Imagine an Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicle, in the middle of a hot summer day, instead of your usual coffee or tea time pick-me-up!
Healthy Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles
There’s a certain hour in the afternoon when the day feels long, the light softens, and your energy quietly asks for a little help. Not another cup of coffee. Not something overly sweet but rather naturally sweetened popsicles. Just a small ritual, cool, comforting, and deeply satisfying.
These Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles were born from that exact moment. They’re rich with cacao, lightly kissed with espresso, and naturally sweetened with dates, which lend a caramel-like depth without overpowering the chocolate. Crushed almonds become milk, keeping everything smooth and creamy, while making the popsicles feel light enough to enjoy without heaviness.
Better Than A Coffee Or Tea Break
This isn’t dessert pretending to be healthy, it’s a genuinely nourishing pick-me-up. The espresso offers just enough lift to sharpen the senses, the cacao brings its familiar mood-boosting warmth, and the dates provide steady sweetness that doesn’t spike or crash. Frozen into popsicle form, it all feels a little playful, a little unexpected, and perfectly suited for a quiet afternoon reset.
I love keeping a batch tucked into the freezer, ready to replace that habitual 3 p.m. coffee or tea. One popsicle, a few minutes of pause, and suddenly the rest of the day feels more manageable, cooler, calmer, and just a bit more delicious.
Simple, wholesome, and deeply satisfying, these Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles prove that taking care of yourself can still feel like a treat.
Almond Popsicles Made From Crushed Almonds
If you are an almond milk lover, like I am, and you are kookie enough (also like me), to have started making your own Homemade Almond Milk, you will understand how fabulous this popsicle already is!
Soaking raw almonds in a large bowl of water for an hour, or over night, pureeing the almonds with the water, then straining the liquid/milk, is all there is to making your own almond milk, therefore our almond milk popsicles.Â
The same technique applies for making almond popsicles, only you don’t strain the liquid out, you use both the liquid and the pureed almonds for the milk and the texture.
Espresso Chocolate Afternoon Treats
We all experience a vast dip in our energy level in the late afternoon. It’s what the Brits use ‘Tea Time’ for. A little caffeine, a little nibble and the afternoon gets a boost of energy.
While I like tea time too, I really love my afternoon coffee, and a nibble of chocolate! Only problem, I don’t want a bunch of calories in my afternoon nibbles or pick-me-up treats. So, I created the perfect afternoon popsicle!
Healthy Popsicle Recipe
Healthy popsicles are what I’m after; especially since I was a little girl in the 50’s and we had only popsicles made of water, sugar and dye. Yuk!
Dates are the perfect sugar to use in sweet treats. It only takes a few, pureed, into whatever you are making and they disappear texturally, and reappear as ‘sweets’!
Every afternoon, throughout the summer, I find myself looking for something icy cold, with just a little kick of caffeine. These Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles are it!
Date-Sweetened Desserts
Dates are my go-to sweetener when I want something that feels both indulgent and grounding. Their natural caramel notes deepen chocolate, soften espresso, and bring a gentle warmth that refined sugar simply can’t replicate. More than sweetness, dates add body and richness, giving these popsicles a creamy, almost dessert-like texture, without feeling heavy.
Because dates are whole and unrefined, they sweeten slowly and steadily, making them especially lovely for afternoon treats. They offer energy without the sharp spike and crash, which is exactly what I want in a pick-me-up meant to replace coffee or tea.
If you cook with me often, you’ll notice dates appear again and again in my kitchen. From baked treats to energy bites, they’re a quiet staple, one that turns simple recipes into something deeply satisfying.
- Black Walnut Date Yeast Bread Recipe – a favorite holiday recipe with exotic spices, ancient dates, and American Black Walnuts for a twist in flavor.
- Carob Butter Dried Fruit Almond Torte – is made with dates and prunes, lots of eggs, crushed almonds and a spread of Carob butter on top.Â
- Maamoul Traditional Date Stuffed Arab Cookie – a date filled cookie dough of farina and Arab spices, shaped in the ancient wooden Maamoul mold.
- No Bake Healthy Energy Snacks 4-Ways – are packed with nutrients made from superfoods and whole foods, high in protein, vitamins, fiber and healthy fats.Â
More Easy Homemade Popsicles
For more popsicle recipes you are sure to love, including one you will definitely want for ‘all seasons’ cold, flu and allergy season, here you are!
- Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles – with fresh strawberries in homemade lemonade, Summertime’s best! 

- Blueberry and Yogurt Popsicles – Homemade popsicles are easy, so let’s make Blueberry Yogurt Frozen Fruit Popsicles, with 4-ingredients; blueberries, yogurt, lemon and agave!
- Mocha Latte Popsicles because iced coffee, a milk of choice and chocolate simply scream ‘lazy days of summer’!
- Wellness Popsicles – Comfort a cold Wellness Popsicles naturally are all about the citrus, ginger, chili peppers, honey, herbs a little booze to comfort throat and cough.
- Garden Lavender and Blueberry Popsicles with almond milk, sweetened with bee’s honey that drinks from these edible lavender flowers.
- Creamy Peach Pecan Bourbon Popsicles – It doesn’t get any more Southern than Creamy Peach Pecan Bourbon Popsicles with pecan praline added to this boozy adult peach popsicle.
Ingredients Needed and Why They Matter
A naturally sweetened almond milk popsicle with espresso and cacao, an easy, healthy frozen treat for afternoon energy.
- Whole Raw Almonds – Starting with whole raw almonds allows the base of these popsicles to feel truly alive and nourishing. When blended with water, they create a fresh, creamy almond milk with natural richness and a subtle sweetness that pairs effortlessly with chocolate and coffee. It’s the backbone of the recipe, clean, comforting, and grounding.
- Water – Simple and often overlooked, water gives the almonds space to become milk, lightening the texture and keeping the popsicles refreshing rather than heavy. It allows each flavor to shine without competition.
- Dates – Dates are the quiet sweetener here, bringing more than just sugar. They offer a deep, caramel-like warmth that enhances the cacao and espresso while keeping the sweetness soft and steady. No sharp edges, no aftertaste, just a gentle richness that lingers.
- Espresso or Strong Coffee – This is the spark. Espresso deepens the chocolate flavor and delivers just enough lift to make these popsicles feel like an afternoon awakening. It’s not overpowering, but it’s unmistakably present, perfect for replacing that mid-day cup.
- Cacao Powder – Cacao gives the popsicles their soul. Rich, slightly bitter, and deeply chocolatey, it balances the sweetness of the dates and brings a sense of indulgence without heaviness. It’s chocolate in its pure, honest form.
- Vanilla Extract – Vanilla softens and rounds everything out. Just a small amount adds warmth and familiarity, weaving the almond, chocolate, and coffee together into something that tastes complete.
- Salt – A pinch of salt sharpens the flavors and wakes up the sweetness. It’s subtle, but essential, turning good chocolate into great chocolate.
- Chocolate Chips (Optional) – For those moments when a little extra indulgence feels right, a drizzle of melted chocolate chips adds texture and a hint of drama. Not necessary, but delightful, especially when the popsicles hit the freezer and set into glossy ribbons.
Equipment Needed
- Large Bowl with a Lid – Used for soaking the almonds, this simple step softens them and sets the stage for a smooth, creamy base. Covering the bowl keeps everything tidy while time does the work.
- Popsicle Molds – These give the recipe its playful form. Whether classic or minimalist, sturdy molds ensure easy freezing and a satisfying release once set.
- Blender or Food Processor – Essential for transforming soaked almonds, dates, and liquids into a silky mixture. A high-speed blender will give the smoothest result, but a food processor works beautifully with a little patience.
- Measuring Cup and Measuring Spoons – Precision here keeps the balance just right, especially with espresso and cacao, where a small adjustment can change the final flavor.
- Freezer – The quiet finisher. Time and cold turn the blended mixture into a refreshing, ready-when-you-need-it afternoon treat.
- Fork (Optional) – If you choose to drizzle melted chocolate, a fork gives you control and a light, imperfect finish that feels handmade and charming.
- Small Saucepan (Optional) – Used to gently melt chocolate chips for drizzling, adding an extra layer of richness for days when you want something just a little more indulgent.
These Almond Espresso Chocolate Popsicles are my favorite kind of healthy treat, the kind that feels thoughtful, indulgent, and deeply nourishing all at once. Whether you’re looking for a refined sugar–free popsicle or a new afternoon ritual, this recipe offers a cool, chocolatey pause exactly when you need it.
Almond Espresso Healthy Chocolate Popsicles
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
- Popsicle molds
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Raw Almonds
- 3 cups Water
- 5 Dates pitted
- 1/2 cup Espresso strongly brewed, cooled
- 2 tbsp Cacao
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Place the almonds and pitted dates in a closed container with the water, preferably warm, it speeds up the softening process, for an hour, or overnight.
- After the almonds and dates have soaked, place them into a blender or food processor.
- Add the espresso, cacao, vanilla extract and salt. Puree until liquified.
- Divide the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 6 hours or over night.
- Store in the freezer in the popsicle molds, or remove from the mold and store in a zip baggie for quick access!
- *If you are choosing the addition of chocolate, (and why wouldn’t you!) after pops are frozen and removed from their molds, simply melt chocolate chips, and with a fork drizzle quickly across the pops and store in the freezer until already to serve.
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I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.