10 Fun, Boozy Ice Pop Recipes for Adults

Adult Popsicles - How to Make Fun Poptails for Summer Parties

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Ice pops are a great summer indulgence and, for adults, boozy popsicles (or poptails) are even better! These frozen little treats are spiked with alcohol and bring a childhood favorite into the cocktail-loving world.

There are many recipes for you to browse, mix, freeze, and share at a party or keep to yourself (we won't tell). From sweet, creamy popsicles to icy renditions of favorite cocktails, they are almost too much fun and can serve as inspiration for creating your own custom ice pops.

How to Make a Poptail

Most of these ice pop recipes make six to eight pops, depending on the mold you're using. A few essential tips will help you create great spiked ice pops:

  • Keep the mixer to liquor ratio at about 4:1. Since liquor does not freeze well, this lower proportion will enable the pop to freeze up.
  • Booze-filled ice pops have a softer texture than nonalcoholic ice pops. This is also due to the alcohol's freezing point, so it's best to keep them in the freezer until the very last minute.
  • An ice pop mold is the easiest way to make popsicles and they are inexpensive. Molds typically make between six and 10 three-ounce ice pops. Some include the stick holder, which is very convenient.
  • As an alternative to molds, use disposable paper cups. Once frozen, tear away the cup and enjoy the pop.
  • Give yourself extra time if you want to create layered ice pops. For a well-defined line, each layer needs to set completely before adding the next layer. If you want softer lines, add the second layer when the first is only partially frozen. Keep the ingredients chilled in between layers for a faster freeze.
  • Strain fresh fruit purees for smoother ice pops. The solid bits of fruit will freeze much harder than the rest of the ice pop and may not be very desirable.
  • To eliminate air bubbles in creamy popsicles, fill the mold partially then tap it lightly on the countertop and continue to fill.
  • If the mold doesn't have a built-in stick holder, freeze the pops for about an hour before inserting the sticks. This will help the stick stand up straight. Another trick is to place foil over the mold and use it as a support for the sticks.
  • The time it takes to freeze pops varies with the recipe, amount of alcohol, and your freezer (deep freezers are quicker). In general, let them freeze overnight, though longer will not hurt.
  • Once completely frozen, submerge the mold halfway in lukewarm water for about 30 seconds to release the pops.
  • Pudding pops are more difficult to remove and often come out with imperfections that can easily be cleaned up.

If you're making spiked ice pops and there are children around, please be sure that they do not have access to these adults-only treats.

Champagne Popsicle Cocktail

Champagne Popsicle Cocktail
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The easiest way to combine cocktails and ice pops is to simply put the two together. This Champagne popsicle "recipe" is a perfect example and it is a great way to keep your wine cold, too.

All you need is either a homemade ice pop or one that you bought for the kids. Put that upside-down in your favorite glass and fill with Champagne.

Take this idea into other summertime cocktails as well. Essentially, you're simply using the ice pop instead of ice and this can be done with spiked or straight ice pops in almost any cold drink.

Brockmans Gin Bramble Ice Pop

Brockman's Bramble Ice Pop
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This bramble ice pop is a fun and quick recipe that requires just a few ingredients, including a great gin. Brockmans created the pop to mimic the bramble cocktail and it is a delicious boozy ice pop with fresh berries.

  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups blackberries
  • 1/2 cup Brockmans Gin
  1. Blend the first four ingredients until smooth.
  2. Pour equal an equal amount into popsicle molds.
  3. Top each mold with equal parts of gin.
  4. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Kiwi Martini Poptail

Kiwi Martini Poptail
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Inspired by one of the easiest vodka martinis, this poptail is just as simple and quick to mix up. If you love a kiwi martini, give it a try as a popsicle, complete with citrus vodka and fresh kiwi fruit.

  1. Place the ice and kiwi in a blender and blend until well chopped.
  2. Add the syrup and vodka and blend until smooth.
  3. Pour equal amounts into the pop molds.
  4. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Fresh Caipirinha Poptail

Caipirinha Fresh Fruit Popsicles
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The caipirinha is very easy to convert it into an ice pop. It includes everything that is great about the cocktail, including cachaça, fresh lime, and a hint of sweetness. You can use a wide variety of fruit as well.

  1. Mix the juice, cachaca, sugar, and water until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  2. Pour into ice pop molds.
  3. Place a few lime slices in each mold.
  4. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Peach Julep Ice Pops With Bourbon

Peach Julep Popsicles with Bourbon Whiskey
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Peach is a perfect complement to the popular mint julep and this ice pop recipe celebrates the beautiful combination. It begins with a thin mint-flavored simple syrup, so it freezes well. This same technique can be used to create mojito and other mint-based poptails, and you can always switch out the fruit juice.

Create the mint simple syrup:

  1. Bring sugar and water to a slow boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  2. Reduce heat, add the mint, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat, keep covered, and allow to cool to room temperature.

Assemble the ice pop:

  1. Mix together the mint syrup, peach juice, and whiskey.
  2. Pour evenly into ice pop molds and, if you like, sprinkle with chopped mint.
  3. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Watermelon Margarita Poptail

Watermelon Margarita Popsicle
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Tequila and watermelon in a frozen ice pop? It is a wonderful thing and, essentially, a watermelon margarita on a stick! Making fresh watermelon juice is easy: Muddle a few pieces of leftover watermelon until you get all the juice, then strain out the pulp.

  1. Combine the ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
  2. Pour equal amounts into molds.
  3. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Berry Sangria Cream Poptail

Berry Sangria Cream Popsicle
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Remake your wine sangria and transform it into a delicious, creamy popsicle with this easy recipe. Like most sangria recipes, you can customize it with any fruit; a mixture of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries is really nice. To that, add your favorite red wine, syrup, and cream and you have a spectacular icy treat.

  • 2 cups fresh mixed berries
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1/4 cup simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  1. Puree the berries in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  2. Strain the puree in a fine-mesh strainer to remove most of the chunks (you can skip this step if you prefer).
  3. Combine the berry puree with the other ingredients and blend until smooth.
  4. Pour equal amounts into molds.
  5. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

This is a great pop for layers or swirls. Mix the berries, wine, and syrup without the cream, then sweeten the cream with about 3 tablespoons of sugar. Pour the two in layers or swirl them together in the mold.

Lemon Drop Cream Poptail

Lemon Drop Cream Poptail
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The lemon drop cream poptail is a fun frozen rendition of the lemon drop martini with a little ice cream thrown in to create a yummy treat.

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Fill the pop molds with equal amounts of the mix.
  3. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

Tequila Sunrise Yogurt Pop

Tequila Sunrise Yogurt Poptail
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The tequila sunrise can be reimagined in so many ways and it's fantastic as an ice pop. Just like the cocktail, the tequila sunrise yogurt op is layered. The recipe recommends the two-layer effect that mimics the cocktail, though you could easily do multiple layers if you have the time.

  • 1/3 cup blanco tequila
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice
  • 6 ounces Greek yogurt (the average single-serving container)
  • 1/2 cup grenadine
  1. Mix the tequila, orange juice, and yogurt in a bowl until combined.
  2. Pour about 1/2 teaspoon of grenadine into each pop mold.
  3. Fill with the orange-tequila mixture.
  4. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.

You can also add a little interest to the grenadine by combining it with a dollop of yogurt or adding a fresh fruit puree like strawberry or raspberry.

White Russian Pudding Poptails

White and Black Russian Pudding Popsicles for Adults
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The white Russian is a great candidate for pudding pops. There are actually two pudding pops here because the black Russian works just as well in frozen form, it simply adds chocolate to the mix. It's a fun duo that works really well for a party.

White Russian Pudding Pops

Black Russian Pudding Pops

  • 1 package instant chocolate pudding
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 4 ounces vodka
  • 2 ounces coffee liqueur

To Make Pudding Pops

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a blender or with a hand mixer until thoroughly combined.
  2. Pour equal amounts into popsicles molds.
  3. Insert sticks and freeze until solid.