Weight Gainer Mango Popsicles

Embark on a delightful journey to discover how to make high-calorie popsicles designed for effective weight gain. This comprehensive guide will equip you with all the necessary tips to create delicious, calorie-dense frozen treats, including valuable modifications for various special diets. You’ll particularly love our featured creamy mango popsicles, which are thoughtfully crafted to be dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences. Beyond the basic recipe, we’ll delve into strategies for adding protein to these high-cal popsicles, explore the implications of frequent consumption, and much more, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of incorporating these delightful snacks into your weight gain plan.

For a truly unique and refreshing snack that expertly balances sweetness with a subtle hint of warmth, look no further than these vibrant mango popsicles for weight gain! These extraordinary frozen treats stand out not only for their high-calorie content but also for their innovative flavor profile. Crafted with creamy full-fat coconut milk and a touch of aromatic curry powder, these dairy-free mango ice pops offer a surprising yet harmonious combination perfect for dessert. They provide a delightful cooldown on a warm day, accompanied by a gentle, intriguing spice that beautifully complements the mango’s natural sweetness, all while boasting a stunning golden color that’s as appealing to the eyes as it is to the palate.

While often associated with summer, we find ourselves enjoying these nutritious and calorie-rich ice pops throughout the year. Conveniently, the sweet, tropical fruits utilized in these high-calorie ice pops tend to be at their peak ripeness and flavor during the winter months, making them a perfect pick-me-up regardless of the season. Their year-round availability ensures you can consistently incorporate these delicious snacks into your weight gain strategy.

The use of full-fat coconut milk in this recipe is a deliberate choice, offering an excellent, calorie-dense option for individuals with dairy allergies or those who choose to avoid dairy for other health or ethical reasons. Its rich texture and high-fat content contribute significantly to the popsicle’s overall calorie count, making it an ideal base for weight gain. For those without dairy restrictions, incorporating heavy cream is another fantastic way to further boost the caloric density of this already indulgent high-calorie snack, allowing for customization based on individual dietary needs and preferences.

Important Note: If you are experiencing a medical condition that is hindering healthy weight gain, it is crucial to consult with your physician or a registered dietitian. This recipe and accompanying article are primarily designed for healthy individuals who are looking to gain a moderate amount of weight, such as athletes, those recovering from illness, or even children who may be mildly picky eaters and need extra calories in an appealing format. Always prioritize professional medical advice for underlying health concerns.

Full disclosure: While these popsicles are excellent, if your primary goal is rapid weight gain, I often recommend smoothies over ice pops for a cooling treat. I’ll explain why in greater detail within the dietitian tips section later in this article. Smoothies generally allow for quicker consumption of larger volumes, which can be beneficial when trying to increase calorie intake efficiently. However, popsicles offer their own unique advantages. For a smoothie that captures similar delightful flavors to these pops, I highly recommend trying my Mango Lassi Smoothie recipe.

Understanding Popsicle Calories: A Guide to High-Calorie Options

When considering frozen treats, it’s helpful to understand the caloric variations. Standard, icy popsicles – typically made from water, sugar, food coloring, and flavorings – are quite low in calories, usually around 50 calories per pop. In contrast, more decadent options like ice cream pops dipped in chocolate, especially those with added crunchies, can range from 100 to 200 calories or even more. Our specialized high-calorie popsicles aim to maximize calorie density within a refreshing format.

Each of our meticulously crafted high-calorie popsicles delivers approximately 101 calories, along with 17 grams of net carbohydrates and 0.7 grams of protein. It’s important to note that the precise nutritional information can vary slightly depending on the specific size of your popsicle molds and any minor ingredient adjustments. This nutritional data is based on a recipe yield of nine substantial high-cal popsicles, ensuring a consistent and effective contribution to your weight gain goals.

The Remarkable Benefits of High-Calorie Popsicles for Weight Gain

The definition of the best popsicles for weight gain is highly individual, depending significantly on the person’s unique needs and circumstances. For individuals experiencing low energy levels, perhaps due to illness or recovery, alongside the need to gain weight, ease of consumption becomes a paramount factor. In such cases, if store-bought ice pops are the most manageable option at a given moment, that is perfectly acceptable and should not be a cause for concern.

While this recipe utilizes maple syrup for sweetness, an alternative approach is to create a pureed date paste. This can add natural sweetness without relying on added sugars, offering a slightly more nutritious profile. However, this method does require additional preparation time and effort. If the inclusion of some added sugar simplifies the process and encourages you to consume more calories with less effort, there should be no guilt associated with that choice. The primary objective is to increase caloric intake effectively and enjoyably.

What constitutes “better” or “healthier” in the realm of food and nutrition is always context-dependent, hinging entirely on an individual’s specific dietary requirements and goals. Here are several compelling reasons to embrace and try this adaptable high-calorie popsicle recipe:

• Effortless Meal Prep: If your energy fluctuates, you can efficiently prepare these pops during periods of higher energy. This allows you to have a supply of delicious mango goodness readily available whenever you desire a quick, calorie-boosting snack, minimizing effort during low-energy times.
• Minimize Food Waste: This recipe offers an ingenious solution for utilizing over-ripe mangoes that might otherwise be discarded due to being too mushy for eating fresh. Furthermore, you can creatively transform leftover smoothies into high-calorie popsicles, further reducing food waste and expanding your frozen treat repertoire.
• Pure Ingredients, No Artificial Additives: Taking control of your diet means choosing what goes into your food. With homemade high-calorie popsicles, you dictate the ingredients. This recipe ensures there are no artificial sugars, no synthetic colors, and no corn syrup, offering a cleaner, more natural frozen treat option.
• Inclusive for Special Diets: For individuals navigating special dietary restrictions, meeting caloric needs can often be a challenge. These particular ice lollies are inherently plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, making them an excellent and accessible option for a wide array of dietary patterns without compromising on flavor or calories.
• Abundant Real Fruit Goodness: By incorporating whole fruits into this recipe, you gain a tangible advantage over typical juice popsicles, which often lack fiber. You’ll benefit from a good source of fiber, alongside generous amounts of provitamin A and vitamin C, contributing to your overall nutrient intake.
• Remarkably Easy to Make: If you opt for pre-chopped fresh or frozen mango, the preparation time for this recipe is astonishingly brief—less than 5 minutes. The process simply involves blending all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth, then pouring the mixture into molds and freezing. It’s truly that straightforward!
• Simply Delicious! Beyond all the health and convenience benefits, these popsicles are incredibly tasty, making weight gain an enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Essential Ingredients for Your High-Calorie Popsicles

Crafting delicious and effective popsicles for weight gain requires a specific selection of ingredients focused on maximizing caloric density and nutritional value. Here’s your straightforward shopping list to get started:

• 3 cups of ripe to over-ripe mango: The riper, the better for natural sweetness and creamy texture.
• 0.75 cup of full-fat coconut milk: A dairy-free, calorie-dense base that provides rich creaminess.
• 0.25 cup of maple syrup: Adds concentrated calories and a delightful natural sweetness.
• 1 teaspoon of curry powder: An optional but recommended ingredient for a unique flavor twist and beautiful color.

For this recipe, the quality and ripeness of your mangoes are paramount. Opt for the ripest mangoes you can find, or even those that are slightly over-ripe, as they contribute significantly to the popsicles’ natural sweetness and overall deliciousness. The more mature your mangoes, the more intensely flavorful and sweet your ice pops will be.

Since the core purpose of this recipe is healthy weight gain, it is crucial to avoid low-calorie substitutions. Do not use light coconut milk or sugar-free syrups. We deliberately select high-calorie, nutrient-dense ingredients to create a truly effective high-calorie recipe. This is precisely when lighter, low-fat, or “skinny” alternatives should be set aside in favor of ingredients that provide concentrated energy.

The addition of curry powder serves multiple purposes. It not only imparts a unique and intriguing flavor profile but also enhances the visual appeal of these pops, giving them a vibrant, beautiful golden hue. Visual appeal can play a significant role in appetite stimulation, as we often “eat with our eyes” before our taste buds. However, if the idea of a spicy dessert doesn’t align with your preferences, rest assured that you can confidently omit the curry powder without compromising the structural integrity or caloric density of the popsicles.

Essential Equipment for Making High-Calorie Popsicles

Gathering the right kitchen tools will make the process of creating these delicious high-cal popsicles smooth and enjoyable. Here’s the essential equipment you’ll need:

• A good quality knife: For peeling and chopping your mangoes.
• A Y-peeler: Efficiently removes mango skin.
• A powerful food processor: Crucial for blending ingredients into a perfectly smooth puree.
• Popsicle molds with accompanying sticks: The containers where your frozen treats will take shape.

If you opt for the convenience of pre-peeled and pre-cut frozen or fresh mango, you can bypass the need for a knife and peeler entirely, making the preparation even simpler and quicker. This small adjustment can significantly streamline your cooking process.

When it comes to popsicle molds, silicone varieties are highly recommended. Their flexible nature ensures that the frozen pops release with remarkable ease, preventing any frustration often associated with rigid plastic molds. For a hassle-free experience, consider investing in these specific pop molds. Once you experience the effortless release of silicone, you’ll never struggle to extract ice pops from hard plastic molds again!

Crafting Your High-Calorie Popsicles: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

It’s time to create your delightful high-calorie ice pops! Follow these straightforward steps for a perfect batch:

1. Begin by carefully peeling your ripe mangoes. Once peeled, chop the mango flesh into uniform ½-1 inch (1.27-2.54 cm) dice. This size is ideal for efficient blending.
2. Next, transfer the chopped mango, full-fat coconut milk, maple syrup, and curry powder (if using) into your food processor. Blend the ingredients thoroughly until the mixture transforms into a completely smooth and creamy puree. During the blending process, if you notice any ingredients sticking to the sides of the processor bowl, simply pause the machine, scrape down the sides with a spatula, and then resume blending until everything is perfectly smooth.
3. At this point, you have the option to taste the popsicle “batter” and make any desired adjustments. If you prefer a bolder spice or additional sweetness, you can add more curry powder or maple syrup and blend again. Remember, extra sweetness can often encourage greater consumption, which is beneficial for weight gain goals.
4. Once blended to your satisfaction, carefully pour the smooth mixture into your prepared ice pop molds. Secure the lids and insert the popsicle sticks. Place the filled molds in the freezer and allow them to freeze until solid. This typically takes several hours, or ideally, overnight, to ensure they are firm and perfectly formed. Enjoy your homemade high-calorie treats!

🥭 Boosting Calories and Flavor: Creative High-Calorie Popsicle Add-Ins

While our mango and curry popsicle recipe offers a unique and delicious flavor profile, you are certainly not limited to these ingredients. Feel free to unleash your creativity and mix things up to create high-cal pops using any flavors you adore! The key is to incorporate calorie-dense ingredients that contribute to your weight gain goals while satisfying your taste buds.

For example, if you’re looking for an entirely different, rich, and indulgent option, consider transforming my Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie for Weight Gain into popsicles. The creamy blended avocado, rich peanut butter, and naturally sweet Medjool dates used in that smoothie are all fantastic high-calorie foods that are highly effective for promoting healthy weight gain.

Here is an expanded list of high-calorie foods and ingredients you could ingeniously add to your popsicles to further boost their caloric content and enhance their flavor:

• Heavy whipping cream: For an ultra-rich, dairy-based calorie boost.
• Coconut cream: A thicker, even more calorie-dense alternative to coconut milk, perfect for dairy-free options.
• Ice cream: Blend in your favorite ice cream for an instant calorie and flavor upgrade.
• Fruit juice concentrates: Offers concentrated fruit sugars and flavors, higher in calories than regular juice.
• Chopped bananas: Adds natural sweetness, creaminess, and extra carbs and calories.
• Soaked dried fruit: Dates, raisins, apricots, or prunes, soaked and blended, provide intense sweetness and concentrated calories.
• Nut butters or seed butters: Options like almond butter, sunbutter, cashew butter, or peanut butter are excellent sources of healthy fats and protein, significantly increasing calorie density.
• Dry milk powder: A versatile, calorie-dense ingredient that can be added to any base for extra calories and protein (dairy option).
• Peanut powder: A concentrated form of peanuts, high in protein and calories, with less fat than butter.
• Date syrup: A natural, high-calorie sweetener made from dates, offering a unique flavor.
• Avocado: While not traditionally sweet, ripe avocado adds incredible creaminess and healthy fats, boosting calories without overpowering flavors.
• Cooked sweet potato or pumpkin puree: Adds creaminess, natural sweetness, vitamins, and calories.
• Seeds (chia, flax, hemp): While not intensely high-calorie alone, they add healthy fats, fiber, and can subtly boost caloric content, especially if blended well.

Frequently Asked Questions About High-Calorie Popsicles

How to Make Protein Popsicles for Weight Gain?

If popsicles are intended to be a significant component of your diet, especially for weight gain, incorporating adequate protein is essential. Fortunately, there are many effective options for creating protein-packed pops. Consider adding Greek yogurt or kefir for a dairy-based protein boost and a tangy flavor. For a more concentrated protein source, whey protein powder or a plant-based protein powder (like pea or brown rice protein) can be seamlessly blended into your popsicle base. To enhance palatability with unsweetened protein powders, a splash of fruit juice can add natural sweetness. You can even create specialized popsicles using nutritional supplements like Ensure popsicles or Breeze protein pops for those with specific medical or dietary needs.

How to Make Low-Carb Popsicles for Weight Gain?

When the goal is weight gain, I generally advise against adding the complexity of a special diet like low-carb, unless it is medically necessary. Simplicity often leads to greater adherence and success in increasing caloric intake. That being said, it is certainly possible to create high-calorie, low-carb (keto-friendly) popsicles by focusing on high-fat ingredients and utilizing low-carb sweeteners. For instance, a base of heavy cream or full-fat coconut cream combined with low-carb berries (such as raspberries or blueberries) and a sugar substitute like Swerve or erythritol can yield delicious and calorie-dense low-carb ice pops.

What Happens When You Eat a Lot of Popsicles?

While delicious, it’s generally not advisable to build a complete, nutritionally balanced diet predominantly around popsicles. Relying too heavily on them can lead to the displacement of more nutrient-dense whole foods in your diet, potentially causing nutrient deficiencies over time. Furthermore, consuming a large quantity of high-sugar popsicles rapidly or in one sitting can lead to what is known as dumping syndrome, characterized by unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. This is particularly relevant for individuals with sensitive digestive systems. Moderation and balance are key, ensuring popsicles complement, rather than replace, a wholesome diet.

Which is Healthier, Ice Cream or Popsicles?

As with many dietary questions, the “healthier” choice between ice cream and popsicles depends entirely on your individual health goals and nutritional needs. Typically, clear, icy popsicles (those without a creamy base) tend to be significantly lower in calories compared to most ice creams. However, ice cream often offers a broader spectrum of vitamins and minerals. This is largely due to the dairy milk base found in traditional ice cream, which provides essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, and a good amount of protein. For general nutrient density, ice cream may have an edge, but for a lighter, lower-calorie treat, icy popsicles are usually preferred.

What Are the Healthiest Popsicles?

In terms of general nutrition and promoting overall well-being, the healthiest popsicles are typically those made with minimal processing and natural ingredients. My recommendation would be an ice pop with no added sugar (meaning no maple syrup, honey, white sugar, or other refined sweeteners). Furthermore, the healthiest options usually contain no artificial food colorings and are composed primarily of whole food ingredients, such as blended fruits and vegetables, ensuring a maximum nutritional punch with minimal additives. These truly embody a wholesome frozen treat.

👩‍🍳‍ Explore More Healthy Popsicle Recipes

Looking for more innovative and healthy popsicle recipes to expand your frozen treat collection? Here are a few additional ideas that are both nutritious and incredibly delicious:

• Sugar-Free Banana Popsicles: A naturally sweet and creamy option perfect for satisfying your cravings without added sugars.
• Watermelon Mango Popsicles: A refreshing and hydrating blend of tropical fruits, ideal for a light and fruity snack.
• Papaya Popsicles: An exotic and vibrant recipe featuring the unique flavors of papaya, melon, and pineapple.

Watch How to Make It!

High Calorie Popsicles (Mango Popsicles for Weight Gain)

Summer Yule

Learn how to make high calorie popsicles!

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Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 5 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American, Indian

Servings: 9

Calories: 101 kcal

Ingredients

• 3 cups ripe mangoes
• ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon curry powder (optional)

Love this recipe? Please leave a comment below 😊

Instructions

1. Peel the mangoes and chop them into ½-1 inch dice (1.27-2.54 cm).
2. Place the mango, coconut milk, maple syrup, and curry powder in a food processor. Blend it into a smooth puree. If ingredients are sticking, stop the processor and scrape down the sides with a spatula before you continue blending.
3. Pour the mixture into ice pop molds and freeze for several hours (or overnight). So easy!

Equipment

• Knife
• Peeler
• Food Processor
• Popsicle Molds

Notes

💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule

This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Do popsicles make you gain weight? Can you get fat from eating popsicles?

In general, I wouldn’t say popsicles are fattening. In fact, I would consider healthy popsicles made with whole food ingredients to be good for weight loss.

Even though these popsicles are packed with full-fat coconut milk and high carb mango, they’re only about 100 calories each. To gain weight, you need to maintain a calorie excess, which can be harder with low-calorie, high-volume foods.

Plus, you generally have to slow down a bit when eating popsicles. It tends to be easier to guzzle a cool drink, which is why I recommend shakes instead of popsicles for weight gain.

That said, there are some advantages to using this recipe as part of your weight gain strategy. You can often use popsicles for nausea, when you’re having trouble keeping anything down. Ice pops provide hydration, vitamins, and minerals you may not be getting elsewhere.

However, keep in mind this high calorie popsicle recipe is a snack, not a complete meal. In terms of macros, you’re getting a fat and carb combo that’s low protein.

Protein is considered the most filling macronutrient. As a result, some find it’s easiest to eat more calories when a food is high in fats and carbs but lower protein. However, you do still need to get adequate protein regardless of your weight and calorie goals.

If you find popsicles are displacing meals in your diet, you will need to add some protein. I have tips on making protein-packed popsicles in the FAQ section of this post.

Nutrition information is for one popsicle, but those trying to gain weight should eat more. The calorie count (and other nutrition info) for this recipe depends on your yield. This may vary depending on the size of the pop molds you use.

Nutrition

Keywords

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