Nettle Popsicles | Healthy Popsicles for Kids

Nutritious nettle popsicles are a refreshing summer treat. These herbal popsicles are also refreshingly simple to make. Kids can enjoy making and eating them, too.

Summer is still in full swing here on the mountain. My toddler, whom I affectionately call Little Bear, is soaking up as much of it as he can. He can spend hours playing with rocks and sticks, blowing dandelion wishes in the breeze, and digging joyfully in the garden.

The man of the place often reminds me, while we swing serenely with our youngest son, Wilder Baby, and watch Little Bear play, that the sunshine and dirt are good for his health. These herb-infused popsicles are healthy for him, too. Plus, they’re a great way to beat the heat of the afternoon or cool down in the evening just as the lightning bugs start twinkling among the trees.

Although I enjoy making a variety of popsicles for Little Bear, this is one recipe I make the most. These hot, carefree days seem to call for something simple. There are no creamy layers or fruit fillings, but thanks to the nettle infusion base, they are filled with vitamins and minerals, which growing little bodies need. Summer is sweet — popsicles don’t have to be.

Little Bear had his first sip of a nettle infusion before he even drank plain water. To this day, he still loves to drink his share from my mason jar. And he gets even more excited about these homemade herbal popsicles.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This herbal popsicle recipe is super easy. It’s basically just two ingredients: dried nettle and water. All you do is make a nettle infusion, pour it into popsicle molds, and freeze them. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

You can get creative and make new combinations simply by adding another herb, a splash of citrus, or a natural sweetener.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that stinging nettle is just a common weed. Nettle is rich in important trace minerals and nutrients like zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and selenium. It also contains vitamins A, C, D, and K, along with B complex vitamins like folate and niacin. Plus, it provides essential amino acids and is a good source of the antioxidant beta-carotene.

As you’ll see from the deep green color it turns the water, it is also highly concentrated with chlorophyll. Little Bear has been picky when it comes to his veggies recently, so I’m glad he’s getting the goodness of greens with these nettle popsicles.

Tips for Nettle Popsicles

• You can sweeten these nettle popsicles with honey, if your child is old enough to have it, and maple syrup makes a great vegan substitute.
• Adding a squeeze or two of lemon or orange zest to your herbal popsicles is another way to add flavor.
• Nettles are energizing without the downside of caffeine. As a sleep-deprived mama, I always pour myself a cup when I pour it into the molds.
• For an extra nutritional boost, combine with another nourishing, gentle, mild herb such as oatstraw. (That’s the combination I use in my favorite lactation drink.)
• I’ve found that the wide mouth mason jars make adding the herb easier. You could use a large funnel, too.
• Warm the glass jar by rinsing it with warm water before adding the herb. To absorb some of the heat from the boiling water and prevent breaking the glass, I also put a metal spoon or knife in it. Be careful when removing it because it gets hot.
• I prefer to let the infusion steep at night, while I’m in bed. Then it’s ready the next morning.
• Once the infusion is ready, and after removing the band, I like to use the tip of a spoon beneath the lid to break the seal.
• When straining, you can press on the wet herb(s) to squeeze out more liquid.
• I prefer using stainless steel popsicle molds and wooden popsicle sticks. There’s no plastic and the finished pops have a vintage vibe.
• If you don’t have a lot of dried nettle or time on your hands, you can make a tea first instead of an infusion. Tea will use a smaller amount of the herb and steep for a shorter amount of time. Sometimes, I’ll make these treats just for myself using a nettle tea with lavender or rose petals.
• If the herbal popsicles don’t release easily from the molds, try running them quickly under warm water.

Important Note

Use your parental intuition and seek qualified medical advice if you are uncertain about or have never given your child this plant. Please carefully watch your child for signs of a negative reaction. Just as peanuts are not safe for everyone, not all herbs are safe for all people.

Tools You May Require

• Measuring cup
• Quart-sized glass jar with lid
• Tea kettle
• Sieve or tea strainer
• Popsicle molds

How to Make Nettle Popsicles

1. Add one cup of dried herb to a quart-sized glass jar. For example, one cup of dried nettle (Urtica dioica) alone or half a cup of nettle plus half a cup of dried oatstraw (Avena sativa). It should be about an ounce by weight.
2. Fill the jar with boiling water. You can stir the herb, if you wish, but it isn’t necessary.
3. Put the lid on the jar and steep for 4-10 hours.
4. Strain out the plant material.
5. Add a natural sweetener or a squeeze of citrus, if you desire. (Little Bear prefers his herbal popsicles plain and simple.)
6. Pour into popsicle molds.
7. Add popsicle sticks and freeze for at least three hours or until solid.

If you try this recipe and love it, please let me know in the comments!