Hot on the heels of the frozé trend for freezing rosé wine and serving it slushy-style, the latest hot-weather craze is ice lollies and push-up popsicles created from cocktails.
Sure, there are plenty of ready-made options out there – among them Pimm’s popsicles (£3.80 for three), Cook’s pina colada lollies (£2.75 each) and a new trio of Spritz ‘sorbettos’ born out of a collaboration between Italian brands Remeo Gelato and Malfy Gin and sold at Waitrose for £5 – but it’s much more fun (and a heck of a lot cheaper) to make your own.
Most longer cocktails, even creamy ones such as tropical piña colada, can be frozen, and summer’s colourful fruits and berries offer the perfect base for your creation.
The refreshing results can look far more eye-catching than a jug of cocktails, too – if you’re hosting, try arranging the lollies on a bed of ice or stand them up in glass vases ready for guests to help themselves.
I’ve shared five favourite recipes below, but keep these simple rules in mind.
Skip to recipes:
- Aperol spritz ice lollies
- Gin & tonic ice pops
- Watermelon ice
- Blueberry daiquiri ice sticks
- Frozen strawberry margaritas
Costings below based on Tesco prices
Aperol spritz ice lollies
This cocktail on a stick offers the sweet and citrusy bitterness of a classic spritz in the form of a refreshing ice pop. Keep a stash in the freezer ready and waiting for when the sun shines.
Timings
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus chilling and overnight freezing.
Makes
8
Ingredients
- 75ml Aperol (£1.57)
- 250ml prosecco (£2.34)
- 300ml freshly squeezed orange or blood orange juice (60p)
Price per lolly: 56.3p
Method
- Stir together the Aperol, prosecco and orange juice and chill for at least 1 hour. For a completely smooth texture, pass the mixture through a fine sieve.
- Pour into eight ice lolly moulds and freeze for at 6 hours or overnight until firm.
Gin & tonic ice pops
This classic cocktail works beautifully in ice form. Try making it with flavoured tonic such as elderflower or cucumber.
Timings
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus overnight freezing
Makes
8
Ingredients
- 450ml tonic water (27p)
- 65g caster sugar (14p)
- 150ml gin (£2.55)
- 16-24 thin cucumber slices and 16-24 mint leaves (35p)
Price per lolly: 41p
Method
- Stir together the tonic water and sugar, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the gin.
- Place 2-3 cucumber slices and mint leaves in each lolly mould and pour in the liquid. Freeze overnight until firm.
Watermelon ice
This simple and super-refreshing ice lolly takes minutes to whip up, especially if you can get a seedless watermelon.
Timings
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus overnight freezing
Makes
8
Ingredients
- 400g diced, seedless watermelon (about ¼ large melon) (83p)
- 50g caster sugar (10p)
- 150ml gin or vodka (£2.55)
Price per lolly: 43p
Method
- Check there are no pips remaining in the melon, then place in a blender with the sugar and whizz until smooth. Stir in the gin or vodka.
- As the mixture settles it will separate out into layers, which can look attractive. Or you can minimise the effect by passing the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the pulp, if you wish.
- Pour into eight moulds and freeze overnight until firm.
Blueberry daiquiri ice sticks
Perfect for cooling down on summer’s day, these tangy lollies offer an invigorating sweet and tart flavour.
Timings
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus overnight freezing
Makes
8
Ingredients
- 200g fresh or frozen blueberries, plus more if desired (£1.42)
- 125g caster sugar (26p)
- 250ml cold water
- 150ml white rum (£2.55)
- Juice of 3 limes (72p)
Price per lolly: 62p
Method
- Place the blueberries and sugar in a small saucepan, add a splash of the water and cook gently for 4-5 minutes until the blueberries soften and the sugar dissolves. Leave to cool completely.
- Add the remaining water and blend until smooth. Stir in the rum and lime juice.
- Pour the mixture into eight lolly moulds. Alternatively, pass through a sieve, pour into the moulds and drop in a few extra whole blueberries. Freeze overnight until firm.
Frozen strawberry margaritas
Summer’s favourite fruity margarita makes a fantastic ice lolly with all the flavours and kick of the classic cocktail.
Timings
Prep time: 10 minutes, plus overnight freezing
Makes
8
Ingredients
- 400g strawberries, hulled, plus more, sliced, if desired (£2.50)
- 50g caster sugar (10p)
- 100ml silver tequila (£3)
- 50ml orange liqueur, such as triple sec or Cointreau (£1.18)
- Juice of 4 limes (96p)
Price per lolly: 97p
Method
- Blend the strawberries and sugar until smooth.
- Stir in the tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.
- Pour the mixture into eight lolly moulds. Alternatively, pass through a sieve, pour into the moulds and drop in a few slices of strawberry. Freeze overnight until firm.
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