Mango Yogurt Popsicles Recipe

[Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

A while ago, we set out to create the most delicious mango yogurt popsicles: bursting with the fruit’s bold, tropical flavor and showcasing yogurt’s smooth and creamy texture. To get there, we had some questions to answer. Is plain or Greek yogurt better for a popsicle? Does the yogurt’s fat percentage matter? Which variety of mango excels in pop form? Should we fully blend the fruit and yogurt for a monochromatic treat or should we shoot for a swirl with distinct layers of each? We tested every variation and ultimately landed on a winning combination that produces tasty pops loaded with sweet ripe mango and full-fat Greek yogurt.

In previous tests, Max Falkowitz found that full-fat plain yogurt is best for frozen yogurt, but it turns out that popsicles don’t follow the same rulebook. Test after test confirmed that when it comes to frozen pops, Greek yogurt was the clear winner, with a pleasantly tangy flavor and unparalleled creamy texture.

As for the mango, we experimented with a couple different varieties. The Tommy Atkins is the most common type of mango in the US; it’s generally not considered to be a particularly delicious mango, and we found that even when sweetened with plenty of extra sugar, it’s still not great. Much better was the Ataulfo variety, which is widely available year-round at many grocery stores. It has a creamy sweetness and more intense tropical flavor. That said, with a little extra sugar, you can make a ripe Tommy Atkins work. (Frozen mango works well, too!)

To achieve the finest pop possible, we chose to blend the mango and yogurt. While a swirled pop was definitely more eye-catching, the blended ones have a more balanced flavor while still being fruit-forward—a lot like a mango lassi in frozen form.