Funfetti Pudding Pops

May I just forewarn you all that I do believe I might be obsessed with popsicles this year? (And I’m obviously obsessed with funfetti — who isn’t?)

I bought a set of ice pop molds and I’m not going to lie, I wanted to scream every time I tried to get a popsicle out, but now I think I finally have the hang of it. The trick is running them very briefly under hot water. I’m sure this is old news to most people but it was obviously something I had to learn gradually.

Now that I can actually get the stinkers out of the molds, my mind is going a million miles a minute with new popsicle ideas. Today we’ll look at pudding pops: smooth, creamy and nostalgic. Be sure to try my classic pudding pops recipe, too. There are lots and lots of flavors you can make!

Let’s celebrate a bit with festive funfetti pudding pops! Kids love them. And they are a good source of calcium. And sprinkles.

Can you still buy Jell-O pudding pops? They are no longer available. Although they were really popular, pudding pops were discontinued in the 1990s. Happily, it’s very easy to make your own!

Homemade Pudding Pops

Easy, easy, easy! Want to know a great thing about homemade popsicles? They are beyond easy to make! They won’t take you more than five minutes, start to finish, and you’ll only need one bowl. Just remember that they need at least 3 hours of freezer time!

Inexpensive. You’ll find that homemade pudding pops are much, much more economical than store-bought and way less expensive than ice cream trucks.

Only 3 ingredients. Pudding pops start with an instant pudding mix, add milk, whisk it up, stir in the sprinkles and freeze. Done.

Make it a special occasion. Because sprinkles come in tons of colors and shapes, you can make pudding pops to match any occasion from birthdays to holidays.

Ingredient Notes

• Instant Pudding Mix: It doesn’t matter whether the mix is sugar-free or regular, as long as it’s instant pudding and not the kind that has to be cooked. Any flavor is fine but vanilla really showcases the sprinkles.
• Milk: Whole milk, 2%, or skim milk is fine. Just remember the creamier the milk, the creamier the pudding pop. I usually compromise with 2%. I haven’t tested these with non-dairy milk such as almond milk but I’m thinking it would be fine.
• Funfetti Sprinkles: Some folks call them jimmies. Choose colors to match the occasion. If you have extra funfetti sprinkles, try my funfetti cookies or cake mix blondies.

How To Make Pudding Pops

Make the pudding. It’s so easy! Simply blend the pudding mix and milk together until the mixture begins to thicken. I like to use a mixing bowl with a pouring spout or a large measuring cup so it’s easier to fill the molds.

Add the sprinkles and quickly fold them into the pudding.

Pour into molds and freeze for at least three hours. That’s all there is to it!

Tip For Success

Gently fold in the sprinkles. Don’t overmix the pudding once you put the sprinkles in. Your sprinkles may bleed their color and you’ll end up with gray icky-looking pudding pops. Stir the pudding and milk together first until the mixture begins to thicken and then fold in the sprinkles.

Use hot water to unmold the popsicles. When the popsicles are frozen solid, gently run them under hot water for a few seconds until they loosen from the mold.

Make It Your Own

• Use any flavor of instant pudding.
• Sprinkles of any color or shape can be used.
• Freeze purchased pudding cups. Store-bought pudding can be frozen. It will have the consistency of ice cream according to Can You Freeze This. I suppose if you stuck a popsicle stick into the container you could make pudding pops that way.

Storage Tips

Pudding pops can be frozen indefinitely. Most molds come with a handy stand so they’ll sit upright in the freezer while they solidify but once they’re frozen, you can bundle them together in a freezer bag.