When traveling Europe, its a rule you must have an Aperol spritz a day (it keeps the doctor away). But, if you’re home and want to have them ready at a moment’s notice without actually having to measure and make one, then these Aperol spritz popsicles are just the recipe for you. While writing For The Love of Popsicles, I learned popsicles make really great stirrers (beyond just being delicious to snack on) and work in place of plain old ice. So basically, you make these Aperol popsicles, then when you want one, simply place it in a glass with Processo. As it melts, you have a delicious cocktail!
Just what the doctor ordered
Everything is measured and mixed once, and then it’s done. No messing around in the kitchen when you actually want the spritz. Nothing special is needed, just the basic ingredients of an Aperol spritz plus a little flavor enhancer 😉 (it’s only 4, if you’re wondering).
Go grab these ingredients
The traditional Aperol spritz uses just Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water as the base ingredients. But to make it into a popsicle, we have to change up the classic recipe a bit! Here’s what you’ll need
Alcohol & Liquor: Like any good spritz cocktail, this popsicle uses Aperol and Prosecco. The Unusual: To add a little flavor and sweetness, I added lemonade and orange juice. This also helps with the texture as it freezes (rather than club soda, which would lose it’s carbonation when frozen).
How to make Spritz popsicles
Just like my Hugo Spritz, this popsicle Aperol spritz is equally fast and simple. And with my intense love of popsicles, you’ll get all the popsicle tips for how to make and unmold them perfectly!
Change It Up
I’ve encountered many types of spritzes in my travels (and you bet I always order them for “research”). These popsicles can be customized just as much as their drink counterpart. Here are some fun variations.
Grapefruit: Swap the lemonade for grapefruit juice. Rosé: Try using a slightly sweet rosé instead of Prosecco. Strawberry: Blend strawberries with the lemonade and use double to replace the orange juice with all strawberry lemonade. You can also add a little rhubarb syrup for a true summertime flare. Watermelon: Blend and strain watermelon and use the blended fruit to replace the orange juice. Make it tropical: Swap the orange juice for mango or guava juice. Or, the lemonade for passionfruit. Fresh fruit or herbs: Drop in cut fruit like berries or herbs like basil and mint into the popsicle molds. Not only will this be gorgeous, but as it melts, the flavors will continue to enhance the spritz.
Why this Recipe Works
If you’ve been under the assumption that alcohol doesn’t freeze, you would be correct…kind of. Aperol does freeze but only partially, so here’s what I did to make sure it freezes well.
Adding in the juice helps give the mixture more that will freeze, versus being mostly alcohol. Leave the Prosecco out because while it does freeze, this stops the carbonation. We want the bubbles!
These are best enjoyed as cocktail spritzes, not just as popsicles along. You can eat it as a popsicle, but it will melt quickly and taste pretty strong. If you want to do that, I’d recommend putting the mixture in tall, skinny freeze-pop bags rather than a popsicle mold, and adding more lemonade and orange juice to balance out the flavors
May I get an Aperol spritz and…?
Aperol spritz popsicles can be enjoyed as part of brunch, with appetizers, or with a main meal. Here are just a few of my favorite pairings.
Creamy Caser Beans on Toast is a savory brunch staple that pairs perfectly with the dry notes of this Aperol spritz popsicle. Cottage Cheese Salad may sound unusual, but trust me, it’s an ideal starter to any meal, especially with a glass of Aperol. Truffle Pizza, similar to this spritz, is a recipe that feels elevated but is so easy to make!
P.S. for another fun take on an Aperol spritz, try our festive holiday Cranberry Aperol Ice Cubes!
