Patriotic AND hydrating describe these cute Red White & Blue Sports Drink Rocket Popsicles. Perfect for patriotic summer celebrations and to keep everyone cool in the summer heat.
My kids are on a summer swim team. The good news is all their practices are indoors. The bad news is that all their practices are indoors. Have you ever sat poolside for 90 minutes in the heat of summer? One pool is at the local college and is over 100 years old. Sounds charming, right? It is below ground on one side and certainly when the windows were installed on the opposite side originally they were not giving thought to dutiful moms sitting poolside while their tots swim, hair frizzing mercilessly, perspiration gradually beading along their hairlines giving way to what begins to appear like a hormonal midlife hot flash in massive proportion draining down faces often taking mascara with it.
Saturdays begin at 6 a.m. by pitching a shade canopy tent for a modicum of protection from the raging sun. In the dawn of the early morning hints are present about what the day will bring. When too warm for even the lightest of jackets at 6, one can surely anticipate blistering heat by 9 with several applications of sunscreen so the swimmers, and parents, don’t emerge at the end of the meet in the early afternoon looking like freshly boiled lobsters.
WHERE TO BUY: the Rocket Popsicles Molds and Wooden Sticks
Now if you are taking from this that I am lamenting being a swim team Mom, it’s just the opposite. I love the meets and to watch all the kids on the team grow each summer and blossom as swimmers and people. What I don’t love is how I feel when we are done; usually needing a nap from being saturated by summer heat for 8 hours. No matter how much water I drink I don’t feel refreshed. The kids power sports drinks to recover from the racing and the heat.
After our last swim meet it struck me how delicious a simple popsicle would taste. Nothing with dairy in it, nothing with booze (though I will admit that is a fun way to have a cocktail on a sultry summer’s ever) or chunks of fruit. Though I don’t drink sports drinks myself outside of an extreme workout situation, the idea of a sports drink popsicle sounded like salvation. Offering more than water, with a bit of sweetness and those electrolytes that washed down my face with my make-up by mid-morning. It seemed like a great post-swim alternative for the kids too.
Just because something is utilitarian in purpose does not mean it needs to be so in appearance. With July 4th looming large I pulled out our Rocket Popsicles molds and served up my best red, white and blue. Making striped or layered popsicles is super easy though it takes a bit of time to ensure each layer is solid before pouring the next layer. There is no right or wrong way to make the layers. I prefer asymmetry so like all the layers to be unpredictable in width. If you like uniformity, all layers can be the same.
The first time I sampled a finished popsicle I was in heaven. It was cool and completely refreshing. Not overly sweet as some popsicles made with a sweetened base or juice can be (some sugary popsicles actually make me thirsty). As I sucked on them trying to extract the flavor I was brought back to my childhood, sucking on traditional grape, orange or lime popsicles to try to get the juice out of them and still leaving the icy shape. Though I know my kids would love these they aren’t getting much of a shot at them! I’ve eaten one after gardening, after our last swim meet and after a long grilling session which left me feeling I’d vacationed inside a molten volcano. With July 4th being a traditional outdoor day, often in beastly heat, these seemed a great addition to the festivities and to keep everyone cool!
Red White & Blue Sports Drink Popsicles
Ingredients
- 2 cups total Red , White and Blue Sports Drink or Juice (I used blue=Gatorade Fierce Blue Cherry, white=Gatorade Frost Glacier Cherry and red=Gatorade Fruit Punch which are all Gatorade Thirst Quencher varieties)*
- Rocket Popsicle Molds (I used Tovolo)
- Wooden Popsicle sticks
- Foil
Instructions
- Pour some of the sports drink you are using into each popsicle mold for the first layer; using a funnel for pouring into the molds works well. Place in the freezer to allow it to fully freeze (usually around 20 minutes but verify before pouring the next layer). Continue making layers and freezing the popsicles until the molds are slightly under halfway full.
- Tear a piece of foil to fit fully over the top of each mold. Pour the next layer of sports drink in one mold. Tightly wrap a piece of foil over the top of that mold and using a paring knife, make a small slit to insert the popsicle stick (don’t make it larger than the stick or it will not hold the stick upright to freeze in the proper position). Insert the popsicle stick. Do this with all of the remaining molds until they all have sticks inserted. Freeze until fully frozen.
- Continue to add layers, freezing in between, until the molds are full and frozen. To release the popsicles run the outside of the mold briefly under hot water until pulling on the stick releases the popsicle.
Recipe Notes
*Determine the volume of the rocket popsicle molds you are using for exact volume required.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Toni – yes, yes and yes. Both our children were on a swim team for years and years. Those swim meets were often in the very hot sun but we were blessed to be within walking distance of the community pool. They practiced at 7:00 a.m. but rode their bikes, walked with their friends or drove when old enough. They also competed in city and state swim meets which meant travel too. Not to bore you too much but there was a core group that loved summer swimming so much they started a high school team and practiced at a local YMCA. I cannot tell you how much we miss those events. I know you love it, but I’lll just confirm that time passes too quickly and one day you’ll wish you had a swim meet, baseball or softball game, or violin concert to go too! We’re holding out for great things from our grandson 🙂 These pops are a great way to stay hydrated while basking in the summer sun and they are so pretty too! Thanks for the walk down memory lane 🙂
Toni Dash says
Tricia you hit the nail on the head. I’ve been acutely aware since my daughter, the eldest of two turned 9 that we were on the downhill slide to childhood ending. Morbid perhaps but I’ve always been a person who appreciates every day, every minute in every day, knowing it’s a one way trip. I completely know that will be a day when Saturday mornings will feel odd without sweating under the canopy so soaking it in right now. These popsicles DO help! xo
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
What a fabulous idea! Rocket pops where a favourite of mine growing up, but I loved the pretty colours and shape, more than the flavours. I think I’d love these sports drink ones now 🙂
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! says
So cool and thanks for giving the instructions on how to do the layers. I find using the Tovolo handles impossible to use with so many layers, so I see why you used the wooden popsicle sticks!
Jess C says
Very creative! There’s nothing more fun than getting into the spirit of 4th of July. So excited!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
I love this post, Toni! Neither of my girls was ‘sporty’, but we did do a stint at the baseball diamond one year…not my thing 🙂 But these pops are fabulous, they look so refreshing, and I think it’s a brilliant idea to make them with sports drinks!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is a wonderful idea. It’s a great way to give the kids a cold treat that isn’t so incredibly full of sugar.
Mommy Has To Work says
Such a cute & yummy idea! My children would love to make these!!!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
The rockets came out great! I’d love to try this with fruit juices and food coloring instead of sports drink!
Toni Dash says
If I didn’t feel like I was losing electrolytes left and right I too would go that route Sabrina! You really could make them with anything you feel good about serving your family. They are simple and fun.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
My boys would LOVE these. They are perfect for our 4th of July cookout.
Catherine S says
This is such a great idea. These would be perfect for a hot afternoon outside.
Pam says
These look so yummy! I bet they’d go over great with the kids.
Marcie W. says
I definitely want to start creating more homemade popsicles, especially if they involve awesome molds like the ones you used. I really appreciate they are overloaded with sugar too!
Jeanine says
Yum! I love how these turned out. So yummy and refreshing I bet they taste just delicious!
Amanda says
These are so fun! What a fun summer treat!
TesS says
I love Popsicles. These were my favorite. They look cute shaped Linda rocket ship.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
That has to be the first time I have heard of someone making popsicles out of sports drinks. That’s an original idea that sounds really good!
Kate K (My Mommy Brain) says
What a fun Popsicle mold! Rocket pops are a fav around here!
Amy says
This is a great recipe and perfect for the summer. My kids love rocket pops so much too!
Tracey says
These are so cool. How fun to make your own Popsicle and so festive for 4th of July!
Jeana says
This is so great! Reminds me of my childhood and chasing down the ice cream truck. These were my favorite popsicle to buy!
Krystal says
I never have tried popsicles with a sports drink before! Very cool idea for a treat.
Toni Dash says
I really like them in the heat of summer for the electrolyte replacement as well as they are not overly sweet but hydrating. And of course the fun colors make them a great option too!
Valerie says
These remind me of the pops I had as a kid. I like that they are made with sports drinks! They are great for summer.