Nothing is better than a chilled Popsicle on a hot summer day. A popsicle is an iced and flavored lollipop, also called an ice pop, which is very popular among children and adults alike. It can be a dessert or just a casual snack. It was invented by an 11-yr-old boy Frank Epperson in 1905 when he left his drink with a stick on his porch and returned later to find his drink frozen on the stick. Years later, in 1923 Epperson introduced the Popsicle in the market and has been loved by everyone since then. Many companies now manufacture Popsicle but if you can’t wait for the ice cream truck to come by, you could just make one yourself! Here’s how you should go about.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: A few hours
Resources Required:
- Popsicle molds (or you may simply use an ice cube tray if you don’t have them)
- 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar (you determine the degree of sweetness as per your tastes)
- 1 cup water
- Your choice of flavor (orange juice, lemon extract etc)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the base: Mix the sugar and the water. Heat the mixture in a saucepan till the sugar is completely dissolved. Remember to always have more sugar than water in the mixture.
2. Add the flavor: Add the flavor of your to-be Popsicle. It may be orange juice, some lemon juice or some other flavor of your choice. If you’re opting for ready-made (aerated) drinks, you do not require to add it in this mixture.
3. Prepare the mold: Line the mold with some aluminium foil. This step is optional though, you may skip it if you wish to. It only makes the Popsicle easier to remove once set.
4. Set the mixture and freeze: Pour the mixture into the molds. Cover only 3/4th of the mold as the mixture will expand on freezing. Put a stick in the middle of the mold and as deep as possible. Put the molds in the freezer for a few hours. Remove them after they have set and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is it necessary to use a fruit extract like orange juice, lemon extract etc?
Not required. You may experiment with different types of flavors such as Gatorade flavor, puddling Popsicle etc.
2. Can I use ready made juices?
Yes, you can. However, it’s best that you boil the juice down to half its volume, mix some corn syrup to reduce its iciness. If it’s frozen concentrated juice, then add half as much water.
3. Is it possible to use more than one flavor?
And create a rainbow Popsicle? Absolutely! Mark off certain levels on your molds. Fill the mold up till a level which you’ve marked with a flavor and set it to freeze. Next, pour in another flavor till a level and set it to freeze. Do this for as many flavors as you desire.
4. How to make yogurt Popsicle?
If you’d like to make a yogurt Popsicle out of the yogurt cups, it is a very simple process. All you need to do is make a small slit on the top cover of the yogurt cup (with your yogurt still inside), insert a stick through that slit (make sure the slit isn’t too long) and place it in the freezer. Few hours later, you’ll have a yogurt Popsicle in your hand!
Quick Tips:
- Cover the top of the mold with foil and insert your Popsicle stick right through it. This will ensure that your stick stands still while freezing.
- You may add fun stuff to your Popsicle like butterscotch pieces, tiny bits of fruit, sprinkles etc.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Even if you don’t heat the mixture, make sure that the mixture is not made in chilled water. Contrary to popular belief, it takes longer to freeze.
- Do not add too much of the flavor, else you might lose out on a great Popsicle.
- A higher sugar-to-water ratio is desirable as it reduces the iciness on freezing. Adding a little corn syrup is also helpful.
- If you decide to use aerated drinks, allow them to de-fizz and then proceed.
