Enjoy watching the sun set on a warm summer day while enjoying these refreshing Tequila Sunset Freezer Pops in hand!
I'm a big fan of boozy desserts. Sure, I enjoy a cocktail every now and then (By now you know: I'm much more of a wine person). But my favorite way to enjoy hard liquor is when it's incorporated into a tasty treat.
Fresh off the heels of these Tropical Margarita Popsicles, I've got a new boozy summer treat for adults to indulge in at the end of a long day. Enter: Tequila Sunset Freezer Pops!
What is the difference between a Tequila Sunrise and a Tequila Sunset cocktail?
The answer is complicated. Some people say the only difference is the order in which you add the ingredients: a Tequila Sunrise has the red (grenadine) on the bottom, while the Tequila Sunset has the red on the top. Much like how a sunrise and a sunset appear in the sky.
Others say that a Tequila Sunrise has orange juice while a Tequila Sunset has grapefruit juice.
Finally, there is another camp of cocktail lovers who claim a Tequila Sunrise has grenadine, while a Tequila Sunset contains blackberry brandy.
My Tequila Sunset Freezer Pops are a little bit of all of these definitions.
What ingredients are in a Tequila Sunset?
To make these Tequila Sunset Freezer Pops, you'll need:
- Orange juice
- Tequila Blanco
- Grenadine
- Maraschino cherries
What equipment do you need to make this recipe?
You'll need:
- A bowl or a measuring cup with a spout to mix the orange juice and tequila together.
- Six freezer pop bags. These are the freezer pop bags that I use. They come in a pack of 125 bags for $10.95. You can find inexpensive ones online, but I've also seen a few at places like Target.
- The bags I have also come with a green collapsible funnel (shown in the photo below) to help pour liquid into each bag.
- A tall glass or two to keep the bags upright in your freezer.
Tips for making these boozy freezer pops
- Use a funnel or a 2-cup measuring cup with a spout to pour the orange juice/tequila mixture into each of the bags. This helps prevent spills.
- Use tall glasses to keep the bags upright while you fill them with the cocktail mix. Then use the same glasses to hold the filled bags upright while they are in your freezer.
- Make sure the first layer of orange juice + tequila mixture is completely frozen before adding the grenadine and maraschino cherry. And once you take that first batch out of the freezer, work quickly to add the grenadine and maraschino cherries.
- Every freezer is different, and depending on the day you make this, the weather could impact how well these pops freeze -- and how long they will stay frozen.
Does alcohol really freeze?
Alcohol on its own needs to be at -150°F in order to freeze. However, when you mix alcohol with another liquid, it changes the freezing point. And if the ratio is such that there is much more non-alcoholic liquid to alcohol, then the liquid is able to freeze.
In this particular recipe, there is a 4:1 ratio of orange juice to tequila. Therefore, the amount of tequila is small enough to allow this recipe to freeze up and give you a delicious cocktail popsicle!
NOTE: because there is alcohol in this, once you take it out of the freezer, it will start melting sooner than a regular non-alcoholic popsicle will. So you should keep them in the freezer until you are ready to eat one!
More Summer Dessert Recipes
- Pineapple Mango Sorbet Recipe
- Tropical Margarita Popsicles
- Strawberry Rhubarb Popsicles
- Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe: Boozy Chocolate Peanut Butter Floats
- Boozy Berry Smoothie Shots
Tequila Sunset Freezer Pops
Ingredients
- 2 cups orange juice
- 4 ounces Tequila Blanco
- 6 Maraschino cherries
- 2 tablespoons grenadine
Instructions
- Mix orange juice and tequila together, then pour into prepared freezer pop bags. Seal and freeze for 4-5 hours.
- Once frozen, place one Maraschino cherry in each bag and fill up to the fill line with grenadine. Place into the freezer again and freeze for at least 1-2 more hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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Many thanks to Batanga Tequila for sending me a bottle of their Tequila Blanco, which was the inspiration for this recipe! As always, all opinions, recipes, and photos are my own.
Tara says
Gorgeous freezer pops! I love that swirl of color. Such a perfect treat for summer.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thank you Tara!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
These sound like the perfect summer treat for grown ups! Will definitely be trying these!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Hope you love them too Bintu!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
I'm pretty sure we're sisters who were separated at birth! I'm usually a wine drinker too, but love to experiment with alcohol in desserts! This is perfect for quarantine weekends in my backyard!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Love it, Lisa!! Always glad to meet another fan of boozy desserts :).
Anjali says
Omg these were the perfect addition to our backyard socially distant picnic this week! Refreshing and fun - everyone loved them!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Yay! Glad everyone loved them. Thanks Anjali!
Emily Liao says
These freezer pops were so delicious! Such a fun summer treat.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Glad you love them, Emily! Thanks!