Looking for a recipe for homemade Mini Milk Ice Lollies? This variation is so like the real thing — but the great thing with these milk lollies is, you can make them as big as you like!
There is not a great deal nicer in life than an ice lolly on a hot day is there?
When I was a child my mum would occasionally treat me to one from the ice-cream van, that stopped on the corner by our house; it’s tinny tune alerting all the children in the neighbourhood, that it had arrived.
Mini Milk Ice Lollies
It was always the same order — a Orange Maid ice lolly for my dad, a Strawberry Mivvi for my mum — and Mini Milk ice lollies each for my sister and me.
Not the pink or brown variety but the plain, white one.
My favourite.
I remember wishing that they were a little bit bigger; looking at my mum and dad’s lollies and wondering why they weren’t the same size as that.
And, as an adult, I sometimes catch myself wondering the same thing. Milk ice lollies are still a firm favourite — but they’re too small!
I remembered the other day that my mum had some Tupperware ice lolly molds — and she’d make orange squash — or blackcurrant — ice lollies.
I recall sucking the juice, so hard, until there was nothing but ice left on the stick.
And with these thoughts of childhood, flooding back, I decided to buy some lolly molds of my own in a bid to give my boys the same kind of memories.
But instead of orange or blackcurrant, I decided to make some homemade milk lollies.
Only not the mini variety — but proper full size ones!
Easier said than done though.
Quick View of What You'll Find on This Page
Mini Milk Ice Lollies Recipe
After Googling ‘homemade ice lollies recipes’ — and being bombarded with differing ideas on how to make milk ice pops — I set out to recreate the perfect mini milk ice lolly; only bigger.
I tried various recipes I found online but none of them were quite right; some with yoghurt, others with cream or custard.
I finally found one that used condensed milk, which sounded promising but the ratios were all wrong for my palate.
It was so sweet it made my ears itch.
But — after a few attempts — I created my own perfect recipe for homemade mini milk ice lollies.
Can You Freeze Milk into Ice Lollies?
The simple answer is yes you can.
But after a little bit of trial and error, I realised that there are a couple of factors that will make a difference to the texture of your homemade mini milk ice lollies.
Firstly, the fat content in the milk.
When I used whole milk, the lollies crystallised. Semi skimmed milk seems to ensure a nice and smooth consistency.
Secondly — and this is only as a result of a couple of messages from readers — it seems that the temperature of your freezer is also a deciding factor when you freeze milk into ice lollies!
My lollies have never crystallised when I use semi-skimmed milk but our freezer is set to -17°.
A lovely reader got in touch to say that her homemade mini milk ice lollies crystallised, even when using semi-skimmed milk.
When I told her what temperature our freezer was set to, she realised that hers was set to -23°!
Whilst I can’t guarantee you’re lollies with me nice and smooth, these two factor seem key in ensuring that they will!
Homemade Mini Milk Ice Lolly Recipe
For 6 Lollies
You will need:
100ml sweetened condensed milk
400ml fresh semi skimmed milk
Method:
1. Whisk the sweetened condensed milk together with the semi-skimmed milk.
2. Pour into lolly molds. Mine are stainless steel lolly molds from Amazon.
3. Freeze for around 6 hours — I tend to leave mine overnight.
They’re sometimes a bit tricky to remove from the metal molds but I’ve found the quickest and — and easiest — way is to pass a chef’s blow-torch flame over each one.
Don’t try this method of you have plastic lolly-molds! I’d suggest running them under a warm tap!
4. Et voila. Enjoy!
Sweet and creamy milk ice lollies, with such a lovely texture and just the right amount of sweetness.
The perfect pick-me-up on a hot summer’s day.
Save and Print ‘How to make Homemade Milk Ice Lollies’
Homemade Mini Milk Ice Lollies
This recipe is great for homemade Mini Milk ice lollies; but the great thing is, you can make these milky ice lollies as big as you like!
Ingredients
- 100ml sweetened condensed milk
- 400ml fresh semi skimmed milk
Instructions
- Whisk the sweetened condensed milk together with the semi-skimmed milk.
- Pour into lolly moulds.
- Freeze for around 6 hours — I tend to leave mine overnight.
- Et voila! Delicious milk lollies. Eat and enjoy!
Notes
When I used whole milk for this recipe, the lollies crystallised and were very icy. Using semi skimmed seems to give them a nice, smooth and creamy consistency.
Also, our freezer is set at -17°
They're sometimes a bit tricky to remove from the metal moulds but I've found the quickest and — and easiest — way is to pass a chef's blow-torch flame over each one. Don't try this method of you have plastic lolly-moulds! I'd suggest running them under a warm tap!
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 104Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 13mgSodium 60mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 0gSugar 15gProtein 4g
Calculations was calculated by Nutritionix and is approximate
PS — if you like this recipe, you may also like my recipe for creamy caramel ice lollies! Alternatively, instead of putting the milk ice cream mixture into moulds, why not create a tub full, so instead of mini milk lollies you could create mini milk ice cream!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
These look so good, we’re definitely going to give these a try with Lily. Can I ask where you got the lolly molds from please? Thanks x
Hi Lucy! They are so good!! There was definitely a bit of trial and error to begin with — initially they were quite sweet but I think this ratio is pretty spot on!! I got the moulds from Amazon :)
Hi Claire, I will do.Thanks for the pointer; I’ll have a look at the website you suggested :)
Hi Caro desperately wanted these to work but found that despite mixing the milk and condensed milk well clearly when put in the freezer the condensed milk fell to the bottom of the moulds prior to the mix setting :( so the top of the ice lolly was very sweet and the bottom crystallised milk only really :S any advice? Thanks
Hi Maya,
I’m so sorry to read this!! I tried them out again on the weekend to see if I could recreate what you’d described. The only time they’ve crystallised is when I used whole milk; semi-skimmed seems to work better. And — with semi-skimmed — as long as the milk and condensed milk is whisked, really, really thoroughly, it has worked every time for me. I’m sorry I can’t shed more light on this.
Tried these with semi skimmed milk and followed the recipe but turned out icy still.
How much do you whisk the mixture? I only did so briefly and wondering if I need to wish for long?
Still tasted yummy but very crunchy!
Hi Natalie, I don’t whisk for very long — otherwise you end up with loads of bubbles! I wonder whether the temperature of the freezer has anything to do with the icy texture? I haven’t had an icy batch when I make them with semi-skimmed — only with full milk. Our freezer is set at -17 degrees :)
Thanks Carlo,
Mine was set at -23°c!
I’ll change it to -17 and see how I get on.
The flavour was otherwise perfect just need to get the texture more smooth.
Thanks for you quick response and for helping me save money as I was spending a fortune buying them for a 2 year old!
Thanks
Natalie
Fingers crossed!!! Mine are really smooth so I reckon the temp setting must have something to do with it :)
Great recipe! I really recommend adding a couple of chai tea bags to steep in the mix overnight for a delicious kulfi style mini milk.
Ohmygosh!!!! YES JON!!!!! I might have to try this out and share it on here!! Thanks so much for the suggestion!!! :)
Earl grey and green tea teabags work really well too.
That’s a great shout! I will definitely try those! :)
I haven’t had a Mini Milk ice lolly for years. My girls used to love them when they were little. I think I need to try making these x
Honestly – they are SO GOOD. I’ve always been obsessed with milk flavoured anything!! Milk teeth sweets, Panna cotta… but Mini Milks especially. And I love these as you can make them double the size of the original ones ;)
Can you add fresh strawberries to the mix? If so what quantity would work best? Thank you
Funnily enough, I’ve just made a batch with banana and another with strawberries!! It was a bit hot and miss and first! I’ll share my recipes when I get chance :)
I made these last night to the recipe but used whole milk and they came out perfectly not icy at all when I checked this morning.
Couldn’t help myself but try one and they’re delicious.
Will definitely be making these from now on, my little boy loves them too. ?
Thanks so much for letting me know Lindsey!! xx
Brilliant recipe – my grandchildren love them, especially with a bit of vanilla extract added. Thanks so much for sharing
Thanks so much for your lovely message Jac! It was definitely a bit of trial and error when I first made them so I’m so glad you like them as much as we do! :)
Love this recipe! I have made it a number of times now and has been great every time.
I use lacto-free semi-skimmed milk and works just as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Aaah THANK YOU!!! So happy you love it :)