The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find My Kids Beg For

The weather is warming up, the school countdown has officially begun, and frozen bananas and half-finished smoothies are slowly overtaking my freezer. Summer isn’t quite here yet, but I’m already in prep mode, mentally planning beach days, al fresco dinners, and ways to survive snack-hungry kids for ten solid weeks.

When I spotted popsicle molds at Dollar Tree, I didn’t hesitate. At $1.25 for a set of six, I knew I’d thank myself for buying them later. And honestly? I already have. My kiddos saw the unopened box on the counter for about a week and asked me daily when we could finally make popsicles. We officially did it—several times now. These little molds are shaping up to be my favorite summer parenting trick—and the season hasn’t even started.

Why I Love the Dollar Tree’s Popsicle Molds

They’re perfectly designed for little hands (and appetites). Unlike store-bought popsicles that leave my 4-year-old covered in sticky drips and a sugar rush, these have a built-in cup to catch drips and a straw for slurping them up. It helps mitigate catastrophe.

They’re not fancy metal molds with sculpted shapes that give your treats a vintage popsicle feel. They’re just plastic sticks attached to small containers. But they work. They’re great for making popsicles and solving several of my everyday kitchen conundrums—like saving leftover smoothies.

Instead of watching the remains slowly separate in my fridge, I pour the excess into these molds, and by snack time, our morning leftovers have transformed into an intentional frozen treat.

I’ve started freezing leftover applesauce, the last bits of yogurt, and even overripe bananas mashed with milk and honey. I also rescued a batch of chocolate pudding that didn’t set properly. Once I froze it, no one knew the difference.

The best part? Clean-up is criminally easy. A quick rinse with soapy water is usually all they need, or they can go straight into the dishwasher (top rack). And when they’re not in use, they stack neatly in a cupboard.

Some of My Favorite Popsicle Combos

I’ve got Limoncello Yogurt Pops and Peach Daiquiri Popsicles at the top of my list of grown-up popsicles to try. And I’m dreaming about freezing leftover sangria for warm weekend evenings. My husband and I even talked about making Vietnamese-style coffee pops with cold brew and sweetened condensed milk for an afternoon pick-me-up.

The kids’ favorite is “surprise pops”—Greek yogurt blended with berries and a hidden gummy bear or two in the middle. It’s amazing how excited they get about yogurt when buried treasure is involved. They also love “chunky monkey” pops made with bananas, milk, peanut butter, and a few chocolate chips for a sweet treat.

For a five-quarter investment, these little molds have already saved me money on frozen treats, rescued food that would’ve been tossed, and turned me into the mom of the year.

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