Today’s Spotlight is on Cherry Popsicle’s.

Cherry popsicles are a sweet, healthy treat that is easy to make and can help cool you down in the summer. They are made with fresh cherries and lemonade and have a natural red color from the cherries. You can sweeten them with natural sugars like honey, agave, or maple syrup.

Cherry popsicles are softer and crumblier than regular popsicles and will defrost quickly if left outside the freezer.

 

History

The cherry-flavored popsicle was invented in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson. Epperson accidentally invented the treat when he mixed soda powder and water and left it out overnight. The next morning, he found the drink frozen like an icicle. Epperson introduced the treat to the public in 1922, selling them in an amusement park in Alameda, California.

The original name of the Popsicle dessert was “Epsicle”. Frank Epperson, the inventor of the Popsicle, called his invention the “Epsicle”. The name was a portmanteau of “icicle” and his name.

Epperson’s children called the dessert “Pop’s ‘sicle”. The name “Popsicle” stuck. Epperson patented the frozen treat in 1923 and began selling it to the public at Neptune Beach, an amusement park in Alameda, California.

 

Here are some reasons why popsicles may still be popular over 100 years after they were invented:

• Low calorie and sugar content. Popsicles have roughly 40 calories and 7g of sugar per piece, which is almost half of the sugar content of ice cream.
• A summertime staple.
• Cherry is the most popular flavor. According to the official Popsicle website, cherry is the all-time most popular flavor.
• Attractive appearance. Epperson filed a patent for the popsicle in 1924, explaining that he wanted to create a frozen treat that was “attractive in appearance”.
• Annual Sales – More than 2 billion Popsicle-brand ice pops are sold annually.

 

Here is a popsicle recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• Kool-Ade or your favorite cherry flavor drink
• Popsicle Sticks

 

Instructions:

1. Mix the Kool-Ade or cherry flavored drink per the instructions.
2. Pour the drink mix into molds.
3. Place the popsicle sticks in the molds.
4. Place in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours
5. Remove the frozen popsicles from the molds.
6. Enjoy!

 

Here are some fun facts and world records about popsicles:

• The popsicle was invented by accident in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson.
• Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda and water outside overnight with a wooden stirrer in the cup.
• The mixture froze due to the cold evening temperatures.
• Epperson kept the invention secret for 18 years.
• The original flavors of popsicle were grape, cherry, lemon, banana, orange, root beer, and watermelon.
• There are now more than 25 flavors.
• The Guinness World Record for popsicle eating was set in 2012, eating six in one minute.
• The largest popsicle in the Guinness Book of World Records is a giant Rocket ice lolly that weighs 20,020 lb and was made in 1997 in Hellendoorn, Netherlands. Jan van den Berg and his friends from the Dutch village Katwijk aan den Rijn made the popsicle.

 

National Cherry Popsicle Day is celebrated annually on August 26th. People celebrate National Cherry Popsicle Day by enjoying sweet, juicy popsicles to cool down on a hot summer day. The cherry popsicle is considered a joyful representation of summer fun. Let us know in the comments how you plan to celebrate.