Homemade red, white and blue pops

A layered red, white and blue freezer pop makes for a simple, fruit-based option for Fourth of July celebrations. It mimics the look of the familiar rocket-style popsicle, which brings back childhood memories for many adults now sharing the holiday with their own children and grandchildren.

For six pops, use about 1 1/2 cups plain or vanilla yogurt, divided into three equal portions for the red, white and blue layers. For the red layer, stir 1/2 cup yogurt with about 1 teaspoon or less of freeze-dried strawberry or raspberry powder until smooth. Sweeten with 1 to 2 teaspoons coconut syrup or local honey, blending until there are no thick spots. For the blue layer, repeat the process, mixing in about 1 teaspoon of freeze-dried blueberry powder or blue spirulina powder and a couple teaspoons of coconut syrup or honey. For the white layer, just use the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt so the stripe stays bright between the red and blue.

Options to consider include sugar-free yogurt, vegan yogurt or swapping cow’s milk or plant-based milk for the yogurt. Keep in mind that a thicker yogurt base helps the layers stay more distinct in the freezer.

To mimic the rocket shape, use store-bought popsicle molds, which are often available at local discount stores and sometimes already shaped like rockets. Any narrow, tapered mold will give a similar look.

As a simple alternative, small paper cups or sturdy plastic cups can be used; fill them and insert wooden sticks or reusable handles once the first layer is slightly firm. The layered colors will still reflect the rocket-style pop, even if the molds are not exact, so feel free to get creative.

Pour the red mixture into molds, filling about one-third of each, and freeze until the top is firm, about one hour. Add the white layer and freeze again, then finish with the blue layer. For a faster option, carefully spoon each layer in one after the other and place the molds straight into the freezer; the colors may soften together slightly but will still show a red, white and blue pattern.

Freeze several hours or overnight until solid, then remove from molds and serve. The recipe can be doubled for a larger batch.