The 10 Best Popsicle Molds
This wiki has been updated 37 times since it was first published in April of 2016. If you're uncomfortable with feeding your kids store-bought sweet treats that are chock-full of artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives, then take a look at our list of popsicle molds. These allow you to use natural ingredients, like fruit juices and yogurts, to make tasty and healthy frozen concoctions that your whole family will love. We included both traditional and push-pop models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Onyx POP004
2. Kitchen Paradise 1B
3. Lebice Set
Editor's Notes
March 17, 2020:
No matter how you like to enjoy frozen treats or what sorts of recipes you hope to make, we wanted to make sure our list of products showcased features and materials that could meet your needs.
Those who like a classic shape might want the Norpro 423 or the Onyx POP004, both of which produce thick, rectangular pops with indents. The latter is also a good choice for impatient snackers, as its stainless steel build helps it freeze food quickly.
If you don't want to hold a stick at all but prefer a push-pop treat, there is the Zipzicle Pouches and the Good Cooking Multi Color. Both of these are easy to fill up with your favorite ingredients, and can be resealed so you can save leftovers for another time. If you've been putting your blender to use and want to do something creative with your adult drinks, these pour easily into the Zipzicle Pouches for on-the-go margaritas, frozen sangria, and more.
Fun shapes can be popular among kids, and if that's who you primarily feed, you may like the Tovolo Rocket, which thankfully also has drip guards to keep hands clean. Those new to popsicle making might like that the Lebice Set has a recipe e-book and a funnel, so it's great for beginners.
Special Honors
A Vibrant Day Stainless Steel Ice Pop Mold You shouldn't run out of frozen treats too fast when you have this mold that has 20 fillable slots. Its large capacity makes it a good choice for those with an ice cream truck who sell popsicles, or for anyone who likes to host large parties. Made from stainless steel, it gets cold fast and stays that way for a long time. It comes with 100 sticks and a cleaning sponge. avibrantday.com
JB Prince Tango Ice Cream Pop Mold Highly versatile, these molds can go in the oven or refrigerator, so you can use them to make baked or frozen goods. You'll receive 12 units per pack, each of which create a fun, swirly shape. Made from silicone, they can flex to release your food quickly and are safe to put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. jbprince.com
4. Mirenlife Silicone
5. Zipzicle Pouches
6. Zoku ZK114
7. Good Cooking Multi Color
8. Tovolo Rocket
9. Norpro 423
10. Progressive International Prepworks
Why You Should Make Your Own Popsicles
Twenty percent is a pretty large margin of error — too large in our opinion.
Take a quick stroll down the frozen aisles at the grocery store and you'll find dozens of popsicle brands, which may lead you to think, "Why should I spend time making my own frozen treats?" Furthermore, many of those boxed varieties claim to be healthy. But here's the problem: no matter how good you are at understanding the complicated nutrition labels on packaged foods, the FDA allows up to a 20 percent error in the numbers on those labels. Twenty percent is a pretty large margin of error — too large in our opinion. If you regularly, accidentally ate 20 percent more sugar, fat, sodium, and calories than you thought you were consuming, your health would take a major hit. When you make popsicles at home, know exactly what you're getting. If you measure out all of the ingredients yourself and take note of the amount of sugar, fat, etc., then you never have to wonder if the tasty treat you are about to enjoy is really healthy or not.
Did you know that children are getting around 16 percent of their calories from added sugar? It seems companies add sugar to everything these days. But on a hot day, who are you to deprive your kid of a popsicle? If you make your popsicles at home, you can be sure to use purely freshly-squeezed juice, freshly chopped fruit, and plain yogurt. When it's really hot out, kids might slurp down several popsicles a day, so having the power to control how much sugar goes into these is crucial. Plus, you won't add food dye or other odd, potentially harmful chemicals to your batch of popsicles.
Making popsicles at home is also a great way to spend time with your child, and help him appreciate the work that goes into every item of food he consumes. If you buy boxed popsicles, your kid might grab one when he only sort of feels like eating it and throw half of it in the trashcan. But if your child was part of the process of cutting the fruit, blending the ingredients, and pouring the final product into the mold, he'll think twice about wasting a popsicle — he knows he'll have to do a lot of work if he wants any more.
Simple And Delicious Homemade Popsicle Recipes
One of the many great things about making your own popsicles is that you aren't limited to the flavors at the grocery store. You can create your own flavor combinations right in your kitchen. If your child can tolerate dairy, try making a Greek yogurt-based popsicle. Getting enough calcium early in life can prevent osteoporosis later. Of course, sometimes your child just won't finish his yogurt or cereal. But he'll happily eat a popsicle made from Greek yogurt, honey, fresh strawberries, and buttermilk. Just throw those ingredients into your blender and pour them into your molds for a protein- and calcium-packed snack.
For a classic summer popsicle, combine lime juice, watermelon, sugar, and a little bit of salt in a blender.
For a truly hydrating treat, try this: blend chopped cucumbers, mint leaves, honey, and lime juice. This makes for a really unique flavor profile that's cooling and refreshing. It's also very low in sugar, so you'll feel great about giving it to your child, or having one yourself. While we're on the topic of green popsicles, here is a great way to sneak more veggies into your child's diet, without him even noticing. Blend grapes, kale, and apple juice together for a deliciously healthy popsicle. You probably never thought you'd find a way to get your child to eat kale, did you?
If you like to get a little adventurous with your recipes, you'll love these. Blend peach nectar with brown sugar, heavy cream, grated fresh ginger, and a pinch of salt for a popsicle that's sweet, creamy, and zesty. If you or your child have a stomach ache, the ginger in this recipe could even alleviate the pain. For a Latin twist, you can make horchata popsicles with rice milk, ground cinnamon, heavy cream, sugar, and salt. You can swap out the rice milk for almond if you have rice sensitivities. For a classic summer popsicle, combine lime juice, watermelon, sugar, and a little bit of salt in a blender.
What To Look For In A Popsicle Mold
There are a lot of popsicle molds to choose from, so just think about how you'll be using them. If you're making popsicles for impatient children, look for a mold with an aluminum lid that speeds up the freezing process. Sometimes, your little ones just can't wait overnight for their frozen treats. For those times you need to make enough cold creations for a whole pool party, make sure your mold can hold a lot of popsicles. You'll also want to make sure the design makes it easy to pop your treats out when they're ready, so you aren't left having to pry them out with a knife. Look for BPA-free materials, and molds that are safe to put in the dishwasher to make your life a little easier.
There are a lot of popsicle molds to choose from, so just think about how you'll be using them.
If you are throwing a themed birthday party, or just want to add a touch of whimsy to your child's everyday treats, consider purchasing a popsicle mold that comes in a fun shape. You can find options capable of creating popsicles that look like animals, spaceships, ice cream cones, and a range of other items. For a mess-free experience, consider choosing a model that comes with a hand guard or makes push-pop style popsicles.
If you're going to buy molds in which you must insert your own popsicle sticks, just make sure they hold your sticks firmly in place. You don't want to pull out your finished product to find that your stick is at an angle — picky children certainly won't like that. If your mold comes with built-in handles, make sure they're made from some anti-slip material. These can become quite slippery when your popsicle starts to melt. You should also look for a leak-proof design, so you don't find a mess of splattered juice when you open your freezer.
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.