These lemon, lime, and bitters popsicles are a refreshing twist on a classic Australian drink. The perfect treat for a hot summer's day or any day.
In case you haven't heard of it Lemon, Lime, and Bitters is a nonalcoholic drink commonly served in bars, pubs, and restaurants in Australia. If fact it's so popular according to some reports its the second most ordered soft drink with a meal, after coco-cola.
I never knew but the drink is an Australian invention. It's traditionally made with Angostura Bitters. In the 1840s Angostura Bitters was used on British Royal Navy ships to treat seasickness so the story goes. Lemonade and bitters became all the rage in the colonies and in London back home. At some point, the lime was added. The drink itself is traditionally made in a highball glass with a shot of the lime cordial top, topped with lemonade or lemon soda, and finished with a slide of lemon or lime and a couple of dashes of Angostura Bitters on top. This basic recipe is still made all over Australia and is a refreshing nonalcoholic alternative.
In this recipe, I've pumped up the citrus with fresh lemon and lime juice, topped with zest-infused sugar syrup and a few good dashes of Angostura Bitters. Angostura Bitters is readily available from liquor shops. You can substitute it with other fresh bitters if you want or leave it out altogether.
Either way, these are a deliciously refreshing treat on a hot summer's day or any day for that matter.
Looking fore more tangy citrus desserts? Why not try making my fabulous homemade lemon ice cream. Luscious, creamy and bursting with lemon flavor! Or fresh and juicy lemonade popsicles or lime popsicles. Delicious!
To make the lemon, lime and bitters popsicles
Use a small sharp knife to carefully cut zest strips off one lemon and two limes. Try not to go too deep into the fruit if you can help it. The white pith underneath the skin is bitter (and not in a good way). You want enough skin on the lemon and limes to juice them afterward.
Add the zest strips to a small saucepan along with the sugar and half a cup of water. Stir on low heat until the sugar is dissolved, then put a lid on the pot and simmer on low for five minutes. Do not boil. You want to slowly infuse the oils and aromatics from the zest. If you boil it they will boil off.
Turn off the heat and leave the pot on the stove for at least ten minutes to cool, longer if you can.
Juice the lemons and limes until you have half a cup each of lemon and lime juice. This was about three and a half lemons and four limes on this occasion. It will entirely depend on how big and how juicy your lemons and limes are, which is why I give juice measures in cups, not x many limes, etc.
There are a few ways of getting more juice out of your citrus. You can roll them on a board or try popping them into the microwave for about fifteen to twenty seconds. Either way, you will get a lot more juice out with a citrus juicer than you will by hand.
Strain the lemon and lime juice and add to a large jug. Remove the zest from the cooled sugar syrup and add to the lemon and lime juice.
Add the Angostura Bitters. Top up the water to make a total volume of 2 ½ cups (600ml) and stir well.
Hot tip: Make sure there is enough room in your freezer for you popsicle moulds Before you fill them and try to put them in the freezer, or their will be tears!
Fill the popsicle molds. For added prettiness, you can pop the molds in the freezer for a few hours, then poke in some thinly sliced lime and pop a few extra drops of bitters on top, then add the sticks. Otherwise, add the sticks when you fill the molds.
Freezer overnight for at least 12 hours.
Remove from molds and enjoy! These lemon, lime and bitters popsicles are the perfect refreshing treat for a hot summer's day or any day!
Looking for more homemade popsicle recipes?
Why not try making my
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Lemon, lime and bitters popsicles
Equipment
- Popsicle molds and sticks
Ingredients
- ½ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup lime juice
- ½ cup (110gms) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon Angostura Bitters *optional
- water - to top up total mix volume to 2 ½ cups (600ml)
Instructions
- With a sharp knife cut zest strips off one lemon and two limes
- Add sugar, lemon and lime zest and half a cup of water to a small pan.
- Simmer on low heat until sugar is dissolved. Put a lid on the pan and continue to simmer on low for five minutes.
- Turn off heat and leave to cool for ten minutes.
- Juice lemons and limes. Strain and add to a large jug.
- Once syrup is cool, remove zest and add to jug with lemon and lime juice.
- Add Angostura Bitters
- Top water in jug so its all 2 ½ cups (600ml) in total, mix well
- Pour into moulds and add sticks
- Freeze overnight or at least 12 hours
- Remove from moulds 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
Lemon Lime and Bitters is one of my husbands favourite drink - he would absolutely ADORE these popsicles!! Will have to make them for him when summer comes around 🙂
Bec
These look and sound amazing! I look forward to making them when the weather warms up.
Jaimie
That's my kinda popsicle! Saved for when the weather warms up 😀
Alex
These sound lovely and refreshing - I shall look forward to trying them! I love LLB!!
Sally
I love lemon lime and bitters on a hot day so this looks like the perfect alternative!
Gavin
LOVING the addition of bitters - super refreshing combo but that little kick from the bitters is GREAT!