Tropical Popsicles (Raspberry, Mango, Pineapple, & Kiwi!)

These Tropical Popsicles positively scream summertime and are made entirely with fresh fruit — no sugar or artificial sweeteners to be found! Layer raspberries, mango, pineapple, and kiwi into molds and add a stick. With eye-catching colors and a rainbow of fresh fruit flavor, there isn’t a kid in the world who wouldn’t be excited to devour these frozen fruiti pops!

Tropical Popsicles

Ice pops or popsicles — whatever you call them — are such an easy and healthy treat. Smoothie pops are a particular favorite of Munchkin’s, and they don’t even require any extra effort.

Virtually every morning, Chad and Munchkin enjoy a Banana Orange Smoothie. I’ll pour whatever is left over into a mold and pop it in the freezer so she can have tiny pops to snack on throughout the day.

It inspired me to come up with as many homemade popsicle recipes as I could!

Chad and I are totally hooked on Raspberry Lemonade Yogurt Ice Pops, and I can’t get enough of the strawberry balsamic flavor.

But believe me when I say, these layered tropical ice pops might be our new favorites. The best part is that they’re made entirely with fresh fruit — no sugar, no yogurt, and no blending. Easy peasy!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pineapple – Ripe pineapple means the difference between bland or sour fruit and an extra juicy, extra sweet flavor.
  
  The rind should be golden yellow in color (not green) and firm, with a sweet smell at the base. To be sure, gently tug on some of the center leaves — they should come out easily when the fruit is ripe!
  
• Raspberries – Look for vibrant berries and pick through the bunch to remove any stems or leaves. Give them a quick rinse in cool water, then drain and pat dry with paper towels before mashing.
  
  Frozen will work in a pinch, but you’ll need to thaw and drain them really well beforehand.
  
• Mango – There may be a few different varieties to choose from — some mangoes are completely yellow, while others are green and red. You can use either for this tropical popsicle recipe.
  
  Ripe mangoes will be firm with some give when gently squeezed, much like a tomato or avocado. Avoid any that are overly soft or bruised.
  
• Kiwi – Fuzzy on the outside but tart and sweet on the inside! These will feel similar to mangoes when ripe — some give when squeezed, between rock hard and squishy.
  
• Honey – Add up to 1 tablespoon per mashed fruit mixture if it needs a little extra sweetness. Honey will also ensure your fruiti pops are soft and biteable!

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Tropical Ice Pops

• Measure the volume of your molds first.

Fill each mold with water, then pour that into a measuring cup so you can see what you’re working with. Some of mine hold 4 tablespoons, but a lot of molds available for purchase only hold 3 tablespoons.

Since there are 4 different fruits, that means larger molds can hold 1 tablespoon of each flavor. But you’ll have to get a little more creative with smaller molds.

Here’s a little math to help: If you can make 6 ice pops and each mold holds 3 tablespoons, then you’ll need 18 tablespoons of fruit total. Divide that by 4 flavors, and you get 4.5 tablespoons of each fruit between all 6 molds.

In that case, measure out that amount of each mashed fruit and divide it evenly between the molds by sight. Or, simply stick with your 3 favorite fruits to make it easier LOL.

• Blend pineapple and mango for the best texture.

These fruits have a lot of stringy fibers, so you’ll get the smoothest consistency if they are blended instead of mashed by hand.

Blending will also prevent any tiny pockets of air that can trap ice crystals or affect the structure of your tropical fruit pop.

• Keep the sides clean as you add each layer.

Any fruit residue left behind will mess with those clean, distinct tropical popsicle layers!

I didn’t have any trouble spooning the mashed fruit directly into the center of the ice pop molds, but you’ll get more precise results with plastic baggies.

Spoon each mashed fruit into a different baggie (as close to the bottom corner as possible), then snip off the corner and squeeze it right in. It’s like a homemade piping bag!

Prep Ahead

• Peel and chop fruit

What You’ll Need for This Recipe

• Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
• Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
• If needed, use a Food Processor or high-powered Blender to purée the fruit.
• Sieve – Use this to strain the raspberries so there are no seeds in your tropical popsicles.
• Ice Pop Mold – Silicone molds are ideal! This one comes with reusable sticks too.

More Tasty Flavor Ideas

You may notice a common theme with the fruits used in this recipe — they’re all naturally tart! A little honey will sweeten them right up, but you can also swap out any layer with something sweeter.

Double down on tropical flavor by mixing shredded coconut into a few of the layers.

Or, use this recipe as a guide for something new entirely! Layer strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a Very Berry ice pop.

You can even enjoy fruity popsicles well into the fall thanks to stone fruits. Peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries would all be just as delicious in frozen form.

Storing Frozen Fruiti Pops

Because these tropical popsicles are made entirely with fresh fruit, they are at a higher risk of becoming icy or getting freezer burn.

As soon as they are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe storage bag. They can stay inside individual molds, but if you have to kind where all the molds are connected, you’ll need to carefully remove them first.

Wrap each tropical fruit pop in parchment paper or smaller zippered baggies before stacking in the larger storage bag.

Enjoy within 1 month for the best texture and flavor!

Tropical Popsicle FAQ

How do you keep homemade popsicles from sticking to the mold?

All you need to do to release a popsicle from the mold is run it under warm water for a few seconds. It may take longer for thicker, plastic molds compared to silicone ones.

This will help loosen the outer layer of the pop so it slides free! Also, try wiggling the stick back and forth gently instead of tugging it straight out.

Avoid super hot water or waiting too long, or your treat will end up melting instead.

Can I make tropical ice pops with yogurt?

Sure! Keep in mind that the fruit flavor will be more mellow. Yogurt is also naturally tart, so you will want to use vanilla yogurt or add honey.

How long do fruit popsicles last?

While safe to consume for up to 6 months, most homemade fruit popsicles taste best within 1-2 months.

These tropical popsicles are made entirely with fresh fruit (and maybe a little honey), so they won’t last as long as those blended with juice or yogurt.

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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