Whoever said that only kids can eat popsicles? Today, we’re making the adult version of popsicles. The secret ingredient? Prosecco!
If you love a cold glass of prosecco for your summertime aperitivo, then you’ll absolutely love this ice-cold variant… on a stick! That’s right, we’re talking about prosecco popsicles. Making them at home is actually very simple and you can really enjoy using your imagination with other ingredients – to turn your popsicle into a seriously delicious cocktail!
Does alcohol freeze?
Pure ethyl alcohol freezes at -173.2°F (-114°C), while water freezes at 32°F (0°C). To freeze alcohol, you have to add a mix of equal parts of water and sugar to it. That’s why any frozen cocktail always has a base of sweetened syrup. The alternative is a very powerful freezer that reaches temperatures below -173.2°F.
How to make prosecco popsicles
First, prepare a water-sugar syrup (50 ml / 0.2 cup water and 40 gr / ¼ cup sugar) in a saucepan. Let the sugar dissolve completely in the water over low heat. Once dissolved, turn off the heat to cool. Once the syrup has cooled, add 300 ml / 1 flute glass prosecco. Pour the liquid into the popsicle molds and let it cool in the freezer for a few hours. If you don't have the molds to make popsicles, you can use paper cups, but just be warned – it’s difficult to keep the stick standing straight up with these (which you insert after two hours in the freezer).
Fruity variants
You can also add fruit or a smoothie mix to the syrup-prosecco base. For the summertime, strawberries are still very sweet and tasty, and the first peaches of the season are starting to ripen. You can also mix more fruits together and add some small leaves of fresh herbs like mint, basil, and lavender to add color and fragrance to your popsicles.
Aperitivo or after-dinner
Impress your guests with an ice-cream aperitif. Instead of a tray with glasses, present them with a tray of popsicles to accompany canapés, focaccia, small sandwiches, and appetizers of all kinds. The same goes for after dinner. Serve the popsicles with sliced fruit and sweet sparkling wine.
If you're curious about how many other cocktails you can turn into popsicles, take a look at our photo gallery!
Oh, and always remember to add some sweet syrup to the basic cocktail recipe; otherwise, the alcohol will never freeze!