Watermelon Popsicles

Watermelon popsicles are an extra-cool way to eat your fruit when the temperature is high. When people think of summer, watermelon and popsicles are often part of the picture. So why not put them together?

Candy-sweet watermelon is blended with lime juice and sugar, then poured into popsicle molds and frozen to make a bright and thirst-quenching treat. If you’ve ever had an agua fresca (a tall glass of pureed watermelon and lime juice), this is that same revivifying drink, in popsicle form.

Once you know how to make watermelon popsicles, try this sweet and spicy watermelon salsa recipe to use up any leftover fruit.

Ingredients for Watermelon Popsicles

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• Watermelon: Roughly cube the watermelon and remove any seeds before blending.
• Sugar: A little sugar sweetens the popsicles and amps up the watermelon flavor in this watermelon popsicle recipe.
• Lime juice: A bit of lime juice balances the sweetness and brightens up the popsicles. Here’s how to juice a lime (or other citrus) the easy way.
• Freezer pop molds or paper cups and wood pop sticks: If you go the paper cup route, make sure your wood sticks are food safe, not the kind made for crafts.

Directions

Step 1: Make the puree

Emily Davis for Taste of Home

Place the watermelon, sugar and lime juice in a powerful bender, and puree until smooth.

Step 2: Add the puree to popsicle molds

Emily Davis for Taste of Home

Spoon the puree into popsicle molds or paper cups. Top the molds with their holders. (If you’re using paper cups, top them with squares of foil and insert pop sticks through the foil.) Freeze the popsicles until firm. When you’re ready to serve, let them stand at room temperature for five minutes before popping them out of the molds.

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Watermelon Popsicle Variations

• Make sophisticated popsicles: Make the popsicles a little more complex by adding something extra: fresh mint or basil for an herbal note, a pinch of salt to amplify the sweetness or, if you’re serving to adults only, a bit of booze like vodka or tequila. If you do add alcohol, start with 1/4 cup. If you add too much, the pops won’t freeze.
• Add more fruit: In place of some of the watermelon, try mixing in some strawberries for an all pink, but still delicious, mixed fruit popsicle.
• Try a creamy version: Blend in 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt for a watermelon creamsicle, something like these blueberry cream pops.

How to Store Watermelon Popsicles

Homemade watermelon popsicles can be frozen for up to three months. You can unmold them and place them in zip-top bags to protect them from absorbing other odors in the freezer.

Watermelon Popsicle Tips

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What if I don’t have popsicle molds?

There are plenty of options for popsicle molds. The simplest is paper cups and wood popsicle sticks. Simply add the liquid to the paper cup, top with foil and push the stick through the foil. There are also a number of reusable molds, in silicon, plastic or metal. You can also use plastic or silicon sleeves and skip the sticks entirely, like an old-school icee pop.

How do I pick a great watermelon?

Choose a watermelon that feels heavy for its size, has a yellow or cream-colored “field spot” and sounds hollow when you knock on it.

Can I adjust or eliminate the sugar in the popsicles?

Yes, especially if your watermelon is extra-sweet. You can also use honey or agave instead, or just reduce the amount of sugar. Frozen foods will taste less sweet than they do when they’re room temperature, if you’re letting your taste guide how much sugar you want to use.

Also if you are trying to eat healthy, check out these healthy fruit snacks.

What kind of watermelon can I use?

Yellow or pink watermelons would both be delicious. A seedless watermelon is easier to blend up, as you don’t need to pick out the seeds (which can add a bitter note if blended).