Single-ingredient watermelon popsicles are the perfect summer treat and are completely healthy and nutrient packed! These fresh fruit popsicles are made from one single healthy ingredient: watermelon. They are naturally gluten free, paleo, Whole 30 approved, and vegan, making them the perfect frozen dessert for those following a special diet. Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than an iced cold, refreshingly healthy watermelon frozen dessert! If you like fruit popsicles, then you'll love my Strawberry Lemonade Popsicle recipe!
This is such a fun project for kids this summer – let them help make a healthy frozen dessert that is packed with vitamins and flavor rather than high-fructose corn syrup which is most store-bought popsicles. And what kid (or adult) doesn’t LOVE watermelon?! Watermelon has always been one of my favorite summer fruits and it’s just oozing with flavor and vitamins. If you love watermelon, then you must try my mouthwatering Watermelon Feta Salad recipe!
My gluten free paleo and vegan watermelon popsicle recipe is quick as it only takes 5 minutes to make! Here is the popsicle mold we have! If you like frozen summer dessert recipes, then you’ll drool over my insanely delicious strawberry lemonade popsicles, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry shortcake dessert recipes!
How to pick the best watermelon
Watemelon can be tricky to pick out, especially when you’re searching for a juice, ripe melon. I’ve wasted so many watermelons as I struggled to find a perfectly juicy and ripe one. There are some key indicators when it comes to choosing the perfect watermelon.
Color: Look for a melon with a strong, consistent stripe pattern. The green stripes should be a deep, dark green and the paler stripes should be a creamy, light yellow. If the watermelon is really shiny, it’s most likely not ripe.
Field spot: This is the first thing I always look for when picking out the perfect watermelon. Look for a large yellowish discolored spot which is known as the field spot. The field spot shows where the watermelon sat on the ground as it grew and ripened. The larger the field spot, the juicer and tastier the watermelon. Try to find one that is yellow or orange and avoid ones that are white or yellow as they will lack flavor.
Stem: According to Real Simple’s article, you want to inspect the watermelon’s stem which should appear dry and yellowish-brown. If the stem is green, the watermelon is probably not yet ripe and will not taste juicy or sweet.
Knock: Knock on the watermelon and if it’s hollow and feels heavier than it looks, it’s probably ripe and ready to eat. The heavier the watermelon, the more water it contains; thus, the tastier your melon will be.
Spotting: If you watermelon exhibits spots and vein-like webs, it’s probably ripe and extra sweet. Inspect all sides of your melon before picking.
Round shape: Search for the roundest watermelon you can find as opposed to an oval-shaped one. The rounder the melon, the sweeter and juicer the flavor.
Benefits of Watermelon
Watermelon is the perfect thirst quencher on a hot summer day and is packed with nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. According to Healthline’s post, watermelon contains potassium, magnesium, and is packed with vitamins A and C. It’s the perfect way to stay hydrated and also contains citrulline, an essential amino acid that may enhance exercise performance.
Additionally, watermelon is rich in plant compounds such as lycopene and cucurbitacin E, which may possess anti-cancer properties. In some studies, lycopene has been shown to reduce risk of cancers such as prostate and colorectal cancers.
What if I don’t have a popsicle mold?
If you don’t have a popsicle mold, it's not a problem at all! Pour the blended strawberry mixture into small paper or styrofoam cups and add popsicle sticks before you freeze them. To make this process easier, add foil over the top of the cups and then stick your popsicle sticks in before freezing. Click here to see the popsicle mold we have!
Ingredients in Watermelon Popsicles
Watermelon. Use fresh watermelon in your watermelon popsicles.
How to make the best Watermelon Popsicles
STEP 1: Add the chopped watermelon to a blender and puree until smooth. If necessary, add some cold water to the watermelon so that the mixture will blend.
STEP 2: Pour into popsicle molds.
STEP 3: If you have lids, cover the popsicles with lids. Insert the popsicle sticks.
STEP 4: Freeze for 4-5 hours or until completely frozen.
STEP 5: If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
More recipes you’ll love!
Strawberry Ice Cream (No Churn)
Homemade Strawberry Nutri-Grain Bars
Homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this watermelon popsicle recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Watermelon Popsicles
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 c watermelon chopped
Instructions
- Add the chopped watermelon to a blender and puree until smooth. If necessary, add some cold water to the watermelon so that the mixture will blend.
- Pour into popsicle molds.
- If you have lids, cover the popsicles with lids. Insert the popsicle sticks.
- Freeze for 4-5 hours or until completely frozen.
- If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Nutrition (per serving)
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