Easy and Delicious Popsicles
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the links, we may earn a fee. There is no additional cost to you.
One of my favorite places on earth to visit is Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) State Park in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
One reason that I love the park is the Liberty Bell Pool. The pool was constructed from 1938-1941 as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. Men from the Civilian Conservation Corps built the pool in the shape of the Liberty Bell.
Pine Mountain and the neighboring town of Warm Springs are famous for their mineral-rich natural springs and one of the springs feeds the pool. Since we love swimming, the park, and the former president, the pool is the perfect place to relax during the summer.
A few years ago, the pool’s concession stand was selling Planet Pops. Planet Pops was a gourmet popsicle chain out of Columbus, Georgia. Flavors such as cookies and cream, chocolate, and strawberry knocked our socks off that summer. Planet Pops has since gone out of business, but memories of our pops by the pool are unforgettable.
When we arrived home from the trip to FDR, Lucy and I tried our best to recreate Planet Pops because they were not sold in the Atlanta area. It took a few tries but we tweaked recipes until we were satisfied. We want to share our favorite recipes with you, banana pudding and cookies and cream.
In making the popsicles, we use two different bases, but they are interchangeable. I prefer the base with the whipping cream to the one with the cornstarch, but it is all personal choice. I would recommend trying both bases and deciding which one you like best.
Cookies and Cream Popsicles
15 Oreos, crushed
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of whole milk
2 cups of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring
Pour the sugar, water, milk, and heavy cream into a saucepan and mix well.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, continue to stir for two minutes. Remove the pan from heat and add the vanilla. Stir well. Once the mixture has cooled, add in the crushed Oreos.
Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds (check them out on Amazon) and freeze for 6-8 hours (I prefer overnight).
Banana Pudding Popsicles
20 vanilla wafers, crushed
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
3 cups of whole milk
2 teaspoons of vanilla flavoring
3 bananas, mashed
Pour the sugar, cornstarch, and milk into a saucepan and mix well. Heat the mixture but take the pan off the stovetop before it comes to a boil, you just want to dissolve the sugar and cornstarch.
Add the vanilla. Stir well.
Once the mixture has cooled, add in mashed bananas and the crushed wafers.
Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds (check them out on Amazon) and freeze for 6-8 hours (I prefer overnight).
Notes:
- When making the Oreo pops, if you like cookie chunks, wait until the mixture is cool to stir in the cookies. If you like more of a cookie taste throughout, stir the cookies in while the mixture is warm so that the cookies can melt into the base.
- When pulling the popsicles out of their molds, run the molds under warm water for a few seconds to thaw.
- Feel free to use the same base and change up the ingredients.
- I use the cornstarch to thicken the banana pudding popsicles. If any of your base mixtures are too thin, add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix well. If you add too much cornstarch, add additional milk or water to thin the mixture.
Do you have a unique popsicle that you love? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below!
