By Mark Bittman
Updated Feb. 28, 2024
- Total Time
- 15 minutes, plus freezing
- Rating
- 4(607)
- Notes
- Read community notes
You don’t need an expert to tell you that watermelon is just about the most refreshing thing you could possibly eat in the middle of summer. Luckily, there are many worthy and refreshing things to do with watermelon that are somewhere between simple slicing and full-blown cooking.
Featured in: Watermelon All Day Long
or to save this recipe.
Print Options
Include recipe photo
Advertisem*nt
Ingredients
- 1pound watermelon
- 2tablespoons sugar
- 2tablespoons lime juice
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)
120 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 31 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 27 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 3 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Powered by
Preparation
Step
1
Cut the watermelon into small chunks (discarding the rind), and put them in a blender with the sugar and lime juice. Process until smooth, adding enough water (or fruit juice) so that the mixture liquefies. Pour into popsicle molds, and freeze.
Ratings
4
out of 5
607
user ratings
Your rating
or to rate this recipe.
Have you cooked this?
or to mark this recipe as cooked.
Private Notes
Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.
Cooking Notes
Cat M
Made this with a bit of vodka instead of water and ran it in my little ice cream maker- made a nice granita for adults. It was as much fun to drink it as it quickly melted as it was to eat it.
C. Faubion
I made this recipe as described, froze half in the molds, and then blended some fat-free Greek yogurt for the remainder of the molds. Unfortunately the non-yogurt popsicles did separate, as mentioned in another comment, but the yogurt pops did not and were delightful. And who doesn't like a watermelon yogurt pop?
CV
Eliminate the sugar and add a heaping cup of strawberries instead. Refreshing and zero guilt. The watermelon flavor is still present and shines beautifully.
Jambee
To the watermelon, add:
*Lemon (or that lime)
*Lemon rind
*Basil or mint, or both
*Sea salt
popcicle fan
I am ten years old.This recipe makes about 6 or 7 pops. They are so refreshing!
barbara arendt
make ice cubes from this, toss in your favorite white alcohol, add lime and a dash of fizzy soda
DPChurch
Xanthan Gum (a tasteless powder derived from natural sources, available online and in bulk food stores) should probably work. It's a common ingredient in blended food products to help prevent separation.
I add ¼ tsp of xanthan gum to my dairyless smoothies and homemade coffee and ice blender drinks.
S. Costanzo
How much yogurt??? With apologies to the NY Times, "inquiring minds want to know!"
Amber
Disappointing. The watermelon separates in the freezer and they come out yellow with a pink bottom and the top doesn't taste of watermelon. It's sugar so the kids ate them but I wouldn't make them again.
Deb
So easy, but putting it my Vita Mix I didn't need to add water. This is for the grandkids this weekend, but oh what a great idea to add a little Vodka for the Grands!
DrLynn50
I used plain Greek yogurt and added frozen rasberries with the sugar and lime and they were Amazing!
Mona Lyn Reese
I had a bit left after I filled the molds, so I buzzed it up with some ice. Ahh very refresing.
Judy
I strained the blended watermelon this year and had very little separation. Last year I did not strain and the results were ugly but since it was for drinking I just stirred after defrosting. These popsicles sound delish and will be a great addition to my frozen pops stash. I make skinny bags with my Foodsaver and make otter type pops with blended or mashed fruit. I don't add sugar but this recipe may be the exception.
Nick
I skipped the sugar and to me it was good with just the natural sugars from the watermelon. Most people would say it's bland this way, but if you don't like refined sugar or are avoiding it for whatever reason, it will be fine without adding sugar. One cup of diced watermelon contains 9g of natural sugar as it.
Parker77
I froze chunks of watermelon and then blended with my immersible blender. I added lime juice but no sugar, and then spooned it into the molds. No separation!
SCA
Definitely separates in longer popsicle molds, but does fine with small/toddler sizdd
Natalia
That's confusing for me: "adding enough water (or fruit juice) so that the mixture liquefies". It's a WATERmelon. More than 90% of water content, so my mixture was totally liquid without adding any single water drop. Wasn't everyone's?
Beth
I melted the sugar in two TBS of water first and also added not quite 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum. No problems with mixture separating when frozen. Oh, also few in a few strawberries. Delicious/refreshing!
popcicle fan
I am ten years old.This recipe makes about 6 or 7 pops. They are so refreshing!
sandhya
So simple yet so tasty. Classic Bittman.
Naomi
How many pops does this recipe make?
Parker77
I froze chunks of watermelon and then blended with my immersible blender. I added lime juice but no sugar, and then spooned it into the molds. No separation!
Marra
I substituted sugar+lime juice with a margarita mix and it was great!
Eliana Mizser
It was amazing I tried putting strawberry's and watermelonIt is really goood for pool days!
Maureen
This made 6 2/3 pops so next time I will go up to 1.5 pounds watermelon, 3 tablespoons each of sugar and lime juice. I added no water, but strained the mixure and ended up with about 1 tablespoon of pulp. the pops were varigated in color from deep pink to redish-yellow, tender to the tooth and delicoius.
Kevin
Add taquila for adult bars
Gatinha
Used absolut citron instead of water. After using an immersion blender, strained out the pulp and poured into a plastic ice cube tray overnight. So delicious. Beware the brain freeze!
Kennedy
This recipe was great, I was just confused on how long you freeze the popsicles. About an hour? A couple hours? Is it one of those things you go by ear? I don't know.
C from Colorado
Every freezer is set slightly differently. Mine goes down to -20F, which is nice but perhaps too cold for popsicles. Freeze until you like the feeling/texture.
use less bacon fat and less butter
Delicious but too sweet so next time add 1 tablespoon of sugar
Marty
Add more water melon if possible. Try cup of strawberries and a bit of lime (and/or zest).
Private notes are only visible to you.
