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Home » Recipes » Desserts

Sweet Tea Ice Pops

Stacey – August 2, 2016 – 21 Comments

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Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!

It was early morning.  Jack was pressed firmly against me as we bounced along on the bus.  His arms wrapped tightly around my left arm; the orange glow of sunrise flashed on his face as the light streamed intermittently through the trees.  An even tighter squeeze on my arm was followed by, “I love you so much, Daddy.  Thank you for letting us go on this trip,” he said.

It was one of those moments where, as a parent, I wanted to remember every detail.  I studied the freckles on his nose, his dark brown eyes.  I leaned over to breathe in the smell of his hair.  I paid attention to his clothes, his shoes, the pitch of his voice. I made an effort to etch all the details of that exact moment into my brain.  I think one of my greatest fears as a parent is that one day many of these amazing little moments will leave me – that I won’t remember the details, that my aging brain will fail me.

I breathed it all in and held my breath, hoping to make it all stick.  So that one day I might be able to live in that moment again when Jack is off at college, or starting his first job, or busy raising a family of his own.

I worry about him not having summers like I did as a kid.  I was outside from dawn till dusk with the neighborhood kids building forts, hosting lemonade stands, exploring streams, and waging epic battles.  With Heather and I both working, he spends all summer at day camp.  And while he loves it, I feel like he’s missing out.  With the debilitating realization that I have exactly 10 summers left before he goes off to college, I felt like a trip was in order.

He and I don’t often do things just the two of us, so this trip was special.  Disney World is somewhere that we visit often, but this trip was different for that exact reason – it was just the two of us.  And while it was by necessity that it was just us – Heather couldn’t get the time off from work – I was kind of glad.  Not that we wouldn’t miss her, but just that it gave us guys some time to spend together and be silly and act crazy and do “guy stuff.”

I knew all the while that this child beside me wasn’t a baby any longer, but also wasn’t too far from being a teenager.  I knew that in just a few years, he’d avoid sitting anywhere near me, much less pressed against me as he was.  So I knew I had to soak it in.  And I did.  And we got off the bus and we played and we laughed and we ate funnel cakes for breakfast and rode one ride 10 times.  And I let him make all the decisions.  And I forgot about deadlines and how the trip was using all of my leave. And I forgot about daily the struggle to balance life, and job, and and blog.  I lived right in that moment.  And he did too.  And it was amazing.

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Sometimes you just need to let go and let things be amazing.  And work hard to let it all sink in.  And remember all the details.  And sometimes you just need to forget that another summer is almost over…

Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!

And sometimes you need to make homemade ice pops.  I’d call them Popsicles, but that’d be illegal cause the folks at Unilever own that word, so I can’t call them that.  So I’ll call them ice pops.  But you know what they are.  And it helps if those ice pops are sweet tea flavored.

To start, bring 4 cups of water to a simmer.  Turn off the heat and add 1 family-size tea bag to the water.  Allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes or until it’s strong like you like it.  Remove the tea bag and stir in 3/4 cup of sugar.  Continue to stir until it has completely dissolved.  Allow to cool to room temperature then pour into an ice pop mold.  This is the one I have and I absolute love it.  It’s enough liquid to fill at least 10 3-ounce pops.

Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!

Be sure to leave some space in each one so there’s room for them to expand as they freeze.  Pop the top on and add a stick if your mold doesn’t already have them and pop them in the freezer.  Freeze for about 4 hours or until completely frozen.

Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!

With my mold, it helps to run a little room temperature water over them to get the pops loose from the mold. You can always add a few pieces of fresh fruit or berries to the mold before you add the tea if you wish for even more flavor.  I love adding blackberries, raspberries, and even sliced peaches.  Y’all enjoy!


Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!

Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!
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Recipe Card

Sweet Tea Ice Pops

Servings 10 (3-ounce) pops
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 1 family size tea bag
  • 3/4 sugar

Instructions

  • In a medium pot heat the water to a simmer. Turn the heat off and add the tea bag. Allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the sugar and continue mixing until it has all dissolved. Allow the tea to cool to room temperature and then pour it into your pop mold, being sure to leave a little space in the top of each one to allow for expansion. Freeze for about 4 hours or until the pops are completely frozen.
Beat the oppressive summer heat with these amazingly easy Sweet Tea Ice Pops!
Did you make my Sweet Tea Ice Pops?I'd love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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  1. Jackie L Hahn-Winans

    February 6, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    where did you buy those mold?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      February 7, 2019 at 12:14 pm

      Hi Jackie! This one came from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2GzdfEZ

      Reply
  2. Angela

    March 29, 2018 at 6:27 am

    Thank you for this recipe. My granddaughter has multiple food allergies and I’m always on the lookout for a treat that she can eat. This fills the bill! And, she loves them.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 3, 2018 at 4:18 pm

      Love hearing that!!!

      Reply
  3. Donna

    March 16, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    I know this is down the road a bit from when you posted it, but I had to tell you I enjoyed this so much. I wish I could pass a copy of it out to every parent I know (maybe they don’t need it, but it was just so enjoyable to read. Of course, the sweet tea “ice pops” were what caught my eye, and I will be trying them. ThankUmuchly!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 21, 2017 at 10:37 am

      You’re so sweet to say that, Donna. Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. Bev Ross

    August 3, 2016 at 9:59 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I love making all kinds of pops. I have a mold very similar to your except it is all metal. I like that you can see through yours so you know how full to make it. Mine will make 14 at a time. It is so fun and refreshing to make these. I love your blog.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Thanks, Bev! Hope you’ll enjoy these too!

      Reply
  5. Kathy

    August 3, 2016 at 11:07 am

    Love this post! My “children” are 28 & 26 now but I can still remember those one-on-one moments that are so dear. Being intentional is everything because childhood passes so quickly. Soak it up!

    The ice pops look great too – wonder how they would be with just a little lemonade mixed in?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:43 am

      Yes, I think adding a little lemonade would be awesome!

      Reply
  6. Mary // chattavore

    August 3, 2016 at 10:53 am

    What a sweet post, Stacey! I love how your love for your family is so obvious from every post. And the ice pops look very tasty!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:43 am

      Thanks, Mary!

      Reply
  7. Nancy

    August 2, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    I love your blog and recipes but I can’t tolerate the advertisement that comes up in the lower right corner. There is nothing I can do to get rid of it! Very annoying to put it mildly. First time I’ve seen it. If you continue to have it I just won’t read your emails and will drop off of your list. It’s about Travel. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:45 am

      I’m so sorry, Nancy! All the pop up ads should have an x in the upper right hand corner of the ad for you to close them. If you’re not seeing that let me know and I’ll let my ad team know. Those ads are what helps me to be able to offer my recipes for free to y’all. I know they can be frustrating, but please understand.

      Reply
  8. Nana

    August 2, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Yes-treasure every moment you can as childhood is amazingly fleeting. Not looking for an advertisement or endorsement but where did you find such nice molds? I have purchased different ones over the years but never saw a nice set like that.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:47 am

      No problem! Here’s the one I use. I really like it! https://amzn.to/2apUPT5

      Reply
  9. jennifer moreland

    August 2, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    How precious!!!!! My only son is off to college August 12. Enjoy every minute. They will always come back. Children go through stages. Enjoy all of them.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:47 am

      Bless you, Jennifer! I know that day isn’t too far off for us.

      Reply
  10. Rahul @samosastreet.com

    August 2, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    Perfect icy treat!!! Love the idea

    Reply
  11. Melissa @ Served Up With Love

    August 2, 2016 at 10:08 am

    What wonderful memories you made with your little man. So glad you were able to let go of everything and just be daddy. What a great recipe too!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 4, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Thanks, Melissa! It was some much needed time away.

      Reply

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Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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