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Cherry Ice Pops

Cherry ice pops on ice cubes.
Photograph by Tonje Thilesen, Food styling by Lauren Stanek, Prop styling by Charlotte Autry

These ice pops taste like they came from an ice cream truck (in the best way!) thanks to a secret ingredient: cherry-flavored Jell-O powder. When mixed into a base of blended fresh or frozen cherries, sugar, and lemon juice, the gelatin creates a firm but not overly icy texture and a flavor evocative of cherry candy.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 minutes (plus 6 hours for freezing)

  • Yield

    Makes 8–10 (depending on molds)

Ingredients

2 cups pitted fresh or frozen sweet cherries
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cherry powdered gelatin
Pinch of kosher salt
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 13–14-oz. jar maraschino cherries

Special Equipment

8–10 ice pop molds and sticks

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring 2 cups pitted fresh or frozen sweet cherries and 1 cup water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until cherries are softened, 9–11 minutes. Carefully transfer to a blender; reserve pan. Cover and blend until smooth. Strain cherry juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring glass; discard solids.

    Step 2

    Return ½ cup cherry juice to reserved pan; add 2 Tbsp. sugar and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, then immediately remove pan from heat. Add 2 Tbsp. cherry powdered gelatin and a pinch of kosher salt and stir until dissolved. Stir in remaining cherry juice and 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice.

    Step 3

    Divide between ice pop molds and add a few maraschino cherries (about 3) from one 13–14-oz. jar maraschino cherries to each mold. Insert sticks, cover, and freeze ice pops at least 6 hours.

    Do Ahead: Ice pops can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep frozen.

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