Cool off with these creamy strawberry lemonade Protein Popsicles. Made with just 5 ingredients and 8 grams of protein each, they’re an easy dairy-free frozen snack for hot days.
These high-protein popsicles are a refreshing summer snack with the bright flavor of strawberry lemonade and (learn what collagen powder is). They use a few more ingredients than trendy 2-ingredient ice cream recipes (like non-dairy mango ice cream), but the extra flavor and protein make them worth it (and if you’re a lemon lover, these healthy lemon muffins will win you over, too!).
As a mom of three, I’m always looking for ways to make healthy food feel practical, not restrictive. That means creating better-for-you versions of treats we already love, just like these dairy-free blackberry popsicles. So this summer, grab one of these protein popsicles and enjoy it with the kids.
Why You'll Love These Dairy-Free Popsicles
Texture: The protein popsicles come out with a cool, creamy texture that's smooth and super refreshing.
Kid-approved: These popsicles use collagen powder as their protein source, which is one of the cleanest ways to increase your intake. With their strawberry lemonade flavor, kids love them.
Easy ingredients: You only need 5 ingredients for the collagen popsicles to come together.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Dairy-free yogurt: Any non-dairy yogurt should work, but it will change the texture slightly. Coconut yogurt tends to be a bit watery and can make the popsicles more icy, whereas Greek yogurt will keep the popsicles creamy. The gluten-free protein popsicles are sweetened with honey, so I opt for unsweetened yogurt to keep sugar in check.
- Collagen powder: A super clean protein source, but different than protein powder (learn about the differences between collagen and protein powder).
- Frozen strawberries: I’m sure fresh strawberries would work for the 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!
- Fresh lemon juice: Fresh will always taste best in this popsicles recipe, and for desserts like paleo lemon bars with almond flour crust.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Since there are so few ingredients in these protein popsicles, there are 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?
How To Make Protein Popsicles
- 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.
Expert Tips
The yogurt you choose will affect the texture. The thinner the yogurt, the icier the popsicles. If using dairy-free Greek yogurt, you'll need about 1 tablespoon more of milk to thin it slightly.
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!).
Having a high-quality collagen powder is important so that the protein popsicles taste good (and not gritty). I use Perfect Supplements for this as they're super transparent about their products. If you try it, code mamabear10 saves you money. Learn more about what collagen powder is.
Storing Them
The popsicles need to be stored in the freezer and will last up to 3 months.
If you're stopping them in the popsicle molds, make sure to cover the entire thing with a large freezer bag. Try 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.
Protein Popsicles FAQs
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 substitute vegan protein powder in its place.
Other Protein Desserts You’ll Love
Collagen Protein Popsicles
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup dairy-free 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
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!