Sweet & Spicy Mango Tajin Popsicles

by Lindsay Pleskot, RD on Jun 7, 2023 (updated Apr 24, 2024) 2 comments

These Mango Tajin Popsicles are a refreshing sweet and spicy treat. All you need are 4 staple ingredients – mango, honey, lime juice, and tajin and a popsicle mold. Pop them in the freezer and you have a ready to go delicious snack.

4 popsicles orange yellow in color are on a white and pink plate they are covered with tajin seasoning and surrounded by lime rounds. There is a popsicle off the plate in the corner of the photo.

I first made these Mango Tajin Popsicles because I had leftovers from recipe testing my mango puree recipe and I didn’t want it to go to waste. Wylder loves homemade popsicles so I decided to pour the puree into my popsicle molds and see what happened. What can I say, they were a hit – he loved the mango pops.

Later that week, I wanted an afternoon snack and was craving something sweet and spicy… I know, very specific. As an intuitive eating registered dietitian, I know that the best way to curb cravings is to give yourself permission to enjoy the food you’re actually craving (you can read more on how to curb your cravings here), so I poured a little tajin spice on a mango popsicle and *chef’s kiss* a star was born.

The ingredients to make mango tajin popsicles are on a white counter. There are limes cut in half, a bowl of water, a bowl of honey, a bowl of frozen mango and a small bowl of tajin

What You Need to Make These Popsicles & Substitutions

Frozen Mango: I usually make these out of frozen mango but you can use fresh mango if you have it instead. This is actually a great recipe to make if you have an overly ripe mango that’s starting to go. You can also use other frozen fruit. Strawberries, raspberries and peaches would be great in these!

Lime Juice: I used fresh lime juice (made with my hand juicer) but you can use lime concentrate or substitute for another citrus like lemon juice or orange juice. I find the acid from citrus creates a balanced flavor, complimenting the sweetness of the mango.

Honey: The honey serves as a natural sweetener. It pairs perfectly with the tropical sweetness of the mango, further enhancing the flavor. If you don’t have honey or are looking for a vegan substitute, I recommend using maple syrup or agave nectar or your favorite type of sugar. Sweetness can be a personal preference. Start by adding a teaspoon at a time and tasting the blend until it’s the sweetness level you desire.

Tajin: Tajin is a popular Mexican seasoning blend that combines chili powder, lime, and salt. These popsicles are rolled in tajin after they’re frozen and ready to be enjoyed. Tajin and mango go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you don’t believe me, try my spicy mango margarita smoothie. I love how the heat from the chili powder brings out the natural sweetness of the mango. Plus the combination of sweet, tangy, spicy, and salty adds an unconventional twist to a traditional mango popsicle.

How to Make Mango Popsicles with Tajin

An overhead shot of a blender with orange yellow liquid in it, bubbling.

To a high speed blender, add the mango, water, honey, and lime juice. Blend until smooth, adding more water (1 tablespoon at a time) if needed, to thin out until mixture is a pourable consistency.

An overhead photo of a blender pouring an orange yellow liquid into popsicle molds.

Divide the mango mixture evenly between popsicle molds. Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to eat, sprinkle the top of the popsicle with tajin and enjoy!

Nutritional Benefits

Mango: Rich in vitamins A and C, mangoes help support your healthy immune system and skin health. They also contain dietary fiber. Fiber helps with your digestion and helps you feel full for longer. Adding mango to your plate can help keep your blood sugars stable which helps with your mood and energy levels.

Lime: Bursting with vitamin C, limes offer immune-boosting properties and help fight inflammation. They’re also known to promote hydration and help with digestion.

4 orange yellow coloured popsicles are on a pink and white oval plate. The popsicles are sprinkled with tajin seasoning.

What I Learned Making These Popsicles: Mistakes & Fixes

Making these mango popsicles with tajin is a pretty straightforward process but there are a few things that I learned when testing this recipe and some ways to fix them.

Crystalized Pops

Crystallization occurs when the sugars in the popsicles separate and form crystals instead of staying smooth and creamy in texture. This can happen for a few reasons:

High Sugar Content: While I always suggest sweetening things to your taste, you will want to stay within 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of the recommended amount.
Insufficient Mixing: If you are using a blender, you should not run into this issue but make sure you thoroughly blend the mango, water, honey, and lime juice until the mixture is smooth.
Slow Freezing or Inconsistent Temperatures: Make sure your freezer is set to a low temperature. This will speed up the freezing process and prevent the separation of the sugars. You also want to make sure that your freezer door properly closes and isn’t being constantly opened while the popsicles are freezing.

How to fix crystallization? If they’ve crystallized so much they’re inedible, you can thaw and reblend the popsicles. Add a little more mango and then pop back into the freezer.

Overly Sweet

The second time I made these, I was experimenting with the sweetness level and doubled the honey. This led to crystallized popsicles that were overly sweet for my taste buds. To avoid this, always test the blended mixture before freezing it. You want it to be a balance of tangy and sweet. If you find them too sweet add a little more water, lime juice or mango.

Stuck Popsicles

I love my popsicle molds (you can get similar ones here) but sometimes the popsicles get stuck in the molds. If you’re finding it difficult to get the popsicles out, run the bottom of the molds under warm water for a few seconds to loosen them. You can take all the popsicles out of the molds at the same time and store them in freezer bags (I like these reusable ones).

A orange yellow popsicle is on a pink background. In the corner is a plate with more popsicles on them. There are 3 lime circles in the corner.

How to Meal Prep

This recipe came to be because I was making my mango puree and had some leftover that I decided to freeze. If you want a variety of dishes from one base recipe, I recommend doubling or tripling that recipe and using it to make these popsicles or my refreshing mango and mint salad dressing (the cure for sad salads).

If you just want a lot of popsicles in the freezer, you can batch prep these popsicles in advance. Here’s how:

Double or triple the recipe based on your needs.
Add them to multiple sets of popsicle molds, and freeze them simultaneously.
Once frozen, remove the popsicles from the molds and store them in a freezer-friendly bag or container for easy access.

How to Elevate These Mango Tajin Popsicles

Chia Seeds: Add a tablespoon of chia seeds into the mango mixture before blending. Chia seeds are a source of omega-3s and fiber. Adding a little nutritional boost to your pops.

Greek Yogurt: Blend in ¼ cup of high fat Greek yogurt to create a creamy and protein-packed popsicles. This will also enhance the creaminess as well as a boost of calcium and probiotics.

Protein Powder: If you’re looking to make a post-workout snack that will cool you down, add a couple scoops of protein powder to the mix before blending. I would recommend using vanilla flavor if you have it.

If you make this sweet and spicy mango tajin popsicles, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! xo