These refreshing cola popsicles are made with homemade cola with kola nut powder for a natural lift. With the classic cola flavors of cinnamon, citrus and vanilla and no corn syrup, you'll be slurping on these all summer long.
After the success in making my homemade cola I just had to have a go at turning them into cola popsicles. I have tweaked the recipe, replacing all the white sugar with brown sugar for a deeper cola color. This make the popsicles less sweet, so if you like you're sweeter replace half a cup of brown sugar with white sugar instead.
I've also added my secrete ingredient to stop the popsicles from separating. Jam set may seem like a weird thing to add to popsicles but trust me on this! During recipe testing I made them without the jam set at first and they were delicious but they separated out a bit when freezing. A little bit of jam set helps keep everything where is should be a keep them a uniform color.
Warning - kola nut powder contains caffeine. This recipe is not suitable for children unless you leave out the kola nut powder. Kola nut powders can vary in their strength and caffeine content, so always check the label and only get your kola nut powder from reputable sources.
Ingredients and substitutions
Kola nut powder: was one of the original ingredients in a lot of colas and contains naturally occurring caffeine. The kola nut gives a natural lift to this cola. It is available from some health food and specialty stores. Kola nut powders can vary in its strength to its important to always read the label and adjust the amount of kola nut powder accordingly.
Brown sugar: also called light brown sugar, adds to the classic caramel colour of this cola. You can use dark brown sugar if you prefer. If you use white sugar your cola will be a lighter color.
Oranges: this recipe uses orange zest and juice. The zest contains orange oils and adds flavor and some bitter notes.
Lemons: this recipe uses lemon zest and juice. As with orange, the zest contains lemon oils that add flavor and bitter notes.
Limes: this recipe uses the zest from one lime and the juice from half a lime.
Cinnamon: this recipe uses ground cinnamon to add characteristic cola flavor to this recipe. You could try using cinnamon sticks but they are more expensive and won't give the same depth of flavor.
Ginger: this recipe uses freshly grated ginger to give it maximum warmth. At a pinch you could use ground ginger instead but it won't have the same depth of flavor.
Nutmeg: this recipe uses ground nutmeg. You could use freshly ground nutmeg if you prefer.
Vanilla: You can use real or imitation essence as your preference and budget allows, or a freshly scraped vanilla pod if you prefer.
Citric acid: helps add some acidity and that classic bitty mouth feel of colas.
Jam set (optional): also know as pectin. The jam set helps give these popsicles a uniform color when freezing and prevent the ingredients from starting to separate. You can leave it out if you prefer but your popsicles may have more of a graded color.
How to make cola popsicles
Measure out the cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander seeds and kola nut powder into a small bowl.
Great the ginger and add to the small bowl. Add the brown sugar, water and measuring spices and ginger to a medium sized pot on the stove. Heat on medium high, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes or so.
While the cola is simmering, zest and juice the orange, lemon and lime. You can use the fine side of a grater or a zester to zest the citrus.
Once the mix has finished simmering allow to cool for about five minutes. Ad the citrus juices and zest, vanilla, citric acid and jam set/pectin if using. Stir well. Chill in fridge for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
Remove from fridge and strain by pouring through a metal sieve lined with cheesecloth over a large bowl. If you don't have cheese cloth you can use a clean chux instead.
Hot tip: make sure there is enough room in your freezer for your popsicle molds with sticks Before pouring in your popsicle mix, or there will be tears!
Strain cola mix, then pour into popsicle molds. Add sticks and freeze for at least eight hours, preferably overnight.
How to serve
To serve remove from popsicle molds and enjoy!
How to store
These popsicles will store well in an airtight container in the freezer with some baking paper between them to stop them sticking together for up a month, but I doubt they will last that long!
Have you made this recipe? Tell me how it went in the comments below and tag me on Instagram so I can see your delicious creations! @keep_calm_and_eat_icecream
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📋 Recipe
Cola popsicles
Equipment
- Popsicle molds and sticks
- Metal sieve and cloth to strain such as cheesecloth or a clean chux.
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon kola nut powder *optional. Powders can vary to always check the label.
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
- ¾ cup (165gms) brown sugar or light brown sugar *for sweeter popsicles you can replace half a cup of brown sugar with white sugar
- 3 cups (750mls) water
- 1 orange, zest from the whole orange, juice from half
- 1 lemon, zest from the whole lemon, juice from half
- 1 lime, zest and juice from the whole lime
- ½ teaspoon citric acid
- 1 and ½ tablespoons jam set or pectin *optional, but your popsicles may separate without it
Instructions
- Measure the cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander seeds and kola nut powder into a small bowl.
- Great the fresh ginger root and add it to the bowl with the spices.
- Add the brown sugar and water to a medium sized pot on the stove.
- Add the spices and ginger. Put onto a medium high heat and stir well to dissolve the sugar.
- Cover with a lid, turn down low and simmer for about twenty minutes.
- While the cola is simmering, zest and juice the orange, lemon and limes.
- Remove cola from heat and allow to cool.
- Add the citrus juice and zest, vanilla, citric acid and jam set/pectin.
- Cover pot or transfer to a covered heat proof container and chill in fridge for about two hours to allow flavors to develop.
- Strain popsicle mix through a metal sieve lined with a cheesecloth over a large bowl.
- Fill popsicle molds and add sticks.
- Freeze for at least four hours or until frozen.
- Once frozen remove from molds and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate based on an online database. The nutritional content of ingredients may vary by brand. If you require accurate nutritional information, you should calculate this based on the specific brands and products you are using.
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Sylvie says
Oh my these look SO refreshing for summer! And much healthier than drinking an actual Cola. I'm sure kids go crazy for them too!
Sarah Brooks says
Thanks Sylvie. Yes without the kola nut powder the kids love them to! And good to know exactly what's going into your cola popsicles, with no high fructose corn syrup added.
Robyn says
Delicious! And what a great tip about the jam set - thanks for sharing!
Sarah Brooks says
Thanks Robyn! Yes jam set is my no so secret ingredient to stop popsicles from separating. Works really well for fruit popsicles to 🙂