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Here’s how to make the BEST paletas recipe! As the author of a bestselling popsicle cookbook, I’ve perfected this icy treat down to a science. These Mexican-style popsicles are packed with fresh fruit and come in 4 delicious flavors.

Mexican paletas on a blue background

Your Favorite Summer Snack

This paletas recipe throws together two of the best food groups – Mexican food and popsicles – and we are so here for it. (And yes. Those are food groups. The food pyramid is dead.)

For the uninitiated, paletas (pronounced puh-LEH-tuhs) are Mexican-style popsicles. Where conventional popsicles typically contain juices and artificial flavorings, paletas boast fresh, local, real fruit!

They can be either water-based (paletas de aqua) or milk-based (paletas de leche). Today, we’re making water-based fruity paleta flavors, choose-your-adventure style! What’ll it be: strawberry, mango, pineapple, or kiwi?

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“It worked out amazzzzzing it was so yum” —Shivam

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4 fruit flavors of Mexican paletas on a blue background

Ingredients & Substitutions

The ingredients list for this paletas recipe is short—let the seasonal fruit shine! Jump to the recipe card for full measurements.

  • Fruit: We’ll blend half of it and leave the other half in chunks to add fun texture to our paletas.
  • Sweetener: Sugar or honey make great sweeteners for ice pops. Not only do they add sweetness, but their molecular structure helps to improve the texture of the popsicles. For this reason, we don’t recommend artificial sweeteners.
  • Citrus: Lime juice helps to cut through the sweetness (while keeping the color of your fruits bright!). You could replace the lime with lemon or even orange juice.
Three strawberry popsicles rest on a blue surface, surrounded by whole and sliced strawberries, reminiscent of a delightful paletas recipe.
For a fun twist, throw in: vanilla extract, basil, banana, orange (juice), or lemon zest!
Mango popsicles, mango cubes, and a sliced mango are artfully arranged on a blue surface, offering a glimpse of the perfect paletas recipe.
To change things up, add: pineapple, orange juice, chamoy, chili powder, or strawberries.
Three pineapple popsicles and sliced pineapple are artfully arranged on a light blue surface, offering a refreshing glimpse into a delightful paletas recipe.
For variety, you could add: passion fruit puree, guava, basil, or mango.
Three kiwi popsicles, evoking a refreshing paletas recipe, are placed on a blue surface, surrounded by whole and sliced kiwis.
Some fun varieties could be to add: spinach (they’re already green, why not amp up the nutrition?), apple, mango, or strawberry.

Bring the Tajin!

Tajin is a Mexican seasoning with mild chili peppers, lime, and salt. It’s great on fruit, veggies, the rim of drinks, and…paletas of course! If you want to supercharge your paletas with flavor, dip each paleta in a glass of water then sprinkle with a dash of tajin (a little goes a long way!)

Colored fruit paletas recipe with tajin on a blue background
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Four paletas in four flavors on a blue background.
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How To Make Mexican Paletas

5 from 13 ratings
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 4 hours 5 minutes
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 10 3-oz popsicles
Here's how to make the best paletas recipe! These Mexican-style popsicles are packed with fresh fruit and come in 4 delicious flavors.

Ingredients 

Fruit (Pick One)

  • 6 cups roughly chopped strawberries, fresh or frozen and thawed
  • 6 cups roughly chopped mango, fresh or frozen and thawed
  • 6 cups pineapple chunks, fresh, canned, or frozen and thawed
  • 6 cups roughly chopped kiwi, about 12 kiwis

The Rest

  • ¼ cup sugar or honey
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • Water as needed
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Instructions 

  • Blend: Choose the fruit you want to use, then divide it in half. Finely chop half of the fruit and set it aside. Put the remaining fruit in a blender, along with the sugar and lime juice. Blender until smooth, adding a splash of water as needed to get things moving.
    Diced kiwi pieces inside a blender, viewed from above, ready to create a refreshing paletas recipe.
  • Mold: Stir chopped fruit into blended mixture. Pour into molds, leaving a little space at the top for them to expand. Firmly tap the mold on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Insert sticks and freeze until hard (at least 4 hours).
  • Serve: Run the mold under warm water for a few seconds to loosen them up, then remove from the mold.
    Green popsicles with wooden sticks rest in a light green mold against a blue background, inspired by a classic paletas recipe.

Notes

Tajin makes a fun topping! Just dip each paleta in a glass of water then sprinkle with a dash of tajin (a little goes a long way!)
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
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3 Comments

  1. Shivam says:

    5 stars
    This paleta recipe looks amazing I am going to try it nowww!!!!!

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      Would love to hear how it turns out for you!

    2. Shivam bisnath says:

      5 stars
      It worked out amazzzzzing it was so yum