Lemonade Popsicles (Homemade and Healthy!)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

These three ingredient Lemonade Popsicles are so easy to make from scratch. Skip buying them in stores and make a batch of these fresh and bright lemonade popsicles at home.

These homemade popsicles only take a couple of minutes to put together and are always a crowd pleaser - perfect for cooling down on a hot summer day!

Is there anything as refreshing as a pitcher of homemade lemonade on a hot day? These lemonade popsicles definitely come to mind!

They only take 3 simple ingredients with one of them just being water. 

They’re so fun to enjoy as you can be mobile with it without worry about spilling a cup of lemonade.

It’s much easier to float in the pool with a popsicle than a drink! It’s the perfect summer treat. 

While it might be easy to just buy popsicles at the store, I much prefer making my own, just like I do with these orange creamsicle popsicles.

I get to control what goes into these and can skip filler ingredients, stabilizers, and decide just how tart or sweet I’d like my lemonade mix to be. Everyone has a different preference for tartness so it’s much easier to DIY!

Got questions about cooking with lemon? Check out my complete guide to lemon uses in cooking. Also try the lemonade popsicle story!

Why This Recipe Works

1. This doesn’t require a lot of work. You simply bring water to a boil, whisk in the sugar, and then the lemon juice. 
2. It’s great for when lemons are in season. More than once I’ve somehow ended up with multiple lemons sitting in a bowl on my countertops so making lemonade popsicles is a great way to use them up before your lemons go bad.
3. They are bursting with flavor without having to add artificial flavors.
4. It's a perfect way to cool down in the summer!

Try some of these other favorite summer recipes:

• Lemon chiffon pie
• Orange creamsicles
• Candied cherries
• No bake Oreo balls
• Grilled mango
• Lime curd

The Ingredients

Seriously, only 3 ingredients are needed to make this recipe!

Water — Yup, water is one of the three ingredients. It can’t get any easier than this! I prefer using filtered water but if tap water is preferred by you, then you are welcome to use it!

Sugar — Regular granulated white sugar is used to sweeten the lemonade popsicles. 

Lemon juice — Freshly juiced lemon juice is key for this recipe. You can also add in some lemon zest as well to add to the lemon flavor, like we do in this lemon curd.

You will also need popsicles molds or ice cube trays (for mini popsicles), as well as popsicle sticks, to make this recipe.

The full list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

How to Juice a Lemon Without a Juicer

With as much as I use citrus in cooking, I don't own a citrus juicer. I find juicing citrus by hand to be effective using these tips:

• Hold your citrus over a small strainer over a bowl to juice to catch any seeds or unwanted pulp.
• Use a fork to tear and twist the pulp to get any extra juice out.
• You can microwave it for 10-20 seconds before squeezing it to get if softer and easier to squeeze.
• Cutting citrus lengthwise makes it easier to get the juice out.

Step By Step Instructions

In a small pan, bring water to a simmer and whisk in sugar until completely dissolved.

Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Stir in fresh lemon juice (and zest if using) until fully incorporated.

Carefully pour the mixture into the popsicle mold.

Freeze for 5 hours or overnight.

Expert Tips

• If desired, you can add lemon zest to the mixture or garnish the popsicles with the zest before serving.
• Use any size popsicle holder - you can even use an ice cube tray and make mini popsicles.
• Try to enjoy these popsicles as soon as possible. While they can last a while in the freezer, the popsicle molds aren't 100% airtight and can lead to freezer burn on them over time.
• I do not recommend using bottled lemon juice. It’s best to use freshly squeezed lemon juice as bottled juice tends to have a bit of a bitter aftertaste. It also doesn’t have as bright of a flavor profile as freshly squeezed!
• The easiest way to get your lemonade into the popsicle mold is by using a funnel. This way you can get every last drop without any accidental spills!
• Do not skip allowing the sugar water to cool. When hot, it could potentially melt your popsicle mold.
• Substitute honey or maple syrup for the sugar if desired.

Recipe Variations and Add-Ins

• If you have an abundance of basil or mint, you can mix it into your lemonade and turn this into a basil lemonade.
• If you have strawberries, you can add some strawberry puree to the mix for a punch of flavor and color.
• Feel free to swap lemons for any type of citrus.
• You can even freeze them with some chunks of fruit: try strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, candied cherries, or any other small pieces of fruit!
• Make them beautiful by freezing some edible flowers in them - they'll look so pretty for those summer parties.
• Mix in a few shots of vodka or other alcohol of choice to turn these into adult popsicles.
• Add in ¼ cup of cream or yogurt (try this sous vide yogurt for extra tang) to make them creamy. If you do this, add at least 1 teaspoon of lemon zest in to ensure a nice lemon flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Tips

Once the popsicles are fully frozen, you can remove them from the mold and store them in freezer bags. Store them with parchment paper or plastic wrap in between to prevent them from sticking in the bag.

They can be kept for up to 3 months, but I'm pretty sure they won't last that long.

Did you make this lemonade popsicle recipe? Rate it and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!