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This 3-ingredients Dulce De Leche Lemon Popsicles recipe is delicious and so refreshing! They’re so easy to make and it’s the perfect spring and summer treat.

Five lemon paletas on a blue background with ice and lemon wedges.

Lemon Paletas (Popsicles)

Portrait of Ana Frias

This homemade lemon popsicles are a rich, creamy taste of citrus and sunshine. Make this refreshing lemon treats for a memorable sweet and tart treat you’ll love! 

These Dulce De Leche Lemon Popsicles are proof that something so simple can be ridiculously good. Just three ingredients come together to make a frozen treat that’s creamy, sweet, and just tart enough to keep you coming back for more.

Making them couldn’t be easier. You whisk together dulce de leche, fresh lemon juice, and milk until smooth, pour the mix into popsicle molds, and freeze. That’s it! The result? A rich and silky texture with a bright citrus kick that keeps everything balanced. The sweetness of the dulce de leche blends perfectly with the tangy lemon, giving you that perfect mix of creamy and refreshing.

🩷 xoxo, Ana

Three lemon paletas on a blue background with ice and lemon wedges.

Ingredients

With these three simple ingredients you’ll make delicious popsicles in no time!

  • The milk: Use regular milk (1% or 2%) or even a plant based milk will work.
  • A can of regular condensed milk.
  • Fresh lemon juice (save a little bit of the lemon pulp).

Why I called these “Dulce De Leche Popsicles”

I feel like I have to justify the name of these popsicles recipe since I have received a few comments as of why I called them Dulce De Leche when in fact they’re made with condensed milk. The brand of Mexican condensed milk has Dulce De Leche on the label so I went with that plus this description is more fun right?

A glass bottle with milk and a can of dulce de leche with lemons on the side.

How to make Dulce De Leche Popsicles

They’re great for warm days when you need something cold and satisfying without a ton of effort. Whether you’re sharing them at a backyard get-together or just sneaking one from the freezer on a hot afternoon, these popsicles will hit the spot every time.

A large bowl with a milk mixture.
  1. Just add all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well with a whisk or a fork.
Popsicle molds filled with the lemon milk mixture.
  1. our into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours. Preferable overnight.

Reader’s FAQ

What’s the best mold for popsicles?

I used this popsicle mold but you can use anything you have! It all comes down to preference. Here are some tips to consider:

  1. Silicone molds: This is a popular choice for popsicle molds because it’s flexible and non-stick, which makes it easy to remove the popsicles once they’re frozen. Silicone molds are also easy to clean and reusable, which makes them a great investment.
  2. Stainless steel molds: Stainless steel molds are durable and long-lasting, and they’re also easy to clean. However, they can be quite expensive and may not be as flexible as silicone molds.
  3. Plastic molds: Plastic molds are affordable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them a popular choice for many people. However, they may not be as durable as silicone or stainless steel molds, and they can be harder to clean.
  4. Traditional ice cube trays: If you’re making smaller popsicles or ice pops, you can use a traditional ice cube tray to freeze your popsicles. This is a cheap and easy option, but it may be harder to remove the popsicles from the tray once they’re frozen.
  5. Even small paper cups will work.

Why are my homemade popsicles icy?

Using low fat milk products cause the icy effect (freezer burn) on creamy popsicles. To prevent this, just use a higher fat milk product. If you decide to use the condensed milk fat-free version, just know that they will be more “icy.”  

Three lemon popsicles on a blue background with ice and lemon wedges.

Print Recipe:

Five lemon paletas on a blue background with ice and lemon wedges.

Dulce De Leche Lemon Popsicles

This 3-ingredients Dulce De Leche Lemon Popsicles recipe is delicious and so refreshing! They’re so easy to make and everyone will love them!
4.80 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizers & snacks
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 58kcal
Author: Ana Frias

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups of milk - 1% or 2%
  • 1 14 oz can of regular La Lechera condensed milk
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • a little bit of lemon pulp

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well with a whisk.
  • Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours. Preferable overnight.

Notes

Use regular sweetened condensed milk and not the fat free version. If you decide to use the fat free version just know that they will be more “icy.”  

Your Private Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1popsicle | Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 34mg | Sugar: 9g

This recipe was originally published in April 14th 2013. It was updated to revise the content and photographs. The original recipe remains the same. Enjoy! 

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4.80 from 10 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




22 Comments

  1. 3 stars
    The lemon juice curdles the milk… is that what we’re going for? A yogurt type of flavour? More “sour milk” than I was expecting.

  2. 5 stars
    Ana, your story about the plastic bags reminds me of the storebought treats we had growing up called freezies! They were artificially colored frozen treats in a clear long plastic tube. Your popsicles look so refreshing, especially with the lemon!

  3. Looks good! But you used condensed milk which is not the same as dulce de leche. Although if you boil the condensed milk cans for two hours, you’ll get dulce de leche. Greetings!

  4. 5 stars
    Made these last night with my lemon tree’s bonanza and they are super duper delicious and easy! Thanks!

  5. Hi! They look delicious. The recipe ask for 1 can of condensed milk, can you tell me the can size/oz because sometimes the market carries two sizes :). Thank you!

    1. Hi Eli! The cans are 14 oz. Thanks for the question! I’ll add this to the recipe. I hope you like them 🙂

  6. 5 stars
    What mold did you use to make these popsicles and where can I buy them? I love that look! These look yummy!

  7. 5 stars
    These are AMAZING!! I don’t even want to wait to let them freeze I want to drink them! I have a milk allergy (but am not affected by sweetened condensed milk), so I just swapped the regular milk for a can of Trader Joe’s Light Coconut milk. MMMMmmm! Thanks for the great recipe!

    1. Hi Jamin, I think the coconut milk will be a wonderful combination with the sweetened condensed milk! Thanks!

  8. 5 stars
    Just made these and they are excellent. I didn’t have low fat milk, so I used 1 cup whole milk and 1 cup water instead. Perfect. I also added the zest of 2 lemons.

    1. Hi Susan! whole milk is probably better since it keeps the pops from becoming too icy. I’m so glad you enjoyed them! xo, ana

  9. Hi Bree, thanks for the clarification. Nestle’s Dulce De Leche is called condensed milk so I went with that. Thanks again!

  10. Oh my these look deliciosas! I also remember eating them out of plastic bags 🙂 I can’t imagine letting my kids do the same 🙂 thanks for the recipe and the memories it brings back.

    1. Hi Karla! I know I can’t believe we did that! Can you imagine all the plastic we ate? Lol! Thanks for stopping by!