27 Gourmet Paletas and Ice Pops
Nothing beats a frozen dessert on a hot summer’s day! I’ve gathered 27 gourmet paletas and ice pops – my Boozy Mangonada Paletas – and 26 fantastic recipes from my food blogger friends… You’ll want to peruse this list and try them all!
👩🏻🍳 Tamara Talks – About Paletas, Ice Pops, and Popsicles
What do you know about paletas, ice pops, ice lollies, and popsicles? They’re all frozen treats on a stick, with an infinite list of possible ingredients. However, it is important to understand that “popsicles” is a trademarked word. I see so many recipes for popsicles, and I cringe.
POPSICLE® is a trademark now owned by Unilever. The first popsicles were created in the early nineteen hundreds. While I don’t necessarily agree with a 100 year old trademark, I do respect the law. We’ll not call these “popsicles” for that reason!
In putting together this collection of frozen confections, I looked for unique combinations of ingredients… You’ll not have a hard time finding a recipe for a strawberry ice pop, but have you ever tried jamon, golden milk, thyme, or black pepper in an ice pop?
I do have a fondness for including a bit of alcohol in my frozen desserts. Check out my Raspberry Double Chocolate Stout Sorbet, my Mulled Red Wine and Plum Sorbet, and my Blushing Apricot Sorbet With Fresh Thai Basil. Thus it seemed appropriate to include an “adult’s only” group of paletas and ice pops. Bourbon, tequila, wine, bitters, and even mezcal add complexity, flavor, and texture to these unique desserts!
If not “popsicles,” then what?
“Ice pops” and “ice lollies” are common terms for these frozen treats. In Mexico, you’ll find “paletas.” In this list, you’ll find “paletas,” “ice pops,” and “popsicles.” It’s a curated list of wonderful frozen confections, so call them what you will!
What is a “paleta?”
Paletas are a quintessential Mexican treat, and differ from the typical ice pop in that they are made with fresh fruit and lots of it. They don’t have much liquid, and the mouth feel reflects that. Plus, they are considerably less sweet than their American counterparts.
The history of paletas in Mexico traces back to Tocumbo, Michoacan in the 1940’s. This is where a family paleta business, La Michoacana, flourished and spread to the rest of the country. Today, La Michoacana operates throughout Mexico and Tocumbo, and is known as the “land of paletas.” There’s even a gigantic monument to the paleta in the town entrance, and an annual paleta festival.
Mexican paletas are known for their unique flavor combinations. It might be trendy now, but Mexico has been combining ingredients like avocado, corn, arroz con leche, tamarind, chiles, rose petals, and tequila in paletas for years. That being said, you can’t go wrong with strawberry, coconut, and tamarind.
🍡Dairy
Ice Pops - Not Vegan
A variety of amazing gourmet paletas and ice pops that include dairy products and/or animal proteins!
Keep cool with these summery and refreshing popsicles featuring pink grapefruit, sweet peaches, and yogurt combined with a thyme infused maple syrup.
Strawberry yogurt meringue popsicles have a beautiful strawberry coulis swirled into them giving a sweet and tart taste that children and adults alike will love.
Such a fun, easy and delicious small bite dessert for the summer. These mini balsamic strawberry and cream popsicles are the perfect sweet treat for your next summer gathering!
Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles let you enjoy all the goodness of a cherry cheesecake on a hot summer day, without the hassle of turning on the oven.
Dulce de leche and banana is the perfect combination for this refreshing popsicle. With a few blackberries, this dessert will be a favorite for both adults and kids.
Paletas are the gourmet way to cool off in the summer heat. This recipe highlights cherries and goat cheese, a total match made in flavor heaven!
The exotic flavors in these Cardamom Saffron Pistachio Yogurt Pops have you traveling from your kitchen. They’re quick to make and OH so delicious!
🍡Vegan
Vegan Ice Pops
You'll not find any dairy or animal protein in these delicious, gourmet frozen confections!
These blueberry basil coconut milk popsicles are an unlikely and delicious flavor pairing. They’re easy to whip up and full of flavor!
Peach Ginger Mint Paletas (fruit popsicles) feature juicy ripe peaches, undoubtedly one of summer’s most prized fruits. Peaches have never tasted better than in this peach ginger fruit popsicles recipe!
Creamy almond flavored coconut milk popsicles dipped in dark chocolate magic shell for a dairy-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly frozen dessert.
I see colors in the food which makes me fall in love with it again and again. It’s the season for Jamuns and I made these Jamun Lemon Popsicle with it. I just loved the color which Jamuns brought out in these Popsicles...
These refreshing watermelon chilli icy popsicles are perfect for a scorching day and pack a punch to boot! 😋🍉🌶🍉
Beetroot Blueberry Pops are sugar free, colour free, preservative free and easy to make as a frozen treat for not only kids but adults too.
Beetroot Blueberry Pops are sugar free, colour free, preservative free and easy to make as a frozen treat for not only kids but adults too.
In addition to their gorgeous color these Strawberry Beet Smoothie Pops are healthy, easy, vegan, gluten free and paleo! Best of all they are absolutely delicious!
These strawberry, balsamic and black pepper popsicles take this gorgeous summer flavour with delicious savoury notes and turns it into a tasty popsicle.
These delightfully light and refreshing Avocado Lime Popsicles are the perfect way to cool down this summer! As added bonuses, they're dairy-free, kid-friendly, low carb and make a fantastic keto fat bomb.
This golden milk coconut popsicle recipe is a refreshing twist on your classic golden milk latte. Ingredients include coconut milk, almond milk, honey, ginger, turmeric and black pepper. The ingredients offer many potential benefits such as reducing inflammation, boosting immune system, and adding antioxidants to your diet.
🍡Boozy
Boozy Paletas/Ice Pops - For Adults Only!
A collection of frozen treats that include alcohol, from wine to spirits to bitters! I can't wait to try them all!
A paleta, or ice pop, with fruity mangonada spike with tequila and orange liqueur, layered with chamoy and tajín...
Peaches are simmered in Southern Comfort before being combined with yogurt in this tasty frozen treat with a Southern flair!
Raspberry Rosé (Frosé) Popsicles are not only beautiful, but tasty! Made with wine and raspberries for a fun adult ice pop!
Sweet and tart, these margarita popsicles are the perfect summer treat! Featuring mezcal, they're even a tad smoky.
These two-ingredient strawberry moscato popsicles are a refreshing grown-up treat! They're so simple to make but a fancy addition to any summer gathering.
These lemon, lime and bitters popsicles are refreshing twist on a classic Australian drink. The perfect treat for a hot summers day or any day.
These popsicles are infused with red wine and with bites of frozen watermelon, can there be anything better on hot summer days!
Rich and creamy with lots of chocolate and bourbon flavor, these Boozy Bourbon Cocoa Pops are great for Father’s Day or anytime you want a sweet adult frozen treat!
Tamara an awesome collection of ice lollies. So many varieties to choose from, don’t know where to start. I love mangonada and adding a bit of booze to make ice pops, now that’s a lolly I don’t mind having as dessert. Watermelon with chilli also has caught my attention. Thank you so much for including my link.
My pleasure Mayuri! I adore beets (I have a beet cocktail on my blog), and look forward to trying them in an ice pop! The color is absolutely stunning!
Beautiful collection 😍 thank you so much for the feature ❤️
I have never tried a jamun, but if I can find them, I will definitely be making these beauties! Thank you Priya!
You’ve made me want to break out my ice lolly maker! haha! Those boozy ones are first on the list with the temps reaching 100 this weekend! Thanks for including my strawberry meringue version! 🙂
I’m definitely making all the boozy ones! We’re back in south Texas, and it’s hotter than blazes! I’m looking forward to your strawberry meringue ice pops… Thanks Christina!