavors not only changes the game, it makes something that's a whole different kind of amazing. Check out these frozen pops from Front + Main, and if your family loves s'mores, they'll love these with all their dark chocolate, graham cracker, and fluffy meringue texture. If mint and chocolate is your favored combination, there's something out there for you, too. It comes from Marsha's Baking Addiction, and it's chocolate-dipped, mint chocolate chip creaminess made with Greek yogurt. Yes, please!

Sure, you could head to the grocery store and check out the frozen dessert section to pick out one of their commercial ice pops. It might have fruit in it, but it probably has other things in it, too — and, it's probably boring. Instead, pick up some fruit and put together something like these lava flow pops from One Lovely Life. The resulting swirl of pineapple, mango, strawberries, orange juice, and coconut milk doesn't just taste amazing, but it looks amazing, too. If you're looking for something where you can actually see the fruit you're eating, Home Made Interest floats slices of fruit in their mango puree for bursts of fruity flavor that doesn't even need added sugar to sweeten.

And finally, What's Gaby Cooking has a sure-fire success with a recipe for peaches-and-cream pops that uses almond milk and Greek yogurt, then sprinkles them with a brown sugar and cinnamon streusel for a finishing touch that can't be beat.

It's certainly no secret that coffee keeps the world running, and when the weather starts to get warm, you might give your usual hot coffee a miss and swap it out for a delicious iced coffee. Why not go a step further and turn that coffee into a frozen treat you can justify having at any time of the day? 

When you head out to a coffee shop and treat yourself to something special, you might opt for a caramel macchiato as your go-to favorite. That means you absolutely have to check out this icy delight from Live Laugh Rowe that uses black coffee and flavored creamer, along with a shot of espresso for an extra kick. And, for a completely different flavor combination, Feeding Your Beauty has an awesome recipe for coffee and coconut milk treats that include dates along with the tropical flavor of coconut milk.

Even the worst day is made at least a little better when you can finish it off by treating yourself to your favorite dessert. Take this recipe from The Kitchen McCabe, for example. They turn basic ingredients into a banana pop that's then dipped in chocolate and topped with whipped cream and a cherry for a lighter, less-filling version of a banana split.

If cheesecake is more your style, you can absolutely put that on a stick, too. Recipe Runner offers up this idea for a raspberry cheesecake treat that's made with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, milk, and fresh raspberries, and Domestic Fits gives you another version of the same idea that comes with a graham cracker "crust" and uses strawberries and cream cheese. 

Sometimes, you just want to treat yourself to something that's elegant and not overpowering, and that's where using tea to make ice lollies comes in. You can make the tea as strong as you like, and for one idea that's sure to have just the right amount of sweetness check out this honey chamomile pop from Vanilla and Bean — it's just what you need for relaxing at the end of a long, busy day.

If green tea is more your style, you can use that, too. Feeding Your Beauty has whipped up these matcha green tea pops that have all the distinctive flavor you find in your favorite cuppa, with all the refreshing chill of a frozen dessert. You prefer black tea? No problem! The Kitchen has you covered with this idea for a black tea ice pop that includes a frozen slice of orange for an extra kick of citrus flavor.