Boozy Pineapple Sweet Tea Ice Pops are my newest fave adult ice pop creation. Pineapple tea is steeped with
I got the idea from a friend of mine who was telling me about this amazing iced tea mix and how he changed it up a bit to be more tropical by adding in frozen pineapple chunks. I decided on one hot 116 degree Las Vegas day to take the pineapple sweet tea a step further by making them into boozy ice pops.
I find it funny when we visit Hawaii and I always end up purchasing items on one island that were made on a different island.
We went to Maui two years ago, took me until this year to purchase Pau Maui Vodka while on the Big Island. Next year when we go to Maui I will probably buy something made on the Big Island. I am weird like that.
Pau Maui Vodka is distilled in small batches from Maui Gold pineapples. The distillery is in upcountry Maui where their own Maui Pineapples are grown next to sugar cane fields. Once the vodka is distilled in custom designed glass stills it is mixed with crystal clear Hawaiian spring water. Even though this vodka is made from pineapples there is no taste or hint of pineapple in the vodka.
I really like this vodka in cocktails and especially in these pineapple sweet tea ice pops. Vodka goes well with iced tea and I had to go with a pineapple vodka since I was using pineapple sweet tea. I didn't want to use a flavored vodka since I wanted the flavor of the tea to shine through.
Remember ice pops as a kid? There were so many names for them, Otter Pops being one. Fun names to go with the flavors, but the flavors were more like overly sugary food dye pops. No actual flavor. Just high fructose corn syrup and food dye. Sure they were refreshing, but not that good for you. I found these ice pop bags on Amazon one day and ordered a ton.
I love making ice pops for my kids. I fill them with fresh fruit purees so they get all the healthy goodness from fresh fruit and it still tastes like a special treat. Sometimes I add in some fruit juice with the puree or even leftover smoothie with protein powder added in for a high protein frozen treat. My kids love them.
I happened to have a few packs left of the ice pop bags and wanted to use the for these pineapple sweet tea ice pops instead of using my usual popsicle mold. Healthy ice pops for my kids, boozy ice pops for my husband and I. Life is all about balance, right?
Making these boozy pineapple sweet tea ice pops is pretty easy. I make the iced tea first. I make it with double the iced tea bags for a stronger tea flavor and I substitute out some of the water for cold coconut water. I have in the notes in this recipe to make these non-alcoholic.
With the alcohol in them it does take a bit longer to freeze since alcohol doesn't completely freeze solid. These will have a slushier texture to them once completely frozen and do melt pretty quickly. A good reason to eat them fast!
If you don't have the ice pop bags you can always use a traditional popsicle mold. The ice pop bags hold just under ⅓ c of liquid and traditional molds use a little over ⅓ cup. Using the ice pop bags takes up less freezer space since you can lay them all flat on a baking sheet or plate, while the traditional molds take up more space.
And if you only have one mold then you have to wait 24 hours to freeze the second batch. Either way works, just one method takes a bit longer to freeze.
Hope you are having a wonderful and not too hot of a summer. Like we are having here in Las Vegas. The heat calls for more days spent at the pool with a good book, hat, sunscreen, a jug of ice water and of course these boozy pineapple sweet tea ice pops to keep me cool.
Pau Maui Vodka can be purchased in well stocked liquor stores or online. Just check to make sure you can get it delivered to your state. I found the Pineapple Ice Tea mix at Cost Plus World Market but it can also be found on Amazon or other places where Republic of Tea is sold.
Boozy Pineapple Sweet Tea Ice Pops
Ingredients
For the Pineapple Tea:
- 2 Pineapple Iced tea Pouches*
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup cold coconut water
For the Pops
- 4 cups Pineapple Tea*
- ¾ cup-1 cup Simple Syrup*
- 1 cup Pau Maui Vodka
- 1 cup Pineapple Juice
- ½ cup lime juice
- Zest from 2 limes
- 1-2 cups frozen pineapple, diced
Equipment needed:
- Sealable tube popsicle bags, Zipsicle*
Instructions
- 1. Make the pineapple tea. Place tea bags in a quart size glass measuring cup. Boil 3 cups water. Add to the tea bags and steep for 7-8 minutes pressing the bags gently against the side of the cup to get as much flavor out as possible. Remove the bags and squeeze any excess liquid out into cup, add in the cup of cold coconut water. Chill completely
- 2. In a pitcher combine all the ingredients up to the lime zest and mix well. Taste and add more simple syrup if desired. Add in a tablespoon of diced pineapple to the popsicle bag then carefully fill to the fill line with the tea mix. About ⅓ tea mix per ice pop. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Repeat for remaining pops.
- 3. Freeze for 12-24 hours until completely frozen. The vodka will slow the rate of freezing. They will be frozen after 24 hours but not rock hard like popsicles without alcohol in them. Transfer pops to a larger resealable bag.
Notes
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