Homemade Fudge Pops
One of my goals for this summer, along with jumping on the canning bandwagon, was to start making homemade popsicles and other assorted frozen treats. I love homemade ice cream, but sometimes there is nothing better on a sweltering, 90-degree summer day than an ice-cold popsicle. Any time I get to enjoy a popsicle as an adult, it reminds me of summer days spent playing with my sister and our cousins at my grandma’s house. The neighborhood ice cream truck was a fixture there, and when we heard those bells, we were like Pavlov’s dogs. We ran for money and then ran to the truck. The decision about which frozen treat to feast on was newly agonizing each time the truck showed up. The red, white, and blue rocket? The creamsicle? The ice cream sandwich? A fudgsicle? The Drumstick? It’s a good thing the ice cream truck showed up frequently – it gave us ample opportunity to sample a variety of treats. I still get excited when I hear the jingle of an ice cream truck during the summer, but this year I’m looking forward to creating my own homemade versions – delicious, and I’ll know every single ingredient that’s in them!
When my Chief Culinary Consultant and I got down to Florida a couple of weeks ago, we quickly found out that his dad had been enjoying fudge pops. There was a constant stream of the health-food variety in the freezer. I had packed up a stack of cookbooks that I’d been meaning to read, figuring that I could go through them leisurely while we were relaxing. I got to On a Stick! (which is awesome – I think I bookmarked at least 60% of the book!) and discovered a recipe for homemade fudge pops. Score! Perfect timing. I set out to get the popsicle molds I had been meaning to buy for the summer and whipped these bad boys up.
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They couldn’t have been easier to make and tasted incredible. While I’ve found most store-bought versions to taste like little more than chocolate-flavored ice milk, these are the polar opposite. They are rich, decadent, and bursting with chocolate flavor. You actually feel like you’re eating frozen fudge. That is the purpose of a fudge pop, right?! The recipe calls for semisweet chocolate, but you could definitely use milk or dark, based on your personal tastes.
Since the diet fudge pops in the freezer boasted that they were only 100 calories, I was curious about the homemade ones and calculated how many calories they contained. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they came in at 157 calories. Yes, that’s a bit more, but it’s not outrageous and totally worth it to me to eat something without any fake ingredients. Whole, natural ingredients always trump chemicals for me. These are definitely going to be a summer staple in my freezer!
What was your favorite ice cream truck treat?
Homemade Fudge Pops
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (45 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ⅔ cups (133.33 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2½ cups (610 ml) whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 8 wooden popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
- Combine the melted chocolate, sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, add the vanilla and butter, and stir until well combined.
- Let the mixture cool slightly (it should still be warm but not hot to the touch), and then pour into 8 popsicle molds. Freeze for 30 minutes, and then insert sticks. Freeze completely before serving.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
I might have to make these this summer… yum! I also have to order that popsicle mold. Thank you for the link! :)
These look wonderful! I am going to try choc soy milk to cut the fat and calories down without losing flavor or anything artifical.
This post reminded me of how much I love fudge pops! Such a reminder of summer & childhood.. love!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
oh fudgicles! They look wonderful, I have to make these, I have to get the molds!
We’re about to go into Autumn here, and you know what, I don’t care, I’m making these, or getting them made, whichever will be quickest!
I love fudge popsicles…can’t wait to make them. The chocolate chip cookie was one of my favorites too. :)
Can I use fat free milk?
Hi Elaina, I don’t ever use fat free milk, so I’m not sure well it would thicken up. I’m guessing since cornstarch is used it should be okay, it might just need to cook longer in order to thicken. Let me know how it works! Also, I calculated the difference between whole milk and non-fat and it was only 10 calories per fudge pop :)
Do you think they would work with 2% milk?
Yes, I think that would be okay.
ohhhhh my gosh those look amazing. I loovve fudge bars and I love making things from scratch!!
These go well with marathon training, right? Right. Sold.
Fantastic! I can’t wait to give these a try this summer.
OH! MY!!
We always have homemade popsicles in the freezers — all summer long. I have lost a lot of my plastic pop sticks from my sets and looked at the molds you bought. They got some bad reviews regarding getting the sticks in and pops out. Have you had any trouble?
PS when I was little (and I am way older than you) the ice cream man — Mr. Frosty– had real soft-serve ice cream. Yum!
Hi Barbara, I didn’t have any issues. I just ran the individual pop mold under running water for like 30 seconds, and the fudge pop slid right out.
Fudgesicles are my son’s favorite!! Can’t wait to try these.
I absolutely love those molds, thanks for linking to them! Fudge pops were always one of my favorite treats as a kid, but I haven’t had them in forever. It’ll be so much fun to whip up a homemade version once the temperature climbs above 40 again here :)
And, you know what? I was trying to think of ice cream treats that I’d love now, in semi-adulthood, and I realized there are few if any peanut butter ice cream treats. You, oh peanut butter and chocolate queen, must attempt something to fill said void, please :)
Totally the Nestle Toll House Chipper Sandwich. Vanilla ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies, rolling in mini chips. Pure bliss! :)
Fudgesicles were always my favorite frozen dessert. I’ve never seen a recipe like this before but I’d really love to try it! Thanks!
Hi Michelle:
These look like the ones we had when I was young.
Before “Ice Milk” popped it’s head out.
Perfect!
Charlie
Chocolate-flavored ice milk indeed – I love when a fudge pop actually tastes like rich freezing cold fudge. Yum!!
Love how easy these are! Such a great treat for summer!
While the chocolate fudge pop always took my heart, I have a spot for the orange creamcicle as well! Hope to see a recipe for one of those guys, soon!
Wow…these look incredible. I have a box of those chemical ones in my freezer right now. Michelle, if you keep this up…I’ll never get out of the kitchen lol.
Oh wow that looks yummy. I want one plz :)
The fudge pops look fantastic! Thanks for including the calorie information. I tend keep the 100-cal ones in the freezer for a quick chocolate fix. It is very refreshing to know you can make something homemade, with real ingredients, and is reasonable to snack on! I can’t wait to try the recipe!
Oooh, looks delicious! :) I should try these.
I was always one for cookie sandwiches!
Wow! What an exciting idea! Now I just need to shop for molds! :D
Starred this one!
This is my plan for the summer too! I normally just make popsicles by freezing fruit juice but I’m excited to experiment more and this looks like a great start!
Same here! I love fruit juice popsicles, can’t wait for summer!!
I love Matt & On a Stick!
And I jumped on the canning bandwagon a few months ago but need to jump on the popsicle making bandwagon, pronto.
You just brought a small window of my youth into full technicolor view. Wow. Thanks for the memories :) I tried once to use my ‘toy’ money (cuz my mom would not give it up that day) and sadly that didn’t work. Drumsticks were my hands down favorite, and still are to this day.
You’re ready for summer! These definitely sound good – I’ve found the store bought ones to be a bit lacking as well… they’re too watery! I’m excited to give these a try!