5 Favorite Popsicle Recipes to Beat the Summer Heat!

Did You Know?

The popsicle was invented by an eleven-year-old boy.

In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson from San Francisco, California invented the popular hot weather treat, the Popsicle as we know it today. However, the invention supposedly came about as a pure accident! According to the Popsicle company, one cold evening Frank left a mixture of powder flavored soda water with a stir stick in it on the porch. Because of the cold weather outside, he awoke to a frozen treat on a stick.

Seventeen years later, in 1922, Epperson served his ice lollipops at a Fireman’s ball and they were a huge hit. It didn’t take long then for Epperson to realize the commercial possibilities of his accidental invention. A year later, in 1923, he introduced the frozen pop on a stick to the public at Neptune Beach, an amusement park in Alameda, California. It was a big success. He soon after applied and received a patent for a “frozen confectionery”, in 1924, which he named the “Epsicle Ice Pop”. He began producing it in different fruit flavors on birch wood sticks.

Enjoy 5 of my favorite variations on the popsicle found around the web by 5 wonderful food bloggers -- from the Coconut Lime Pop to the Mango Pineapple flavor!

1.  Coconut Lime Popsicles by Kelli at The Corner Kitchen

2.  Peach & Lavender Sangria Popsicles by A Thought for Food

3.  Strawberry Shortcake Greek Yogurt Popsicles by The Kitchen Paper

4.  Sea Salted Limoncello Popsicles by Pink Patisserie

5.  Mango Pineapple Popsicles by Grandbaby Cakes

Red, White, & Blue Sangria

Red, White, and Blue Sangria courtesy of Recipe Girl... featuring strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pineapple- for 4th of July. 

Ingredients:

2 bottles dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc is good)

1 cup triple sec

1/2 cup berry-flavored vodka

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup simple syrup (see tips below)

1 cup blueberries

1 1/2 cups hulled and sliced strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl or pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve well-chilled with a good scoop of fruit floating in each drink, or serve over ice.

Tips:

*To make 1/2 cup simple syrup, boil 1/2 cup water and add 1/2 cup granulated white sugar. Turn heat to simmer and stir until dissolved. Turn off the heat and let cool. Now it's simple syrup!

*Use fresh fruit for this recipe. Frozen just won't be great.

*To make star-shaped pineapple pieces, cut long & wide pieces of pineapple off the side of the fresh fruit. use a star cutter to cut shapes.