Let's make apple popsicles! With all healthy ingredients, these homemade popsicles are wholesome yet delicious. A blend of maple syrup, almond butter, and milk make a caramel, creating delicious caramel apple popsicles!
Growing up in British Columbia, apples were the most common fruit in our home at snack time, maybe it had something to do with my Grandparents having an apple orchard... So now there are many ways to enjoy apples, including this recipe for creamy popsicles, my frozen apple smoothie and these banana muffins with applesauce!
Why you will love this recipe:
- This recipe for creamy apple popsicles is toddler and kid-friendly! Meaning they like the taste, and they can help make them! Just like my recipe for mango popsicles and cherry popsicles!
- These popsicles are plant-based (vegan, dairy-free, no yogurt), as well as gluten-free. They taste like apple pie with vanilla ice cream!
- These apple ice lollies, aka popsicles, are sweetened with maple syrup, and there is no other added sugar and no fruit juice in this recipe.
- These can be enjoyed in the summer or in the fall, for dessert or a perfect afternoon snack! They taste like apple pie with ice cream!
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Ingredients you'll need
For these tasty popsicles, you will need 7 simple wholesome ingredients. Read the details below and find the details quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- A Fresh Apple: I used a yellow and red fresh gala apple (instead of canned apples or apple sauce), however, I think a pink lady, or honey crisp as well as a golden delious apple would be tasty as well!
- Cashews: This is what gives these popsicles a creamy texture, making them very much like an ice cream bar. You do need to soak the cashews for 2-3 hours, or else boil them for 10 minutes to make them soft.
- Maple Syrup: Sweetening these popsicles with maple syrup brings out awesome fall caramel flavour.
- Almond butter: Using almond butter really completes the flavor of caramel to have caramel apple creamy popsicles.
- Sea salt and cinnamon: Both of these ingredients add to the boost of flavor, complementing the apple taste.
- Milk: I used almond milk (as it's dairy free), however, you could also use oat milk or if you don't need these to be dairy free you can use regular milk! If you don't have milk you can also use apple juice.
Nutritional benefits of apples
Apples are super high in fiber, which supports good digestion and detoxification. It is a great anti-inflammatory food; it can stabilize blood sugar levels and protect against radiation exposure. Key nutrients include vitamins C, B6, iron, potassium and sodium. They also contain probiotics!
Remember to wash your apples as they can contain heavy pesticides, as well, they are often waxed to last longer and look shiny before going to the grocery store. Look for organic apples to prevent this.
Other apple recipes to try
Instructions for caramel apple popsicles
It's easy to make these healthy apple popsicles. Follow the step-by-step photos below.
Step 1: Soak the cashews for 2-3 hours in water. If you don't have time, boil them for 10 minutes to soften them.
Step 2: Cut the apple into 4 equal chunks, and place one apple chunk aside for later. Place all the ingredients into the blender (except one chunk of apple).
Step 3: Blend everything until smooth. Scrape down the sides as needed. This may take 5-8 minutes or so.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into the popsicle mold. Sprinkle the remaining apples in little pieces on top. Gently add the popsicle sticks.
Step 5: Freeze for 5-10 hours until fully frozen! Run warm water over the base of the popsicles to remove them from the mold.
Top tips
- Make sure to soak the cashews before using them so they have a creamy texture! If you don't have time to soak them, boil them for 10 minutes to make them soft.
- Let the popsicles sit out of the freezer for 5-10 minutes before eating. This makes them soft and creamier.
- Use a high-power blender that can make the cashew apple mixture super smooth!
Equipment needed for homemade popsicles
Blender: To make homemade apple popsicles, you will need a blender. You could also use a food processor to make popsicle puree.
Popsicle mold: You will need a popsicle mold to make these creamy popsicles. I've been making popsicles for over three years with silicone molds and really like them. If you don't have a mold see the FAQ section to see what container you could use instead with wooden popsicle sticks.
FAQ
Yes, apple popsicles are healthy. They use fresh fruit (a good source of fiber and vitamins), cashews, a good source of protein, and are sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar.
Store popsicles in an airtight bag or container in the freezer after removing them from the mold. They can be individually wrapped in Saran Wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper, so they don't stick together. They will stay good in the freezer for 4 months. After 4 months, the popsicle will not go bad; however, it may not be as fresh and may become icy.
Run hot warm over the popsicle mold for 10-20 seconds, wait a minute for the popsicle to soften, and then remove it from the mold. If it doesn't come out, do the same thing again! (This is why silicone popsicle molds are the best, they just come right out!)
If you do not have a popsicle mold you can use:
- rinsed out yogurt cups
- a large ice cube tray
- Dixie cups, or small cups
- a muffin tin with silicone liners
Choose one of these containers to use. Fill with the popsicle mix, and partially freeze, then place tin foil over the top and pop a popsicle stick through the tin foil to keep the stick upright.
Other no-bake recipes
Next, try these incredible homemade fudgesicles with almond butter caramel! Or my fall favorite, soft and chewy cinnamon cookies!
🍏 Did you make these apple popsicles? Leave a star rating, and let me know down below in the comments section - it's really helpful for others, and it totally makes my day!
Apple Popsicles
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews soaked 2-3 hours
- 1 fresh large apple
- 2 tablespoon almond butter
- 4 tablespoon maple syrup
- Pinch sea salt
- ¾ cup milk oat, almond, or cow work!
- 1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Soften the cashews: Start by soaking the cashews in water for 2-3 hours. If you don't have time, boil the cashews in hot water for 10 minutes to make them soft.
- Prepare the apple: Cut the apple into 4 chunks and remove the core. Save one chunk for later. Add the other 3 pieces of the apple to the blender container.
- Blend: Add everything else (almond butter, maple syrup, sea salt, milk, cinnamon) to the blender. Blend until smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender a couple times until it's really smooth.
- Pour + freeze: Pour the blended mix into popsicle molds (I made 8 - ⅓ cup popsicles). Chop the remaining apple piece into small chunks. Sprinkle a couple apple pieces at the top of the popsicle. Gentle add the popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 5 hours, but up to 10 hours to be fully frozen.
- For best creamy texture remove the popsicles from the freezer for 10 minutes before eating.
Notes
- Chop up a second apple and put chunks of it in the bottom of the mold before pouring the blender mixture on top!
- Spread almond butter or caramel on the sides of the mold to create a beautiful look and taste.
Brigitt says
I’ve been craving this recipe since I first tried it. Finally got the chance to make them today and they are phenomenal!! So creamy!
danikavanderpyl says
Awesome to hear Brigitt! SO glad you got to make them!!
Brigitt says
I just made these again and added nutmeg and cardamom and oh man they make them the perfect wintery treat! 😍
Danika Vanderpyl says
I love love that you are making these in my kitchen it makes me so happy! Enjoy.
Joyce Nuara says
can I replace maple syrup with honey you think? is this for sweetening?
Danika Vanderpyl says
Yes you can replace it with maple syrup! It is to make them sweet.
Meagan says
Absolutely loved this recipe! The perfect nutty cinnamon combo. Was a hit for my toddlers, made a great breakfast treat for hot summer mornings.
danikavanderpyl says
Megs! Thanks for taking a sec to share what your fam thought! SO glad to here it was a hit!! Love that you eat them for brekky, so perf.