How To Make Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles
Blueberry yogurt popsicles are a great way to have a protein rich treat while cooling down in the summer with real fruit!
Making Popsicles With Yogurt
Popsicles are a delicious and often a nostalgic treat to enjoy in the summer time. The addition of a good quality yogurt adds some much needed nutrition to a treat that could be considered glorified frozen sugar water.
Homemade vs Store Bought Yogurt Popsicles
Making your own homemade popsicles may seem intimidating and difficult. However, once you see how easy and delicious they are, you might never go back to buying them from the store!
Not only are these yogurt popsicles more delicious with the REAL fruit and whole food ingredients, they only use a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. When you look at the complicated ingredient list of a store bought version, you’ll surely be convinced that these homemade popsicles are the best and more simple option for you and your family.
Ingredients For Homemade Yogurt Popsicles
Yogurt
The yogurt you choose to include in the recipe is the base for any flavor of yogurt popsicle you decide to make. Since I don’t digest pasteurized milk well, I use a homemade yogurt from this Raw Milk Yogurt Recipe.
If you are using store bought yogurt, I suggest using a plain/unflavored greek yogurt that doesn’t have any added ingredients. Using a thick plain/unflavored yogurt for homemade yogurt popsicles provides a nice base to flavor however you want to.
Blueberries
Since these yogurt popsicles are going to be blueberry flavored, you will of course need blueberries! If blueberries are in season, you can certainly use fresh blueberries. However, if your household is like mine, fresh berries tend to be a hot commodity and get eaten pretty quickly. In that case, frozen blueberries will still work great in this recipe. In fact, I often use frozen berries in popsicles and ice cream because it’s what I have available.
Lemon Juice
While it may seem like a silly ingredient to include, lemon juice plays a delicious part in this popsicle recipe. Adding a little bit of lemon juice helps to keep the vibrancy of the fruit and adds a slightly acidic flavor to the dessert. This acid helps to balance the sweet that is brought in by the fruit and the maple syrup.
Sweetener
While it isn’t completely necessary to add extra sweetener to your homemade popsicles, it does add to the overall flavor of the treat. This is especially important if you or your family are JUST making the transition from store bought treats to homemade treats. Over time, you can adjust the level of sweetness to be less or more depending on your preferences.
If you enjoy this occasional treat with some extra sweetener, I suggest using a less refined sweetener. My favorite to use is maple syrup due to its ability to easily incorporate into the yogurt. Other sweeteners you could use include honey or unrefined cane sugar. If you like to use any kind of granulated sugar alternatives (such as cane, coconut, maple, date or turbinado) I recommend blending the sugar first. Blending will help to reduce the grain size and allow for the sugar to dissolve easier.
Vanilla Extract
The addition of vanilla extract to homemade yogurt popsicles adds a delicious and classic vanilla flavor. The flavor may be small in comparison to the total ingredient volume but it plays a big role in the overall flavor and experience of the dessert.
If you want to get fancy with the vanilla flavor, try adding a bit of vanilla bean paste. A little bit of vanilla bean paste will bring the beautiful black specks of the vanilla bean seeds to the final popsicle.
How to Store Homemade Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles
To keep the best possible texture, these popsicles are best stored in the freezer until you want to enjoy them. Since popsicle molds only have a few compartments, it’s usually easiest to just keep them in the mold until they’re all gone.
The Shelflife of Homemade Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles
As with just about anything homemade with real food ingredients, the shelflife of these treats are much shorter than store bought versions. If stored in a chest freezer that stays really cold, these popsicles will stay fresh and tasty for 3-6 months. However, you and your family will likely finish them off well before that time has passed.
Ingredients and Tools
3 cups Greek Yogurt
1 cup Blueberries
⅓ cup Maple Syrup
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
½ tsp Vanilla Extract (or vanilla bean paste)
A high power blender or an immersion blender and a tall walled bowl
Plastic popsicle bags or A popsicle mold
Directions
Combine all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth.
Add smooth mixture into each popsicle bag or compartment of your popsicle mold.
Seal each bag and place on a flat surface in your freezer until solid. If using a popsicle mold, add popsicle sticks before freezing.
Once the popsicles are solid, they are ready to be enjoyed!
Blueberry Yogurt Popsicle FAQ:
Why Make Popsicles With Yogurt?
Popsicles are a delicious and often a nostalgic treat to enjoy in the summer time. The addition of a good quality yogurt adds some much needed nutrition to a treat that could be considered glorified frozen sugar water.
Why Make Homemade Yogurt Popsicles?
Making your own homemade popsicles may seem intimidating and difficult. However, once you see how easy and delicious they are, you might never go back to buying them from the store!
Not only are these yogurt popsicles more delicious with the REAL fruit and whole food ingredients, they only use a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. When you look at the complicated ingredient list of a store bought version, you’ll surely be convinced that these homemade popsicles are the best and more simple option for you and your family.
What Kind Of Yogurt To Use For Yogurt Popsicles?
The yogurt you choose to include in the recipe is the base for any flavor of yogurt popsicle you decide to make. Since I don’t digest pasteurized milk well, I use a homemade yogurt from this Raw Milk Yogurt Recipe.
If you are using store bought yogurt, I suggest using a plain/unflavored greek yogurt that doesn’t have any added ingredients. Using a thick plain/unflavored yogurt for homemade yogurt popsicles provides a nice base to flavor however you want to.
Should I Use Fresh Or Frozen Blueberries?
Since these yogurt popsicles are going to be blueberry flavored, you will of course need blueberries! If blueberries are in season, you can certainly use fresh blueberries. However, if your household is like mine, fresh berries tend to be a hot commodity and get eaten pretty quickly. In that case, frozen blueberries will still work great in this recipe. In fact, I often use frozen berries in popsicles and ice cream because it’s what I have available. You can use either fresh or frozen berries!
Does This Recipe Really Need Lemon Juice?
While it may seem like a silly ingredient to include, lemon juice plays a delicious part in this popsicle recipe. Adding a little bit of lemon juice helps to keep the vibrancy of the fruit and adds a slightly acidic flavor to the dessert. This acid helps to balance the sweet that is brought in by the fruit and the maple syrup.
What Kind Of Sweetener Should I Use For Yogurt Popsicles?
While it isn’t completely necessary to add extra sweetener to your homemade popsicles, it does add to the overall flavor of the treat. This is especially important if you or your family are JUST making the transition from store bought treats to homemade treats. Over time, you can adjust the level of sweetness to be less or more depending on your preferences.
If you enjoy this occasional treat with some extra sweetener, I suggest using a less refined sweetener. My favorite to use is Maple syrup due to its ability to easily incorporate into the yogurt. Other sweeteners you could use include honey or unrefined cane sugar. If you like to use any kind of granulated sugar alternatives (such as cane, coconut, maple, date or turbinado) I recommend blending the sugar first. Blending will help to reduce the grain size and allow for the sugar to dissolve easier.
Why Add Vanilla Extract to Yogurt Popsicles?
The addition of vanilla extract to homemade yogurt popsicles adds a delicious and classic vanilla flavor. The flavor may be small in comparison to the total ingredient volume but it plays a big role in the overall flavor and experience of the dessert.
If you want to get fancy with the vanilla flavor, try adding a bit of vanilla bean paste. A little bit of vanilla bean paste will bring the beautiful black specks of the vanilla bean seeds to the final popsicle.
How Do I Store Homemade Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles?
To keep the best possible texture, these popsicles are best stored in the freezer until you want to enjoy them. Since popsicle molds only have a few compartments, it’s usually easiest to just keep them in the mold until they’re all gone.
What’s The Shelflife of Homemade Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles?
As with just about anything homemade with real food ingredients, the shelflife of these treats are much shorter than store bought versions. If stored in a chest freezer that stays really cold, these popsicles will stay fresh and tasty for 3-6 months. However, you and your family will likely finish them off well before that time has passed.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles
Equipment
- A high power blender or an immersion blender and a tall walled bowl
- Plastic popsicle bags or A popsicle mold
Ingredients
- 3 cups Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup Blueberries
- ⅓ cup Maple Syrup
- 1 TBSP Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth.
- Add smooth mixture into each popsicle bag or compartment of your popsicle mold.
- Seal each bag and place on a flat surface in your freezer until solid. If using a popsicle mold, add popsicle sticks before freezing.
- Once the popsicles are solid, they are ready to be enjoyed!
