Labor Day may signal the end of summer, but these homemade orange creamsicle popsicles give you the summertime vibes all year round! Made with layers of fresh, orange popsicle and homemade ice cream - these babies taste even better than they look.
You know what's so funny? My favorite color is orange, and I DO NOT like oranges. No orange juice. I usually substitute cranberry juice in my mimosas. However... I've always loved those orange creamsicle popsicles that you used to buy from the ice cream truck. I have no idea why those were so much better to me - although it's probably all the sugar lolol.
Anyhow, I had a really strong, nostalgic craving for one of those popsicles. And since I'm a bit of a popsicle pro - see my popsicle miniseries - I knew that I could knock a homemade version of these out of the park!
I wanted a true nod to the store-bought kind, so I wanted to make sure there were distinct layers in this popsicle instead of just blending the orange and the cream together. And honestly, these came out perfectly for so little effort! You guys have to try these.
Ingredients
- Oranges - Grab some big juicy oranges for the base of this recipe. You want that fresh flavor that will shine in a popsicle, that you can't get from buying orange juice from a container.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream is working overtime in this recipe - we add just a bit to the orange juice layer, and then make a version of homemade ice cream for the creamsicle layer.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - Sweetened condensed milk helps the creamsicle layers freeze beautifully, and also gives the perfect amount of sweetness.
- Orange Food Coloring Gel - Completely optional; but I added a couple drops of food coloring gel so that orange color could truly POP! It doesn't affect the taste or texture, so you're fine to leave it out if you prefer.
How to Make Layered Orange Creamsicle Popsicles from Scratch
Like I mentioned earlier - a lot of the fun in the store-bought orange creamsicles was the layers! You could bite into a big hunk of orange in one go, and then get a cool taste of cream in the next.
Our recipe replicates those layers in a beautiful way. And it may take a couple more dishes, but it's so worth it! I mean, have you seen how gorgeous these are?
- For the orange mixture, it's as simple as blending up cut up oranges, a touch of heavy cream, vanilla extract, agave, and a hint of salt. You can strain this mixture if you want a super smooth finish.
- For the creamsicle mixture, we're going to do a technique I use in making no-churn ice cream. Start by making whipped cream - that is, whisking heavy cream until it's nice and stiff. Then, gently fold in some sweetened condensed milk until you have a silky smooth cream.
- I got my molds from Amazon – see this link. It comes with a set of popsicle sticks/bags as well as a funnel to help with pouring. I really like this mold because it was easy to remove the creamsicles while they were done and cleaning was a breeze!
- Now it's time for the magic. Take your popsicle molds and alternately layer in the orange and cream mixtures. Add the popsicle sticks, then freeze for at least 6 hours.
- Voila! You have a decadent, beautiful swirled popsicle at your ready. These are going to be a year-round recipe for us!
FAQs
To easily remove popsicles from their mold, simply run some warm water over the bottom of the molds for about a minute. Using silicone molds, you can also slightly “peel” the mold away from the edges. Pull the popsicles out, and you’re good to go!
I don't recommend, as you won't get that beautiful, fresh orange flavor. You could substitute in some orange concentrate!
I just store any leftover homemade popsicles in a large freezer bag. The popsicle mold I linked to also includes popsicle bags, so you can individually wrap them if you want!
Other Easy, Tasty Frozen Treats You'll Love!
No-Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Miami Vice Popsicles (Strawberry Daiquiri + Pina Colada)
Homemade Orange Creamsicles
Ingredients
Orange Portion
- 3 ct. large oranges
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ⅛ cup agave
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- orange food color gel optional - for an extra pop of color!
Creamsicle Portion
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
To Make the Orange Portion:
- Start out by peeling and cutting your oranges into small pieces.
- Add the cut oranges, heavy cream, agave, vanilla, and salt to a blender and blend until combined.
- If you want, you can add some orange food coloring gel for a bigger pop of color on your popsicles. This is completely optional and doesn't affect the taste!
- Strain the mixture if you really dislike pulp, and set the liquid aside.
To Make the Creamsicle Portion:
- To a cold bowl, add the heavy cream and vanilla.
- Whisk it using a hand mixer or stand mixer, until you have stiff peaks.
- Fold in the sweetened condensed milk; this mixture will be a silky smooth texture.
To Combine:
- Add the orange mixture and cream mixture in alternating layers to a popsicle mold.
- Cover the mold with the included top, and add in popsicle sticks.
- Freeze for at least 6 hours, but overnight is best.
- To remove the popsicles from their molds, run warm water over the bottom of the popsicle mold. Remove the popsicles and serve immediately.
- Any excess popsicles can be wrapped in cellophane bags & added to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Enjoy!
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The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.35
- Total Cost (8 popsicles): $2.79
- Those Other Guys: $4 per popsicle
Danielle says
This recipe was awesome!
At first, before freezing I tasted both parts and felt a little disappointed. Once it's frozen, the flavor completely changes. I will DEFINITELY be making this again. Brings back great childhood memories.
I think my oranges were too small but it's ok! We had a lot of the cream part left over so I gave a bit to the dogs as a special treat. I made 10 popsicles out of this recipe. I think next time I would double the orange part. I did use a drop or 2 of gel color to get that vibrant orange.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you Danielle - so glad your family & the doggos loved it!
Debra Holeman says
Your directions say to peel and cut oranges. So, no orange zest goes in?
Through the taste testing process, I've found that you get a great orange flavor from the flesh without having to zest the peel. Feel free to try out a bit of orange zest if you prefer, and let me know your thoughts!