These Watermelon Popsicles taste exactly like a cold slice of summer. They are blended from fresh watermelon, with a clever trick: chocolate chip “seeds” that make them look just like the real fruit.
They could not be easier. You blend watermelon with a little simple syrup, pour it into molds, and freeze. The chocolate seeds go in once the pops are half-frozen.
My kids ask for these all summer. If you love an easy frozen treat, try my creamy watermelon milkshake or these strawberry popsicles next.
What You Need for Watermelon Popsicles
You only need a few simple ingredients.
- Watermelon: fresh, ripe, and seedless blends the smoothest.
- Simple syrup: just sugar and water, to round out the sweetness.
- Chocolate chips: mini chips make the cutest “seeds.”
Full recipe quantities listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the article.
Variations and Substitutions
These pops are easy to make your own.
- Add lime: a squeeze of lime juice makes them extra refreshing.
- Skip the sugar: a ripe watermelon is sweet enough for babies and toddlers.
- Make them creamy: blend in a splash of milk or yogurt.
- Layer the fruit: add a swirl of strawberry or mango puree.
- For the dog: freeze plain watermelon puree in small molds, no chocolate.
Grab These Tools
You need very little equipment.
- Blender: to puree the watermelon smooth.
- Popsicle molds and sticks: or use small paper cups with wooden sticks.
How to Make Watermelon Popsicles
Here is how these watermelon popsicles come together.
Make the Simple Syrup
Heat the sugar and water in a small pot until the sugar dissolves. Chill it for at least 10 minutes.
Blend the Watermelon
Blend the watermelon chunks with the simple syrup until smooth, about 30 seconds. Taste and add more syrup if you like.
Freeze and Add the Seeds
Pour the puree into molds and add the sticks. For chocolate seeds, fill the molds halfway, freeze until firm, then drop in mini chocolate chips and top off. Freeze until solid, about 4 hours.
Tips for the Best Fresh Watermelon Popsicles
A few small things make a big difference.
- Use ripe watermelon: it has the most natural sweetness and color.
- Strain for smooth pops: pour the puree through a sieve if you want them silky.
- Do not overfill: leave a little room at the top for expansion.
- Warm the molds: run them under warm water to release the popsicles cleanly.
- Add seeds at the halfway point: so they sit in the middle like real seeds.
Freezing and Storage
These keep well in the freezer all summer.
How Long to Freeze
- About 4 hours: until solid, though overnight is even better.
- Half-freeze for seeds: firm up the pops before adding the chips.
Storing
- Keep frozen: store in the molds or wrap each pop, up to 2 weeks.
- Prevent freezer burn: wrap tightly or use an airtight container.
Fun Ways to Serve Them
These are made for summer parties and hot afternoons.
- Serve at a BBQ alongside a watermelon basil cooler.
- Build a frozen-treat spread with frozen yogurt bites and more frozen treats.
- Pair with a pitcher of strawberry lemonade.
- Let the kids drop in the chocolate seeds, they love the job.
Secrets to Perfect Watermelon Popsicles
These little things make them great every time.
- Blend it smooth: a good puree makes a smooth, even pop.
- Balance the sweetness: watermelon flavor fades when frozen, so taste before freezing.
- Use mini chips: they look most like seeds and freeze in place.
- Be patient: let them freeze fully so they release cleanly.
Watermelon Popsicle FAQs
Just skimming through? Here are some quick answers to the commonly-asked questions.
To make watermelon popsicles, blend fresh watermelon with a little simple syrup until smooth. Pour into molds, add sticks, and freeze until solid, about 4 hours. For the cutest touch, drop in mini chocolate chips as seeds.
Watermelon popsicles take about 4 hours to freeze solid, and overnight is even better. If you are adding chocolate chip seeds, freeze the pops halfway first, add the chips, then freeze fully so the seeds stay in place.
Watermelon popsicles are a lighter treat made mostly from fresh fruit. Watermelon is hydrating and naturally sweet, so you can use little or no added sugar. They are a refreshing, fruit-forward snack for hot summer days.
Yes, use small paper cups and wooden popsicle sticks. Fill the cups, freeze until slushy, then insert the sticks so they stand up. Peel away the cup once the popsicles are fully frozen and solid.
Fill the molds halfway with watermelon puree and freeze until firm. Then drop in a few mini chocolate chips, top off with more puree, and freeze fully. The half-freeze keeps the seeds suspended in the middle.
Yes, these are great for little ones. Skip the added sugar, since ripe watermelon is sweet on its own, and leave out the chocolate chips for the youngest kids. Use small molds for easy-to-hold popsicles.
Watermelon is high in water, so the pops can freeze firm. Blending the fruit very smooth helps, and a little simple syrup softens the texture. Let them sit a minute before eating for the best bite.
Yes, a squeeze of lime brightens the flavor, and you can layer in strawberry or mango puree. Freeze each layer until firm before adding the next, so the colors stay distinct and the popsicles look striped.
More Frozen Treats You’ll Love
- Strawberry Popsicles
- Cherry Cheesecake Popsicles
- Yogurt Popsicles
- Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bites
- Watermelon Milkshake
- Frozen Treats Recipes
Easy Watermelon Popsicles
Ingredients
For the popsicles
- 2 cups watermelon chunks
- 2 tbsp simple syrup
- chocolate chips a handful, optional
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- To make the simple syrup, combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and heat until the sugar dissolves. Transfer the syrup to a container and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
- Combine the watermelon chunks and 2 tbsp simple syrup in a blender; process on high speed until well blended, about 30 seconds. Taste and add more syrup if desired.
- Pour the watermelon purée into popsicle molds, insert sticks and freeze until solid, about 4 hours. (To make chocolate “seeds,” only fill the molds halfway and freeze; once solid, drop in a few chocolate chips and fill with the remaining watermelon mixture, then freeze again.)
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
