Keeping a stash of flavored popsicles in the freezer in the summer means you’re never too far from taking a heavenly hiatus from the heat. However, these frozen fells also make tasty treats in the winter when the weather sucks and you need something to keep the kids entertained indoors. That’s why we taste-tested an array of popsicles to find out which ones to stockpile for all seasons. But there was one pack of store-bought popsicles we tried that was too artificial tasting to enjoy; Budget Saver Twin Pops.
The loser in our list of 12 store-bought popsicle brands, ranked worst to best, these ice pops looked vibrant on the outside but didn’t pass muster when it came to flavor. They had an artificial taste, likely down to the high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors in the ingredients list, such as yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1, and red 40. While this assortment of frozen desserts has an eye-catching appearance, the popsicles simply didn’t taste anything close to those made with real fruit because they don’t contain any real fruit; the different colors are simply the result of food colorings rather than fresh ingredients. It was also very tricky to split the twin pops into two without breaking them (there are two lolly sticks in each popsicle so you’re supposed to separate them, presumably for sharing).
Rescue your Budget Saver Twin Pops with melted chocolate and sprinkles
If you’ve got a stash of Budget Saver Twin pops in your freezer, consider rescuing them by dipping them in melted chocolate or yogurt before coating them in sprinkles or chopped nuts. These fresh additions will offset the artificial flavor of the popsicles and turn them into a tastier treat (plus, it’s a great little activity for the kids that isn’t too messy). Better yet, if you’ve got the time, make your own popsicles from scratch with pantry staples like coconut milk, cocoa powder, or fruit juice. In fact, you don’t even need freezer molds to make ice pops — simply pour your mix of juice, milk, or soda into a disposable plastic cup (along with a lolly stick) and freeze. You could even incorporate add-ins like fresh fruit to help anchor the lolly stick in place.
The winner in our ranking was Outshine Fruit Bars. Available in a range of flavors, such as pineapple, strawberry, and mango, our favorite was coconut. As this popsicle includes milk, it had a delightful creamier consistency and rounded flavor. Moreover, there were pieces of shredded coconut incorporated into the recipe, which also features coconut cream, cane sugar, and regular cream. This gave the popsicles an interesting texture and satisfying mouthfeel in contrast to the other varieties, such as strawberry or lime, that don’t contain a dairy element.
