Fudgesicles

Fudgesicles are the creamy chocolate ice cream treat on a stick that you remember from your childhood, and this recipe tastes exactly like the real thing!

You can make rich chocolate fudgesicles at home, using all-natural ingredients, without much effort at all. They are a tasty frozen dessert that everyone will love.

These homemade fudgesicles are gluten-free, nut-free, and only take about 20 minutes to make.

Fudgesicles were definitely one of my favorites as a kid. They are perfectly portioned, single-serving popsicles, but instead of fruit, these pops were made with what I believed to be chocolate ice cream!

The mixture that we’ll cook up to make these homemade fudgesicles isn’t exactly ice cream, but it’s made with all the same creamy ingredients, perfectly sweetened, and with lots of chocolate so that these fudge pops are decadent and amazing.

Why You’re Going to Love this Fudgesicles Recipe

Homemade is Better! These fudgesicles taste so much better than the ones you buy at the store, and you know every single ingredient that goes into them, so you can feel good about making them for your family.

Rich, Creamy, Chocolate Popsicles. Two types of chocolate, luxurious cream and the perfect amount of sugar make these fudgesicles a decadent treat. While other recipes include pudding mix, this one needs no processed ingredients!

A Healthier Option. Compared to a bowl of ice cream, homemade fudgesicles are generally lower in calories. Portion control can be a good thing! If split into 10 portions, this recipe makes fudgesicles that are about 200 calories each.

Ingredients in Homemade Fudgesicles

Heavy Cream – The first of our dairy ingredients, heavy cream ensures that these fudgesicles are rich and decadent.

Whole Milk – If we used all heavy cream, the mixture would be too thick. So, use half cream, and half milk for best results.

Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar is the perfect sweetener for most popsicle and ice cream recipes.

Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder is the first layer of chocolate in this recipe.

Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips – Using both cocoa powder and chocolate chips gives these fudgesicles the best chocolate flavor.

Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract makes chocolate taste better!

Optional – If you’d like to dip your fudgesicles in chocolate, you’ll need some extra chocolate chips and a bit of coconut oil to keep the chocolate soft.

If you have any questions about making fudgesicles from scratch, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you!

How to Make Homemade Fudgesicles from Scratch

1. Start by Cooking the Fudgesicle Mixture. Add the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract to a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, just until the chocolate chips have melted.
3. Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes, then pour it into popsicle molds.
4. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or until firm. Release from the molds (Tips for that step are below!) and enjoy.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.

How to Store Homemade Popsicles

Store homemade fudgesicles in the freezer, in their mold until ready to enjoy. 

If you decide to remove them from the mold, wrap each popsicle individually with plastic wrap before storing them in a freezer-safe, airtight container. 

How Long are Fudgesicles Good in the Freezer?

I find that homemade fudgesicles are best if enjoyed within 2-3 weeks, but often will stay fresh for much longer than that, up to 3 months

Store-bought ones can last much longer in the freezer, but that’s because they’re made with processed ingredients that have a longer shelf life.

Tips for Making This Chocolate Popsicle Recipe

Use quality ingredients – When making homemade popsicles, you’ll want to make sure you are using high-quality ingredients for the best outcome.

Don’t skimp on the sugar – Sugar not only adds sweetness to popsicles, it also helps with the texture. Popsicles without enough sugar in them will be hard and icy. 

Avoid overcooking – You want to heat the milk and cream gently, and stop as soon as the chocolate has melted. Scorched milk doesn’t taste good, so stir frequently, and remove promptly from the heat.

If you’d like to dip your fudgesicles in chocolate, melt 1 ½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl or glass. Dip the fudgesicles into the melted chocolate, one at a time, tapping off any excess. Then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes before enjoying or wrapping up to enjoy later.

Double the recipe, and keep these fudgesicles in the freezer for easy snacking all summer long!

How to Unmold Homemade Fudgesicles Easily

There are a few different methods to easily unmold homemade chocolate popsicles. The one that works for you will depend on your specific popsicle mold. None of them are complicated!

The trick to easily unmolding popsicles is to heat the very outer layer of the pops so that they release from the mold, without melting them in the process.

Method 1: Dipping in Hot Water. This method involves filling a large bowl or container with warm water. Then dip your tray of popsicles briefly into the water for 20-30 seconds until the popsicles are easy to remove.

Method 2: Running Water. Instead of filling a bowl with water, just turn the kitchen sink on and let it get warm. Hold the popsicles under the stream, moving them around, for about 30 seconds until you can get the popsicles out of the mold.

Method 3: Room Temperature. Take the popsicles out of the freezer and set them on the counter until they soften enough to be easily removed. This method can backfire if you forget about them, so be careful, or set a timer!

If you’re using a silicone popsicle mold, you may not need to do anything. If it’s flexible enough, the silicone can be peeled away from the popsicles easily!

Fudgesicle Variations

Nutty Fudgesicles – Stir in finely chopped peanuts, walnuts or almonds to add a nutty crunch.

Swirled Fudgesicles – When loading the fudgesicle mixture into the molds, swirl in some peanut butter, Nutella, or your favorite ice cream syrup.

Raspberry Fudgesicles – Swirl in some raspberry compote to give these bars a delicious fruity flavor!

Can I Make Dairy Free Vegan Fudgesicles?

I haven’t tested a vegan version of fudgesicles just yet, but when I do, I will likely replace the milk and cream with coconut milk and coconut cream.

Those dairy-free milk substitutes will give you the creamiest results. If you try it, please leave a comment and let me know how it worked for you!

How Long Does it Take to Freeze Fudgesicles?

The exact amount of time that it will take for your fudgesicles to freeze completely depends on the size of the molds you’re using.

It will take at least 4 hours for them to freeze solid, but I recommend waiting 6 hours to be completely sure.

What Can I Use Instead of Popsicle Molds?

Any type of small container can be used to make popsicles and fudgesicles! Try small plastic cups like bathroom cups or empty yogurt containers, or use an ice cube tray to make mini fudgesicles.

Cover the top of the container with foil, then put your sticks through the foil to keep them upright while the chocolate popsicles are freezing.

More Homemade Frozen Treats

We have so many homemade ice cream recipes for you to try, but if you’re looking for something sweet and delicious, but a bit easier to make, try one of these:

• Cherry Pineapple Popsicles
• Banana Popsicles dipped in chocolate
• Root Beer Float
• Choco Tacos

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