Homemade ice pops are more than just a crowd pleaser during a heat wave. They offer a ton of benefits. Here are just a few:

Eco-friendly: No sticks or wrappers or cartons to toss in the trash. Homemade ice pops eliminate waste. Plus, by purchasing a re-usable popsicle set, you will have only a few pieces of plastic to pop in the dishwasher afterwards.

Healthy(er): While there is sugar in the recipe I share, there doesn’t have to be. You can add, remove or do whatever you want to each recipe you find online or in a popsicle cookbook. Organic fruits and veggies can be blended and frozen into a dreamy concoction. In your homemade pops, there are no dyes, ‘natural’ flavors or long words you cannot pronounce.

Budget friendly: Organic popsicles? Chances are they are going to cost you a few dollars more. Making them at home saves you cash.

Entertainer’s delight: Popsicles are not just for children. You can make them as decadent as you like. Add slices of fruit, dairy-free yogurt or sparkling juices. Arranging them in ice on a Silicone ice tray for guests is lovely way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Popsicle molds are a must-have in any household. The trays used in this article’s photos were from my own childhood, passed along to me when I had my children. Molds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and features, including one tray, single serve, push-pop style, etc. Shop around or search online to add this great item to your cabinet.

This week, I made a batch of homemade kiwi ice pops and kiwi ice cubes.

I found this recipe online at Country Living and it can be made with a variety of fruits, but I love the sticky sweetness of kiwis this season.

The recipe is as follows:

Boil one cup of water with one cup sugar in a small saucepan. Remove from heat as soon as it boils and set aside to cool.

Halve and quarter four kiwis, peel and remove the white core and seeds. I left many seeds in, so don’t go crazy with this step.

Place all the kiwi parts in a mini prep with metal blade and “chop” for one minute until they become liquid.

In medium sized bowl, combine three-fourths of a cup of the syrup with all the kiwi juice along with three-fourths of a cup of water.

Spoon into your ice pop molds and let freeze for six or more hours before serving. To remove from Mini silicone cake mould, run under hot water. Enjoy.