The perfect summer snack that combines refreshing flavor and lots of fuel (8 grams of protein!). These strawberry lemonade protein popsicles are a creamy blend of 5 ingredients and a great way to stay cool!
Enjoy them as a fun snack or guilt-free dessert. Either way, you’ll want to have them on hand this summer!
These protein popsicles have a few more ingredients than the popular “2 ingredient popsicle” but with good reason.
They combine the perfect flavor of strawberry lemonade and are lightly sweetened with honey (if you're a lemon lover these healthy lemon muffins will win you over too!). Couple that with 8 grams of protein from collagen powder and they’re potent perfection.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, my goal is to make healthy food practical for busy moms… and that means helping them find delicious variations of things they love so that they don’t feel like they’re constantly saying “no”.
These healthy protein popsicles do just that. So, this summer instead of just handing out treats to your kids, sit back poolside and enjoy a popsicle with them.
Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet.
Why You'll Love These Dairy-Free Popsicles
- Have only 5 ingredients
- Contain 8 grams of protein
- Are sweetened with just honey
- Help increase your energy without a crash
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo
Ingredients You’ll Need
Coconut yogurt: any non-dairy yogurt should work but will change the texture slightly. Coconut yogurt tends to be a bit watery so it blends well with the rest of the ingredients. Though Greek yogurt may work, I haven't tested it. My guess is that you may need to add some almond milk to thin it out a bit.
The gluten-free protein popsicles are sweetened with honey so I opt for unsweetened yogurt to keep sugar in check,
Lemon juice: fresh is best! Grab a lemon, and a handheld squeezer and get to work. You’ll get more juice out of the lemon if it’s ripe and soft so keep that in mine.
Collagen powder: a super clean protein source but different than protein powder (learn about the differences between collagen and protein powder). Make sure you use unsweetened collagen that’s ethically sourced so you reap all the benefits of collagen.
Honey: you only need a little bit to keep these popsicles sweet. I like to use local, raw honey so that I can take advantage of any allergy-boosting benefits too.
Frozen strawberries: I’m sure fresh strawberries would work for the gluten-free protein popsicles too but I prefer to use frozen as that’s normally what I have on hand that the kids haven’t devoured. If you have fresh ones, learn how to store strawberries so that they don't go bad!
How To Make Them
- In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients except for the strawberries and blend until mixed.
- Chop the frozen strawberries and place half of them on the bottom of the silicone popsicle mold.
- Distribute the protein popsicle mixture over the strawberries,
- Top with the remaining strawberries and freeze for four hours.
What Kind Of Popsicle Molds To Use
After having made a zillion popsicles and gluten-free frozen treats for kids these last few years, I now opt to use the flat popsicle molds as they’re so much easier.
These silicone popsicle molds make it easy to lay the popsicle mixture into the freezer (without knocking off the sticks at the top!) and they’re way easier to get the frozen popsicle out of the mold (you don’t even need hot water!).
Trust me, opt for the flat ones.
Choosing Collagen Powder
It’s no surprise that these healthy popsicles are made with collagen powder!
All the protein without the bloat.
I use collagen powder for amping up protein and boosting gut health.
Learn about the difference between collagen and bone broth as how to increase protein intake.
Honestly, as a busy mom collagen powder just makes it easy to eat more protein and not feel like I’m living off chicken and eggs.
And more protein means more energy, more natural beauty, and feeling your BEST.
Plus, in recipes like this, you can sneak protein into your kids as it’s one of the purest sources.
I grab my collagen from Perfect Supplements because they source their collagen from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows. So, I trust it.
Grab some collagen powder and use code mamabear10 to save some money.
Easy to mix, this collagen powder adds a protein punch to anything you pair it with. Made from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows there are no pesticides, hormones, or filler agents. Just put collagen protein. Use code mamabear10 to save money on your next order.
Flavor Variations
Since there are so few ingredients in these protein popsicles, there's lots of flavor combinations you can try.
Switch up the fruit: lemon pairs well with everything so using frozen blueberries, chopped peaches, or pineapple is a great way to change the taste.
Use juice: if you don't love the tartness of lemon, why not try using fresh orange juice or even cherry juice instead?
Storing Them
The popsicles need to be stored in the freezer and will last up to 3 months.
If you're stoping them in the popsicle molds, make sure to cover the entire thing with a large freezer bag. Tru to squeeze the air out of the bag so that the popsicles don't get freezer burn.
Or, you can pop them out of the molds and store them in an airtight container. That said, place parchment paper between the popsicles if you're stacking them so that they don't break apart when you want to enjoy them.
Hack: If your popsicles break or do become freezer burnt, don't throw them out! Cut the popsicles off the stick, break apart the pieces and pop them into a blender with some almond or coconut milk. Blend it up into a yummy smoothie.
Fast, crave-worthy snacks that hit your protein goals (without tracking or extra cooking time).
Frequently Asked Questions About Protein Popsicles
Once your popsicles are frozen, remove them from the mold and pop them into a large freezer bag (or container). This will ensure they last 4-6 weeks without looking too freezer burnt.
The trick to making homemade popsicles that don’t come out hard as a rock is to scale back the water in the recipe. If the recipe contains a lot of water, the popsicles come out hard. This is why using yogurt as a base with only a bit of liquid makes for creamier popsicles.
Though you can make protein powder popsicles, if using vegan protein powder you would need to find a delicate balance of liquid. This is because vegan protein powder absorbs more liquid than whey protein powder. For frozen popsicles that use collagen powder, you cannot sub in vegan protein powder in its place.
Other Protein Desserts You’ll Love
Strawberry Lemonade Protein Popsicles
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut yogurt
- ⅛ cup collagen powder
- 1.5 lemons juiced about ¼ cup
- ⅛ cup honey
- ½ cup chopped strawberries
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, combine the yogurt, collagen, lemon juice, and honey until smooth.
- Place half the frozen strawberries on the bottom of the popsicle mold.
- Pour the yogurt mixture on top of the strawberries. Top with the rest of the berries.
- Insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of each popsicle and freeze for more than four hours.
Notes
- Ideally, you should use a flat silicone popsicle mold for the protein popsicles as they’re easier to remove. However, if using a traditional stand-up popsicle mold, you will either want to blend the strawberries into the mixture or add the frozen strawberries to the mold first and pour the liquid on top so that they’re swirled in a bit.
- The protein popsicles expand ever so slightly when freezing so make sure not to fill the mold all the way.
- You cannot use vegan vanilla protein powder in place of collagen powder for these protein popsicles.
- The protein popsicles are dairy-free and use coconut yogurt. Though dairy-free Greek Yogurt may work, it hasn't been tested and you may need to thin it out with some almond milk. Likewise, regular Greek yogurt would require the same.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Pearl says
My kids enjoyed them! The flavor was amazing and they were so easy to make. I used Greek yogurt and thinned it with almond milk as suggested. Definitely making these again!
fitasamamabear says
Love that you went with a high protein yogurt!
Ali says
My 2nd time making this and I really enjoy it every time. Me and my girlfriends love it with our barbecue party!
fitasamamabear says
Yay! They're just so refreshing in the sun.
Erica says
My favorite popsicle recipe - I love the added protein plus the flavor is simply divine!
fitasamamabear says
Glad you love them@
Gretchen says
It's nice to have a delicious treat for me once in awhile instead of just the kids. That extra protein boost from the collagen makes a huge difference in my day and the popsicles are a refreshing pick-me-up in the afternoon.
fitasamamabear says
It's a nice way to get it in!
Sandy says
LOVE these for summer! Low calorie, high protein, and delicious! Such a great way to sneak in a bit more protein.
fitasamamabear says
They're so refreshing!
Danica says
I added collagen powder to the mix, and it's such a smart way to sneak in some extra protein without any weird texture. And yeah, using flat popsicle molds was a great idea, so much easier to handle!
fitasamamabear says
You can never go wrong with more collagen lol
Margot says
Switched up strawberry with blueberries and it still turned out so good. The flavor is so refreshing and the protein boost is just what I needed after a tough workout at the gym. They're the perfect guilt-free treat to enjoy with friends.
fitasamamabear says
Mmm yes, use what's in season!
Marian says
These popsicles were so creamy and delicious. I love that they're sweetened naturally by honey. Will be making this again for the hot summer days!
fitasamamabear says
It's a nice treat for sure!
Glenda says
I LOVE it when a recipe makes a fun treat that my grandkids won't even realize is good for them. They were thrilled, and these delicious popsicles were a refreshing treat for Grandma, too. Another winner, Shelby! Thank you!
fitasamamabear says
Haha that's the ultimate win!
GRETA says
This was delicious. It was so easy and tasted just perfect. My kids...oh my. They loved it. I just got the ingredients to make more, because my kids can't stop talking about it. Thanks x
fitasamamabear says
Glad everyone loved them!
Sharina says
We can't get enough of these amazing popsicles! They are so refreshing and super delicious. But what I really love the most is it's guilt-free! Yey!
fitasamamabear says
So happy you love them!
Gina says
These were the perfect frozen treat for summer. So easy to make too! The coconut yogurt makes them creamy while the lemon keeps them super refreshing.
fitasamamabear says
Easy is key in my house, glad you liked them!
Jane says
I made these for the first time, and I have to say, they're awesome! They're super refreshing and I love the way that the lemonade flavor comes through on top of the strawberry.
fitasamamabear says
So happy you enjoyed them!
Liz says
These Strawberry Lemonade Protein Popsicles are my new favorite afternoon snack! So good and they keep me full!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe best snack ever!
Elizabeth S says
These were so refreshing and fruity! I added a little lemon zest to mine but I LOVE lots of lemon flavor. Will definitely make these again with other fruits like blueberry and raspberry.
fitasamamabear says
Ohh lemon zest would be a wicked flavor pop!