The Papaya Breeze Frosé Poptail ~ this deliciously easy frozen cocktail on a stick is the height of summer elegance. It’s your favorite wine slushie in popsicle form, delish!
I’m kicking off the unofficial start of summer with a whole week of new popsicle recipes, tips, useful links, and DAILY GIVEAWAYS. Homemade popsicles are so incredibly versatile I need an entire week to explore all the reasons why you NEED these in your life this summer. I’m dedicating each day this week to a different kind of popsicle, and today it’s poptails! Sort of a silly name for such a transcendent idea, but if you’re over 21, you’ll want to keep reading…
And don’t forget to leave a comment at the end of the post to be automatically entered to win a different giveaway every day! (details below)
If you’ve never thought of popsicles an an adult indulgence, you’ve got some catching up to do. On a sweltering evening, a cocktail on a stick can be the best way to kick back with friends. You can pattern your poptail after a classic cocktail, or forge new territory by artfully spiking almost any popsicle recipe. One thing to remember — It’s a sad fact that alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature than water, so a true frozen cocktail is impossible to achieve. But you can add about 20-25% alcohol to a popsicle recipe with good results. Alternatively you can use a lower alcohol content beverage like wine. These Papaya poptails are proof that popsicles can be deliciously frosty, elegant…and alcoholic. Nice to know.
This cross between a popsicle and a cocktail is made with equal parts papaya and rosé wine. The marriage results in a not too sweet, not too overpowering frozen treat worthy of the most enchanting summer evening. I loved this one, and I think it would be so perfect for an elegant party. The texture was perfect, and the wine flavor came through nice and strong.
Popsicles are a great way to enjoy unusual fruits, fruits that you’ve seen at the market but don’t buy because you don’t have a clue what to do with them. Tropical fruits like papaya have a mellow, exotic flavor and creamy texture. They puree to a super smooth texture, and freeze beautifully.
I like to serve poptails in some kind of glass. It reinforces the cocktail theme, and it gives people a place to set their poptail down if they want to take it slow.
The Papaya Breeze Poptail
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe papaya
- rose wine or white wine of your choice
Instructions
- Peel the papaya, and cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out all the seeds, and any stringy pith, with a spoon. Give it a rough chop.
- Puree the fruit in a blender or food processor.
- Mix about 1 1/2 cups puree with an equal amount of rose. Stir well to combine.
- Pour the mixture into your popsicle mold. Cover the top of the mold with foil, Flattening out the top with your hands so you can see the outline of each mold. Insert a popsicle stick into the center of each mold. Freeze until solid, 4 -5 hours, or overnight.
- To un-mold the pops, fill your sink with hot tap water. Immerse the mold up to by not past the top rim. Hold for 15 seconds, then remove from the water and slip the popsicles out. If they don't budge, immerse the mold for another 15 seconds.
If you are using hard alcohol, keep your alcohol content to 20% of your total liquid in your poptail recipe. Use darker rums, liqueurs, and flavored vodkas in poptails for the best flavor payoff. With wine, you can go as high as 50%.
Be sure to keep poptails out of reach of children.
For tons more popsicle inspiration, follow my POPSICLE PINTEREST BOARD
And here are a few of my favorite alcoholic popsicles from other blogs (if I missed your favorite, link it up in the comments!) —
Mint Julep Pops from Honesty YUM
Costa Rican Watermelon Mojito Popsicles from The Boulder Locavore
Pimm’s Cup Popsicles from Shutterbean
Cantaloupe, Basil and Lillet Popsicles from Reclaiming Provincial
Pomegranate Merlot Popsicles from 52 Kitchen Adventures
Mudslide Cocktail Popsicle from Bakers Royale
Irish Coffee Ice Pops from Souvlaki for the Soul
50 Comments
Julia Stearns @ Healthirony
February 25, 2019 at 1:24 pmI love these awesomeness papaya breeze poptail! This looks so great, especially with that ripe papaya.
Jill Roberts
July 28, 2017 at 12:25 amThis Papaya Breeze Poptail is the best cold dessert for hot summer! Healthy ice-cream is what i searched! Thx for sharing!
Sue
July 28, 2017 at 7:14 amHaha, well, I guess it is pretty healthy, come to think of it!
BeLinda
May 31, 2017 at 7:48 amThis sounds delish!! Will try it soon!!
Cold Press Juicer HQ
January 27, 2017 at 5:58 pmI have always been a fan of fruit based beverages whether alcoholic or not. I bet these are great with or with out the wine. Going to try them this summer for my kids (non-alcoholic of course). I love to make treats for myself and my kids with fruits. We do a lot of juicing and try to eat healthy.
Somerset Wedding Gal
October 30, 2014 at 10:34 amAwesome, a slightly more healthy and refreshing twist on your typical ice cream!
Sandy Headtke
June 1, 2014 at 1:32 pmReally enjoyed the Papaya Breeze Poptail. Can’t wait to receive my book with more ideas. Thank you for the great giveaway, I really enjoyed popsicle week.
Marilyn
May 31, 2014 at 5:32 pmPapaya…What’s not to like. On the shortlist of popsicle recipes to try soon!!
Jen
May 30, 2014 at 1:39 pmNow this is a fun idea. Great tip on how to incorporate different alcohol at different ratios. I’ll be sharing this recipe for sure. Thanks!
Mary
May 30, 2014 at 4:27 amIn the list to try too!
cindy
May 29, 2014 at 11:01 amWow. I’m drooling. Not a pretty sight, especially at the office.
Louise @ INGREDIENTS
May 29, 2014 at 8:30 amThe colour of these popsicles is pure summer! Stunning!!
theresa hays
May 28, 2014 at 9:01 pmPapaya is one of my favorite fruits and rose wine sounds like a delicious dovetailing of tastes. Can’t wait to try…
Sue
May 28, 2014 at 9:05 pmI’m a recent convert to papaya, and I love it!
Sherry
May 28, 2014 at 5:11 pmHow wonderful you’ve put all these Popsicle recipes in one place. Thank you.
Shari Kelley
May 28, 2014 at 12:25 pmThese sound so interesting and look beautiful!
Lauri
May 28, 2014 at 11:33 amPop tail fun! Who doesn’t want one of these!
Rachel
May 28, 2014 at 10:59 amThese sound absolutely yummy and will be a hit with my ‘Las Mujeres Supper Club’. I’m interested in seeing a lime Popsicle recipe as you can dunk these into glasses of red wine and feel like you’ve been transported to heaven.
Keep these wonderful recipes coming!
Sue
May 28, 2014 at 11:09 amYikes that sounds amazing, I’ll work on one!
Annie @Maebells
May 28, 2014 at 10:19 amSo fun! We are having a girls weekend and these will be perfect!
Sue
May 28, 2014 at 10:25 amMy husband didn’t respond to the papaya/rose combination, (what does he know) but I’m telling you, it was really lovely!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
May 28, 2014 at 7:13 amHow fun…perfect for summer evenings with friends. Now if it would only turn warm here in New England. 🙂
Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower
May 27, 2014 at 10:50 pmThese poptails look so amazing. I can’t wait to give them a try. Now I have to find time to run out and buy the popsicle molds! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession
May 27, 2014 at 10:17 pmHOW CUTE ARE THESE!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m loving that almost coral color of the poptails! I loveeee papayas and mixing them up with rose wine is just WHOAAAAAA!!!!! Making these! <3
cheri
May 27, 2014 at 9:09 pmHi Sue, you are the popsicle queen, another great recipe!
Kitchen Belleicious
May 27, 2014 at 7:44 pmi want one! Or two or three! I mean I dont think you could get any better with this Popsicle.
Charissa
May 27, 2014 at 6:12 pmThis is such a great idea! Can’t wait to try it out!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
May 27, 2014 at 5:13 pmGorgeous poptails, I love the color!
Amy
May 27, 2014 at 4:40 pmSue, you should win a prize for the phrase “cocktail on a stick”! The color of these is dreamy and I agree – a great way to cool down and wind down at the end of a summer day. Your photos are just beautiful.
Linda L.
May 27, 2014 at 4:38 pmThese are perfect for a lazy summer evening gathering or after a swim.
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
May 27, 2014 at 1:52 pmThese ‘poptails’ are so deliciously simple. I’m really enjoying your popsicles week, Sue! I’ve never actually tried making any, but you are giving me all sorts of ideas to try. Thank you!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife
May 27, 2014 at 1:29 pmI absolutely adore papaya! What a perfect summer treat.
Nancy White
May 27, 2014 at 12:41 pmThese poptails look luscious and sound delightful. Can’t wait to try!
Emily {Jelly Toast}
May 27, 2014 at 12:38 pmI just love the word ‘Poptail’ not to mention these look lovely! I need more papaya in my life 🙂
dana
May 27, 2014 at 12:08 pmyum papaya is delicious and so underused
Jennifer
May 27, 2014 at 11:44 amThese look fabulous! I love the idea of Popsicles for adults! I had been planning on making Popsicles this summer for my nephew but love the idea of auntie getting a treat too!
Kate
May 27, 2014 at 11:27 amI am not acquainted with using papaya either. I realize the seeds are a no go for the pops, but I heard the seeds can be eaten and are peppery in flavor. Is that true and have you used them in any recipe?
Kate
May 27, 2014 at 11:24 amSuch a pretty color! I like the simple mix without added sugar. Never knew there were “poptail” recipes out there. Thanks for the foray primer into a new idea to me! This is a fun week, Sue.
Sandy Headtke
May 27, 2014 at 10:54 amPerfect for those warm evenings. Love the color, those look like summer.
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
May 27, 2014 at 10:53 amOh my goodness, you are amazing Sue! These are spectacular! Love, love, love!
Sami
May 27, 2014 at 9:10 amWhat a fun way to welcome summer – I’m really enjoying the week of popsicle recipes!
Matt Robinson
May 27, 2014 at 9:09 amWe are heading to the pool to write some posts today, and I wish I had a couple of these in tow!!! So great!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
May 27, 2014 at 9:05 amOh I just happen to have some left over Rose wine from our picnic – these sound amazing! I made fuzzy navel pops last summer and loved them. You are such a fun blogger! I can’t imagine how tasty these are – thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jen F.
May 27, 2014 at 8:40 amThank you for the tips on how much alcohol will still let your popsicles freeze!