Strawberry Basil Martini Popsicles

These Strawberry Basil Martini Popsicles have quickly become my new favorite popsicle this summer.  I absolutely love the strawberry basil flavor combination, it’s really fantastic!

Now that better strawberries are showing up in the market, I wanted to make a batch of basil simple syrup to have on hand for one of my favorite cocktails, the Strawberry Basil Martini.  But somehow that syrup made its way into a popsicle instead!  Probably because I’m on a roll making popsicles and ice cream this summer.

You can’t use as much alcohol in popsicles as you’d use in a regular martini since alcohol inhibits the freezing of the pops.  Any more than 20% and your popsicles might not freeze hard enough and you could  have trouble getting them out of the mold in one solid piece.  Needless to say, you don’t really taste the vodka in these popsicles!  After blending the syrup, strawberries, lemon juice, and vodka I noticed the puree was separating as it sat while I was looking for popsicle sticks. I blended in a bit of yogurt thinking that might hold it all together, which it did (and tastes great too).

I had a little problem I discovered while searching for popsicles sticks…I only had three!  So I stuck straws in it.  Word of caution, don’t do it.  It doesn’t work.  The straws pulled right out when I went to remove the popsicles from the molds.  Well, I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste so I got an ice tea spoon and dug out the good stuff and put it in a martini glass.

I seriously almost ate that entire glass of popsicle pieces…it’s just so freakin good!

If you want to up your popsicle game this summer, definitely give these Strawberry Basil Martini Popsicles a try. You won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you have enough popsicle sticks!

Strawberry Basil Martini Popsicles

Print Recipe

Ingredients

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• 1 C. sugar
• 1 C. water
• 1 bunch basil leaves (1 large handful)
• 1 lb. container strawberries (about 4 cups)
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 C. vodka
• 1/4 C. vanilla greek yogurt

Instructions

1. In saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stir in basil leaves and remove from heat. Let cool, then strain out basil leaves.
2. In blender, add simple syrup, strawberries, lemon juice, vodka and yogurt. Blend well.
3. Pour into popsicle molds. Freeze.