We’re no poets, but the best popsicles should taste like the first days of summer vacation and endless sunshine. They should be refreshing, invigorating, and bursting with nostalgic flavors. The mere thought of the best popsicle should have you itching to hop on a bike and ride to your nearest convenience store just to pick an ice pop out of the cooler.
In case you missed our time-stamped, day-in-the-life of a Sporked taste-tester video, people have a lot of opinions about the correct way to open popsicles. As they should. One of our very unhinged Sporked writers (okay, fine, it was me, Ariana, hi!) opened them like a toddler still getting used to the idea of opposable thumbs. But you know what? There was method to her madness. When you open the popsicle from the top-down, you get to keep the wrapper around the stick to catch sticky drips before they reach your hands. However, there is no excuse for the way she popped them out of their wrappers. Unnamed Sporked writer, if you’re reading this (or hey, maybe writing this?), just tear the wrappers open next time. Or use scissors.
Anyway, back to what really matters: finding the best popsicles at the grocery store. Obviously, popsicles are pretty diverse desserts. They come in various shapes, flavors, and sizes (not that size matters—it’s all about how you use it, or something). Going into this second taste test, we were intent on including the best sugar free popsicles, the best ice pops, and even the best gourmet popsicles to keep on hand during the hot summer months. Since popsicles typically come in big boxes, here are the brands actually worth taking up space in your freezer. So without further ado, let’s pop off, shall we?
- Deebee’s Organics SuperFruit Freezie Freezer Pops
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Deebee’s Organic Super Fruit Freezies are just fruit. That’s it. 100% fruit. No added sugar or preservatives or anything. They are so light and delicately flavored. When my girlfriend had the flu recently, she exclusively ate these to soothe her sore throat. We buy them in bulk at Costco, where you can get about 800 freezies for $1 (okay, not that cheap, but they are really affordable). If you need to cut down on your sugar or just want a popsicle with a more natural fruit flavor, these are the best popsicles to toss in your grocery cart. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- Popsicle Sugar Free Tropicals
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We’ve gotta give it up to Popsicle Tropicals, the best sugar free popsicles we’ve tried to date. Miraculously, these sugar free popsicles don’t taste like artificial sweeteners. They have 15 calories, zero (zero!) grams of sugar, and come in three flavors—Hawaiian Pineapple, Tropical Orange, and Caribbean Punch. Those are some seriously dangerous numbers, if you ask me. On a humid day, these are the best popsicles to pop all day long without downing boatloads of sugar. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Van Holten’s Pickle-Ice Freeze Pops
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I know, I know, you can’t believe pickle-flavored popsicles made the list. Yes, they are freaky. Yes, I am unhinged. If you are looking for the best fruit popsicles, look elsewhere. That said, these rule. I’m sorry! They’re salty and savory—I couldn’t stop going back for another lick. They taste exactly like frozen dill pickle juice (duh) and are perfect for pickle lovers. Sure, they aren’t for everyone, but this pickle freak loves them. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Popsicle Firecrackers Ice Pops
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I didn’t realize this prior to our best popsicle taste test, but there are a lot of different brands of red- white-and-blue, firecracker (or bomb or rocket)-themed popsicles. Popsicle Firecrackers are easily the best version. The three flavors—cherry, lemon, and blue raspberry—taste good on their own, and even better together. These are the best ice pops if you really want an explosion of flavor (get it?). —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Chloe’s Mango Pops
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Even among the best fruit popsicles, Chloe’s Mango Soft Serve Fruit Pops have an incredibly natural fruit flavor. They taste like you pureed a perfectly ripe mango and then froze it. The ingredient list is shockingly short—mango, lemon juice, water, and cane sugar—which helps preserve that 100% mango flavor. If you do buy these, leave them out for a few minutes before you eat them. The box suggests that they’re better to eat once they’ve been allowed to “soften.” —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Trader Joe’s Mango Cream Bars
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Like Chloe’s Mango Soft Serve Fruit Pops, these Mango Cream Bars from TJ’s taste startlingly like real mango. They are basically artisan creamsicles I’d expect to find in some trendy L.A. ice cream shop. (I would, in fact, pay over $10 for one—but you can find them for under $4 a box at Trader Joe’s.) My team might actually be a little upset with me for not putting these higher on the list, because there’s simply no faulting their bold mango flavor and soft vanilla ice cream filling. But I’m speaking for the people here, not the professionals. And, well…you’ll see what I mean if you keep reading. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett
- Good Humor Creamsicle
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“Best creamsicle? Huh?! You just ranted and raved about TJ’s Mango Cream Bars—which are basically creamsicles!” is probably what you’re all thinking right about now. And I get it. But listen: When you think of a creamsicle, you don’t think of real fruit flavor, okay? A creamsicle should take you back to your childhood, to ice cream trucks passing by the park or ice-cold dessert coolers at a convenience store. The flavor is a little artificial in the best way—and it doesn’t melt into pureed fruit when exposed to the slightest bit of heat. Most importantly, a classic creamsicle combines orange ice and vanilla ice cream. Good Humor ice cream bars provide all of the above, and that’s why they’ve earned the coveted best creamsicle title on this list of the best popsicles. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- JonnyPops Summer Strawberries & Cream Frozen Fruit Bars
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If you’re a little lad who loves berries and cream, well, consider these the best popsicles for you. Jonny Pops strawberry frozen fruit bars basically taste like softly churned strawberry ice cream (or strawberry froyo) in popsicle form. Not to use my least favorite word in the English dictionary, but we loved the “mouthfeel” on these little guys—they are super creamy (without melting too quickly) and riddled with strawberry bits. FYI, Jonny Pops also makes a chocolate-dipped version that we weren’t able to get our hands on, but it looks particularly appealing if you’re a fan of chocolate-covered strawberries. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Outshine Fruit Bars
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If you want a standard, classic fruit popsicle, Outshine is absolutely the way to go. Their fruit bars are extremely fruit forward and taste incredibly refreshing. The tangerine tastes like biting into a juicy whole piece of citrus fruit. This is the first popsicle I would reach for if I was really, really hot (temperature-wise, not looks-wise). That being said, I am really, really hot-looking and do reach for these delicious popsicles often. If you’re any type of hot, buy these popsicles! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Sprouts Piña Colada Frozen Fruit Bars
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We put these Piña Colada Frozen Fruit Bars from Sprouts on our list of the best things we tried in April, and for good reason. I’m going to quote myself here, because I said it best: “You can take the popsicle out of the beach, but you can’t take the beach out of the popsicle.” These are virgin pina coladas in popsicle form, basically something out of your wildest lounging-poolside-at-a-fancy-resort dreams. The frozen coconut is meaty and textured with real coconut bits—which hey, might not be for everyone, so just keep that in mind! But if you’re a coconut freak, these are definitely one of the best gourmet popsicles for you. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Jonny Pops Organic Blue Wave Frozen Bars
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Speaking of the beach, these ocean-blue Jonny Pops Blue Wave Frozen Bars totally scream “surf’s up.” They are mildly sweet and ridiculously refreshing. The flavor is difficult to pin down exactly—we tasted hints of both blue raspberry and lime—but that’s what makes them so interesting and addictive. Again, I’m no poet, but they taste (and look) like that first crash of an ocean wave after an hour of lounging out in the sun (minus, you know, all that salt.) Jonny Pops don’t use artificial flavors, and it makes all the difference! These are some of the best popsicles we’ve tried to date, and will be a total hit in your beach cooler. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Popsicle Fudgsicle Original No Sugar Added Fudge Pops
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I never realized that the Fudgesicles I consumed by the boxful growing up had no added sugar, but here we are! I typically hate diet-leaning products, but Popsicle is on to something with these No Sugar Added Fudge Pops. Nothing about these tastes diet-y whatsoever. They’re chocolatey and have an iciness that I love. They taste like if Yoo-hoo was a popsicle, which made the nostalgic part of my brain tingle. I took all of these home and eat one every night now. They’re the best popsicles for chocolate lovers. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Helados Mexico Frozen Minis Con Crema Variety Pack
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No doubt about it, these frozen fruit bars are among the best things I’ve eaten since becoming a Sporked taste tester. Out of literally everything I’ve consumed—from frozen pizzas to energy drinks to tartar sauce—Helados Mexico Con Crema bars made the biggest impression. They are so packed with fruit flavor and milky creaminess. Strawberry was my favorite flavor in the pack, but mango and coconut are among the best popsicles I’ve ever had, too—fresh, fruity, and oh-so creamy. If you learn one thing from Sporked, I hope it’s to go buy these Helados bars, stat. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
Best Fruity Freezer Pops
Best Sugar Free
Most Unique
Best Nostalgic
Best Fruit Pops
Best Mango Dessert
Best Creamsicle
Best Creamy
Best Classic
Best Gourmet Popsicle
Most Refreshing
Runner Up
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: Otter Pops 6 Flavor Variety Pack, Sugar-Free Popsicle (Grape/Orange/Cherry), Signature Select (Orange/Cherry/Grape) Ice Pops, La Michoacana Ice Bars Variety Pack, Sprouts Mango Fruit Bars, Goodpop Watermelon Agave Fruit Bars, Great Value Freedom Pops, Bombpops, Favorite Day Ice Pops Variety Pack, Annie’s Cherry Fruit Juice Pops, Modern Pop Strawberry Lemonade Pops, Ice Pix Cherry Mango Pops, Blue Ribbon Classics Orange Dream Frozen Treat Bar, Tangerine Outshine Bars, Signature SELECT Ice Cream Bars, Creamy Orange, Signature SELECT Cream Pops, Orange/Grape/Cherry, Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution Pops Variety Pack Pops, Jonny Pops Organic Variety Pops
