Watermelon Popsicles are exactly what you need to weather the hot summer months: they’re fruity, refreshing, and sweet without being overly sugary. Plus, they only take five minutes to prep before freezing! Made with real watermelon and only two other ingredients, these popsicles can’t be beat.
Homemade popsicles don’t require any special skills or equipment either, besides a basic popsicle mold and a standard blender. Just blend the ingredients, fill the molds, and freeze —then repeat all summer long for an easy and craveable treat you won’t think twice about offering to adults and kids alike.
Why You’ll Love These Watermelon Popsicles
- Made with real fruit. Not all popsicles are created equal–some are made of artificial colors and flavorings. These fantastic watermelon popsicles don’t contain any of that! The main ingredient is real, fresh watermelon, so you can serve them guilt-free.
- Only 3 ingredients. Watermelon popsicles are incredibly easy to make because the ingredients are so simple! Just watermelon, honey, and lemon juice–that’s all you need to turn five minutes into delicious frosty popsicles.
- Better than store-bought! You may never have to buy popsicles again! This recipe is so fast and convenient–plus, you can control exactly what goes into them, adjusting them to your tastes or accommodating allergies and dietary preferences as needed!
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious Watermelon Popsicles, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- watermelon - if you don’t have watermelon on hand, you can try to replicate this recipe with similar melons like cantaloupe and honeydew or a fruit of your choice.
- honey - you can also use agave nectar or maple syrup at a 1:1 ratio in place of the honey. You can also use an equal measure of sugar, simple syrup, or sugar alternatives like stevia or coconut sugar.
- lemon juice - fresh-squeezed lemon juice is best, but you can use concentrate if that’s all you have. Lime or orange juice will also work in a pinch, but will change the flavor of the popsicles slightly.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a blender or food processor, popsicle mold, and popsicle sticks.
How to Make the Best Watermelon Popsicles
- Blend. Add cubed watermelon, honey, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Fill mold. Slowly pour the watermelon mixture into the popsicle molds until it almost fills to the top, leaving about a ½-inch space from the rim. Close the lid and add popsicle sticks.
- Freeze. Transfer the filled mold to the freezer until the popsicles are frozen completely, about 4 hours (or up to overnight).
- Serve. To serve, run the popsicle mold under hot water for a few seconds to loosen and release from the mold.
Recipe Variations
- Make creamy popsicles. For pale pink watermelon popsicles with a creamy texture, add ½ cup full-fat coconut milk or Greek yogurt.
- Play with the flavor. Swap out the lemon for fresh lime juice! The acidity really balances the sweetness of the fresh fruit.
- Try different fruits. This method works great for other fruits as well. Try replacing some of the watermelon with honeydew, cantaloupe, fresh strawberries, peaches, and more. Don't strawberry watermelon popsicles sound lovely?
- Add herbs. A little fresh mint will make these fun treats even more refreshing on a hot summer day!
How to Serve
These Watermelon Popsicles are a refreshing treat to enjoy on a hot day. If serving as part of a larger dessert spread, try including some of our other favorite summer treats such as:
- Fresh Fruit Tart
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Blueberry Cupcakes
- Key Lime Pie
- S'mores Bars
- Cherry Cheesecake
For more recipes, see our 40 Best Summer Desserts.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Pick the right watermelon. The perfect watermelon should be heavy and have a big yellow or orange spot where it sat in the field to grow. Large webbing is also considered a plus, but bruises and dents in your watermelon are a no-no.
- Give it a boost. Because these watermelon popsicles are so simple, you can jazz them up or give them an extra healthy edge. Add chia seeds or toss in greens or berries to sneak in more nutrition!
- Use fun molds. Presentation matters! Kids will love these watermelon popsicles, but they might be even more excited to see them come in different shapes like stars, dinosaurs, or even fish.
Storing Instructions
Keep them in the popsicle mold in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also transfer them (once frozen solid) into a Ziploc freezer bag and store them in a single layer for up to 3 months.
FAQ
Yes! Watermelon is so sweet and sugary that you can skip the sugar completely, but you'll get a better texture and flavor if you add a little sweetener. When foods are cold, we can't taste nearly as much sweetness, which is why most ice creams and popsicles have lots of extra sugar. Plus, honey is a type of inverted sugar, which will help prevent the popsicles from being overly icy. You only need a little bit to make a big difference!
Since the watermelon will be blended in the food processor, you don't need to worry about cutting perfect slices. The easiest method is to trim the top and bottom of the watermelon to make it sit flat on your cutting board. Then, use your knife to shave away the green rind. This will leave just the bright red fruit inside, which you can cube or chop however you'd like.
Yes! Most fresh fruits and veggies get mushy after freezing, which is why you want to eat these homemade watermelon popsicles while they're still nice and cold. This will preserve the texture and prevent you from dealing with any mushiness. They're very refreshing!
More Frozen Dessert Recipes
- Strawberries and Cream Popsicles
- Watermelon Sorbet
- No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
- Strawberry Popsicles
- Mango Frozen Yogurt
- Strawberry Sorbet
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Recipe
Watermelon Popsicles
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 popsicles
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Watermelon Popsicles are exactly what you need to weather the hot summer months: they’re fruity, refreshing, and sweet without being overly sugary. Plus, they only take five minutes to prep before freezing! Made with real watermelon and only two other ingredients, these popsicles can’t be beat.
Ingredients
- 1 small fresh watermelon (about 2 pounds), cubed
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Add cubed watermelon, honey, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly pour the watermelon mixture into the popsicle molds until it almost fills to the top, leaving about a ½-inch space from the rim. Close the lid and add popsicle sticks.
- Transfer the filled mold to the freezer until the popsicles are frozen completely, about 4 hours (or up to overnight).
- To serve, run the popsicle mold under hot water for a few seconds to loosen and release from the mold.
Notes
Storing instructions: Keep them in the popsicle mold in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also transfer them (once frozen solid) into a Ziploc freezer bag and store them in a single layer for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Freeze Time: 4 hours
- Category: Ice Cream
- Method: Freeze
- Cuisine: American
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