Despite my age, I still get a little excited whenever I treat myself to a popsicle.  Fudgesicles used to be my favourite frozen snack, but years ago, I turned my back on them when I started giving up unnaturally flavoured, processed foods.  So imagine how happy I was when I found recipes for homemade fudgesicles.  I love that I can now make adult fudgesicles that have a dark chocolate flavour without fructose or corn syrup.  I tested two highly rated recipes and have posted my favourite below.  I’ll never crave a processed fudgesicle again.  🙂

Fudgesicles Recipe

adapted from On a Stick by Matt Armendariz (original recipe posted here)

makes 7 medium-sized popsicles;  Note that you may need to adjust this recipe depending on the size/type of your popsicle mold (see here for a picture of my popsicle mold).

3 tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips or chopped semisweet chocolate

1/3 cup granulated white sugar (Note:  I wanted these to be “adult” fudgsicles and I wanted them to taste like dark chocolate, so if you’re making these for kids, I recommend using 1/3 + 1/6 cup of sugar.)

1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

2 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted  (Note:  I wanted these to be “adult” fudgsicles and I wanted them to taste like dark chocolate, so if you’re making these for kids, I recommend using 2 or 2 1/4 tbsp of cocoa)

1 cup heavy whipping cream (35%) or whole milk

3/4 cups whole milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp unsalted butter

pinch of salt

In the bottom of a medium saucepan over the lowest heat setting, gently melt the chocolate chips, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula.  When the chocolate is smooth, stir in the sugar, cornstarch, sifted cocoa powder, cream, milk and salt and raise the heat to medium.  Cook this while stirring frequently until it thickens significantly, up to 10 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and butter and set aside to cool slightly.  Then pour it into your popsicle mold.  Place in the freezer overnight or until the fudgesicle is frozen all the way through.  (Note that if you try to unmold the fudgesicle before it has completely set, the stick will come out leaving the fudgsicle behind.  This happened to me because I was too eager to try one.  Simply put the stick back into the fudgsicle and freeze the popsicle for a few more hours.)  To unmold, run the bottom of the popsicle mold under hot running tap water until the popsicle slides out easily; this will only take seconds.