Kayla Ruetten

November 5, 2025

This 3 ingredient healthy popsicle recipe treat comes together quickly and easily. Packed with beneficial bacteria, healthy fats, and protein, kefir popsicles are a perfect snack. You can use any choice of fruit or juice in this versatile recipe; our favorite mix in is strawberries.

3 ingredient healthy popsicle recipe gut healthy strawberry kefir probiotic popsicles with fresh or frozen strawberries from scratch — 3 Ingredient Healthy Popsicle Recipe (With Probiotic Kefir)

What is Milk Kefir?

I admit I was initially slightly leery of kefir grains, which are basically clumps of gut healthy kinds of bacteria and yeasts living symbiotically. Milk kefir is a fermented dairy beverage, created by combining kefir grains and milk. During the fermentation process, carbon dioxide and lactic acid are produced, resulting in a slightly bubbly, tangy, yogurt-like drink that is super healthy. During fermentation, the kefir grains break down the lactose into simple sugars: galactose and glucose, so even those with lactose or dairy sensitivities can often consume milk kefir.

How to Make Fermented Milk Kefir

If you are new to making milk kefir, you will need a few basic supplies: milk kefir grains, a mason jar, and milk. For step by step directions how to make milk kefir, check out this post.

Why You Will Love This 3 Ingredient Healthy Popsicle Recipe

Taste. These sweet and creamy popsicles remind me of childhood. We often ate popsicles as a snack and a soothing food when ill.
Quick & easy to prepare. You can make this recipe in just a few minutes with only 3 ingredients.
Healing diet friendly. These popsicles are packed with probiotics and are gluten-free, dairy-free (due to lactose removed during fermentation), sugar-free, and egg-free. Whether you are eating GAPS, Paleo, whole food, or just becoming more ingredient aware, this recipe is compatible with many healing diets.
Naturally sweetened. Use any fresh juice or honey for sweetener; no need for refined and processed sugar.
Customizable. You can use any frozen or fresh fruit or juice. Any berries are a favorite with our kids, and we also love to use lemon juice and honey.

Homemade Kefir vs Store-Bought Kefir

Homemade kefir is bursting with healthy bacteria, yeasts, and many vitamins and minerals. It is definitely one of the “super foods” that can heal and strengthen our gut health and immune systems. (Read how we healed strep throat with the help of kefir here.) Milk kefir is one of the easiest fermented foods to make and a cornerstone to a gut healthy diet. Culturing foods at home is an inexpensive way to consume probiotics which can help digestive and immune health. Unlike yogurt, it requires no heat, and unlike fermented veggies (when made incorrectly), milk kefir does not typically mold. It is easy, forgiving, and really tasty! One of our children’s favorite way to drink milk kefir is in our 3 ingredient homemade fermented smoothies.

Does Frozen Kefir Still Have Probiotics?

Does freezing kefir kill the beneficial bacteria and probiotics? While freezing kefir does reduce the numbers of beneficial bacteria, home fermented kefir still contains a significant quantity compared to commercially fermented kefir.

In this study, traditional and commercial kefir were frozen to study the effects of frozen storage on the viability of probiotic bacteria over time. Samples were frozen after fermentation was complete, then thawed to measure lactobacilli, lactococci, and yeasts over a 30 day period. They found lactobacilli, lactococci, and yeasts were significantly reduced in number during frozen storage; however, the traditionally produced kefir was shown to have significantly higher counts of bacteria and yeast at each sampling.

FAQ About This 3 Ingredient Healthy Popsicle Recipe

Can I just use store bought kefir instead? Yes. See notes above regarding the difference in nutrients and probiotics in homemade vs. store bought kefir.

Can I blend in any fruit or use just honey? Yes. We have used just kefir and honey, various fruits, and juice like lemon. You could use just plain kefir too, though it is sour.

What is the best way to freeze these into popsicles? We love these nontoxic silicone molds. The popsicles slide right out and the molds are very easy to wash. They are also great for our large family. We have 2 sets to make 20 popsicles at a time.