Mango Popsicles

Mango popsicles are a refreshing treat for summer, and they are so easy to make! You only need 3 basic ingredients and 10 minutes prep time.

Note: this post was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2022 with improved instructions.

These mango popsicles are one of my kids' favorite summertime treats; they are sweet and just a bit tangy, and bursting with fresh mango flavor.

These popsicles are also really easy and fun to eat! Since they are mostly fruit, they have a softer "bite-able" texture, rather than a hard and icy texture. And, a little sweetness added to the mix also helps give these mango pops that tender bite.

The best part, however, is that these delicious popsicles can be made with only three ingredients, and with no dairy! All you need is ripe mango, a little lime (or lemon) juice, and sugar.

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Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Mango: since this is the star of the show, try to use the ripest, sweetest mango you can find. I provide some tips on choosing mango in the Tips and tricks section below.

• Granulated sugar: mangoes are already sweet of course, but for that classic popsicle taste and texture, some sugar is called for. You can adjust the amount based on how ripe your mangoes are and your personal tastes.

• Lemon (or lime) juice: this extra pop of tartness helps offset the sweetness in these mango pops. I've made these using lemon, lime and even Key lime juice. My favorite is lemon, but feel free to experiment with what you have on hand.

Special equipment

You will need a couple pieces of kitchen equipment to make these mango pops:

• popsicle molds: if you want to save yourself a lot of frustration, go with a silicone popsicle mold. They are SO much easier to unmold than a hard plastic popsicle mold. The exact brand I'm using here is from PopsicleLab (affiliate link).

• stick (aka "immersion" blender): I like using a stick blender because it's super easy, with less parts to clean. But, if you don't have one, a regular blender or food processor will work just as well!

Step by step photos

Here's how to make mango popsicles, step by step:

1. The first thing you need to do is prepare the mango. There are various ways to do this - I like to peel it first with a paring knife, then make cuts contouring down around the flat pit to remove the meat in large pieces. Then, you can cut those larger pieces into cubes.

If you've never prepared fresh mango before, check out this tutorial on a few different ways to cut mango!

2. Next, add the cut mango to a container with straight sides, like this 4-cup glass measuring cup I'm using here. Also add in the sugar and lemon (or lime) juice.

If you don't have an immersion blender, place the mango popsicle ingredients into the bowl of a blender or food processor.

3. Now just blend the popsicle ingredients together! Make sure to give them a stir to check for any large chunks hiding in the bottom.

4. You can leave the popsicles chunky, like I have here, or blend it completely smooth.

Once it's blended, I also recommend giving the mix a little taste to see if you want to add more sugar and/or lemon/lime juice.

5. Once you're happy with the taste, pour the popsicle mix into the popsicle mold. Leave a little space at the top of each one because the mixture will expand as it freezes.

6. Finally, add in the popsicle sticks and pop it into the freezer! It will take at least 4 hours, or up to 6 hours, to freeze completely.

And that's a step by step look at how to make mango popsicles! (For full instructions and ingredient amounts, please visit the recipe card at the bottom of the page.)

Substitutions and additions

This mango popsicle recipe is super simple, leaving a ton of room for substitutions and/or additions to suit your own tastes! Here are some ideas:

• Switch up the flavor by replacing some of the mango with another fruit, like strawberries, raspberries, or pineapple!

• Or, for more texture, stir in small chunks of mango or another fruit to the mix, such as strawberries, banana, or kiwi.

• Instead of lime or lemon juice, try Key lime juice for a more complex flavor.

• If you want to lean into the citrus flavor a little more, you can add some finely grated lemon or lime zest into the mix as well.

• After you unmold the popsicles, sprinkle them with Tajin for a spicy kick!

Storage instructions

• Popsicles will keep well in the freezer for 4 - 6 weeks.

• To preserve the quality of the mango pops while they are in the freezer, you want to make sure they are not exposed to air which can speed up freezer burn. (You don't have to worry about this until they are fully frozen!)

• One easy storage solution is to store them right in the popsicle mold, as long as it has a cover or some way to seal them off from the open air of the freezer.

• Otherwise, you can unmold the popsicles and wrap them individually in small plastic food storage bags, removing as much air as possible from the bags before placing them back in the freezer.

Tips and tricks

How to choose a ripe mango

When choosing a mango, look for heavy mangoes with smooth, mostly unblemished skin. They are ripe when the flesh gives slightly with gentle pressure. This is a similar sensation to testing when an avocado is ripe.

If your mangoes aren't ripe quite yet, just leave them out on the counter for a few days.

All that being said, my number one tip for choosing mangoes is to simply buy more than you think you need!

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether a mango will taste good before cutting into it. So, grab some extras at the store, and if you get a dud mango, you can swap it out for a more flavorful one. (Throw that less sweet mango in a banana smoothie, or bake them into these delicious mango and white chocolate scones!)

Adjusting for unripe, not sweet or too sour mangoes

If you don't have the most beautiful, perfectly ripe and flavorful mangoes but still want to make these popsicles, you can make some adjustments to the recipe to improve your results:

• If your mangoes aren't sweet, you can add more sugar to the mix. Just add small amounts at a time, tasting in between, until the flavor is to your liking.

• Similarly, if your mangoes are very tart, use less of the lemon or lime juice.

• If your mangoes are very fibrous, you can blend the entire mixture smooth, rather than leaving chunks. Also, avoid cutting too close to the pit.

Other tips and tricks

• If your popsicle mold doesn't have a holder for the sticks, you can place the mold in the freezer for about 2 hours first, then add the sticks once the popsicle mix is semi-frozen.

• This recipe will make about 2 cups total of popsicle mix. This will help you plan out how many popsicles you can make with your own popsicle mold.

• You can double this recipe if you want to make even more mango popsicles! Just make sure the container you are using to blend the ingredients has a large enough capacity. If needed, you can blend the ingredients in batches.

Recipe FAQs

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