Hey guys, check out these cute fresh watermelon lollies! They're healthy, thirst-quenching and perfect for both kids and grown-ups alike. Unlike regular ice lollies, these 'lollies' aren't frozen, we just use fresh, crisp fruit and skewer them onto kebab sticks.
Additionally, we use cookie cutters to make them into cool shapes within shapes. You can customise your own designs with whichever cookie cutters you have available to you! They are irresistible to kids and it's a fun way to get them involved in making healthy, nutritious fruity treats.
If you like the idea of skewering things onto kebab sticks, look at these Valentine's sugar cookies!
Jump to:
- A healthier alternative to sugary snacks, no added sugar
- Because these are not traditional frozen lollies, you don't have to worry about a dripping, sticky mess
- You can make really cool designs using your imagination and any other fruits available to you
- A hydrating summer snack
- Very kid-friendly and fun to get them involved in
- Gluten free
- Vegan friendly
- No ice lolly moulds needed
- Can be enjoyed as a snack, appetiser or a dessert
Key ingredient notes and substitutions
**Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the complete list of ingredients.
How to tell if a watermelon is ripe?
- Feels heavy and uniform in size
- An orange field spot - This is the side that was facing towards the ground before the watermelon got picked. A deep yellow or orange spot indicates that it's been on the vine for longer and would therefore be sweeter than a watermelon with a pale, white field spot.
- Larger 'webbing' on a watermelon usually means it's sweeter than smaller webbing, which is often a sign of it being bland. Webbing is the darker green lines that run around a watermelon.
- A dark, dull watermelon is usually a sign that it's ripe, whereas a shiny watermelon is not ripe.
How to tell if a honeydew melon is ripe?
- The colour of the skin should be a creamy yellow rather than with a greenish undertone.
- If you press on the opposite side of the melon from where it was attached to the vine, it should feel slightly soft, or a little springy.
- If it's warm where you are, you might be able to smell the melon which is usually a sign that it's ripe.
You can swap any of the fruit for your favourite fruits, or any fruit that might fit the designs you have in mind. Think slices of banana for eyes and blueberries as pupils, a green-toothed kiwi fruit smile etc. Usually firmer, unsegmented fruits work best.
How to make these lollies
- On a cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice the watermelon and melon horizontally into rings of about 1.5cm - 2cm (0.6" - 0.7") thickness.
- Using the larger cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the watermelon rings.
- Using the smaller cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the melon rings. The smaller cookie cutters can be the same smaller version of the watermelon shapes you used, or any other shape.
- Using the same smaller cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the middle of each watermelon shape so you now have a matching empty space in which to press the corresponding smaller melon shape - It's a bit like a jigsaw!
- Use a kebab skewer and gently press it up into your fruity design so it pierces through the bottom edge of watermelon, through the small melon shape in the middle and again through the upper edge of the watermelon shape. Stop just before the stick starts poking out at the top.
- Skewer grapes onto the stick in alternating colours and push them right up to the watermelon shape.
- Optional: If you have circle shapes and want to make them into suns, cut small triangles from the melon. Break toothpicks in half and stick one end into each triangle. Fix them all round the watermelon shape into a sunburst (see feature photo). Be aware that this can make the entire design heavy and it's best to leave these sun designs laying flat on a table, or bowl, instead of standing them upright in a container.
NOT TO BE CONSUMED BY SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS SUPERVISED. THE TOOTHPICKS ARE A CHOKING HAZZARD!
Top tips
- Try to cut your initial slices from the watermelon and melon not much thicker than your cookie cutters so it's easier to press the cutters down all the way.
- A big sharp knife really helps to cut thin slices (not a process for the kids!). To get a grip on the skin of the fruit, make a small score where you want to slice first, it gives the knife a bit if a 'bite' when you start slicing.
- The size of the 'inside' cookie cutter needs to be small enough so you have a decent sized rim left on the 'shell' when you cut the hole out, otherwise the whole shape might collapse.
- When skewering, it's important to skewer straight through the middle piece and into the top part of the watermelon. This will hold everything together. So in a nutshell, the skewer goes though watermelon > melon > watermelon.
Other fruits you can consider using
- Pineapple
- Apples
- Bananas
- Kiwi fruit
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Berries like blackberries, raspberries, strawberries etc
- Persimmon
- Pears
- Mango
Safety
It's really important to note that kebab skewers are quite sharp at one end, so please be aware when handing one of these fruit lollies to a small child. It's best they are supervised, or remove the fruit from the stick for them. If you are using toothpicks for any of your designs, this will be even more of a hazard, so please pay attention to the age of the child this is handed to and be responsible.
How to serve these lollies
- Place them all in a tall container like a bunch of flowers.
- If you added a lot of fruity embellishments they may become heavy, so lay them down in a bowl or on individual plates instead of standing them upright.
Storage
These lollies are best enjoyed fresh on the day they were made. They will still be ok the following day if kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
Do not freeze watermelon unless you plan to eat it frozen. Thawing it makes it soggy and unappetising.
More fun recipes
More recipes using fresh fruit
Easy simple syrup with blackberries
White chocolate blondies with raspberries
Orange and almond cake from Tunis
Step-by-step Tarte aux fruits - French fruit tart
Tropical slushie with pineapple
Recipe
Fresh watermelon lollies
Equipment you may need
- cookies cutters of various shapes
- kebab sticks
- toothpicks
- sharp knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
- 1 honeydew melon - or any melon of your choice
- 1 punnet grapes
Instructions
- On a cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice the watermelon and melon horizontally into rings of about 1.5cm - 2cm (0.6" - 0.7") thickness
- Using the larger cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the watermelon rings
- Using the smaller cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the melon rings. The smaller cookie cutters can be the same smaller version of the watermelon shapes you used, or any other shape. Refer to the feature photo for ideas and the blog post for a step by step guide.
- Using the same smaller cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the middle of each watermelon shape so you now have a matching empty space in which to press the corresponding smaller melon shape - It's a bit like a jigsaw!
- Use a kebab skewer and gently press it up into your fruity design so it pierces through the bottom edge of watermelon, through the small melon shape in the middle and again through the upper edge of the watermelon shape. Stop just before the stick starts poking out at the top
- Skewer grapes onto the stick in alternating colours and push them right up to the watermelon shape
- Optional: If you have circle shapes and want to make them into suns, cut small triangles from the melon. Break toothpicks in half and stick one end into each triangle. Fix them all round the watermelon shape into a sunburst (see feature photo)Be aware that this can make the entire design heavy and it's best to leave these sun designs laying flat on a table, or bowl, instead of standing them upright in a containerNOT TO BE CONSUMED BY SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS SUPERVISED. THE TOOTHPICKS ARE A CHOKING HAZZARD!
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
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