Check out these cute fresh watermelon lollies! They're a healthy treat, thirst-quenching and perfect for both kids and grown-ups alike.
Unlike regular watermelon ice lollies, these 'lollies' aren't frozen. We just use crisp, fresh 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:
- What's to love about this recipe
- Key ingredient notes and substitutions
- How to tell if a watermelon is ripe?
- How to tell if a honeydew melon is ripe?
- How to make these lollies
- Top tips
- Other fruits you can consider using
- Variations
- Safety
- How to serve these lollies
- Storage
- More fun recipes to make
- More recipes using fresh fruit
- Recipe
- Top tips
What's to love about this recipe
- These watermelon 'popsicles' are a healthier alternative to sugary snacks with 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 interesting designs using your imagination and any other fruits available to you.
- A hydrating snack on hot summer days.
- Very child-friendly and fun to get children involved.
- Gluten-free.
- Vegan friendly.
- No ice lolly moulds are needed.
- Can be enjoyed as a snack, an appetiser before a barbeque or a light 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?
- A ripe fruit feels heavy and uniform in size.
- An orange 'field spot' on one side indicates ripeness - this is the side that faced the ground before picking. A deep yellow or orange spot means it's been on the vine longer and is therefore sweeter than a watermelon with a pale, white field spot.
- Larger 'webbing' (the darker green lines on the rind) usually signals a sweeter melon, whereas small webbing often means blandness.
- A dark, dull rind usually indicates ripeness, whereas a shiny watermelon is unripe.
How to tell if a honeydew melon is ripe?
- The skin colour should be creamy yellow rather than with a greenish undertone.
- Pressing on the opposite end from where it was attached to the vine, it should feel slightly soft or a little springy when ripe.
- 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 fruits for your favourites, or types that fit your design ideas. Think banana slices for eyes with blueberry pupils, a green-toothed kiwi smile etc. Firm, unsegmented fruits work best.
How to make these lollies
- On a cutting board, use a sharp knife to slice the watermelon and melon horizontally into 1.5cm - 2cm (0.6" - 0.7") thick rings. Or, check the thickness if your cookie cutters, you don't want to go thicker than that.
Note: You don't need to pick out the black seeds from the watermelon, it adds to the look!
- Using the larger cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the watermelon rings.
- Using smaller cookie cutters, cut shapes from the melon rings. Choose smaller versions of the watermelon shapes or any other desired shapes.
- Using the same smaller cutters, cut matching shapes from the centre of each watermelon shape to create empty spaces.
- Push the small melon shape into the empty space of the watermelon shape. It's a bit like a jigsaw!
- Gently push a kebab skewer up through the bottom of the watermelon shape, then through the melon shape in the centre space and then through the top of the watermelon so the skewer pierces all three layers. Stop just before the skewer pokes out the top.
- Skewer grapes onto the stick, alternating colours, pushing them up to the watermelon.
- Optional: If you have circle shapes and want to make them into suns, cut small triangles from the melon (or fresh pineapple).
Break toothpicks in half and stick one end into each triangle. Fix them all around the watermelon shape into a sunburst (see feature photo).
Note - sun designs are heavy, so lay them flat rather than standing upright.
NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS SUPERVISED - TOOTHPICKS POSE A CHOKING HAZARD!
Top tips
Keep initial slices the same thickness as your cookie cutters
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.
Score the skin
A big sharp knife really helps to cut thin slices from the watermelon and melon (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, it gives the knife a bit of a 'bite' and will prevent the knife slipping.
Leave enough of a rim on the 'framing' fruit piece
The size of the 'inside' (small shape) cookie cutter needs to be small enough so you have a decent-sized rim left on the larger 'framing' shape when you cut the hole out, otherwise the whole shape might collapse.
Secure *all* the pieces with the kebab stick
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 through watermelon > melon > watermelon.
Leftover watermelon
Leftover watermelon provides a great way to make refreshing watermelon juice! Simply blend watermelon chunks into a puree using a food processor or hand blender.
You can strain the watermelon puree through a sieve to get rid of any seeds if you wish. Add lime juice, a little sugar if needed and ice. Enjoy!
Other fruits you can consider using
- Pineapple.
- Apples.
- Bananas.
- Kiwi fruit.
- Peaches.
- Nectarines.
- Berries like blackberries, raspberries, strawberries etc.
- Persimmon.
- Pears.
- Mango.
Variations
- You can keep these simple and just cut out a single shape, like a star or heart, and thread it onto a wooden lolly stick.
Safety
Kebab skewers are sharp, so supervise small children or remove the fruit from the skewers. Toothpicks are an even greater hazard - be very cautious with little ones.
How to serve these lollies
- Stand upright in a tall container like a bouquet.
- If you add 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 okay 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 to make
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
- 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, use a sharp knife to slice the watermelon and melon horizontally into 1.5cm - 2cm (0.6" - 0.7") thick rings. Or, check the thickness if your cookie cutters, you don't want to go thicker than that.
- Using the larger cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the watermelon rings.
- Using smaller cookie cutters, cut shapes from the melon rings. Choose smaller versions of the watermelon shapes or any other desired shapes.
- Using the same smaller cutters, cut matching shapes from the centre of each watermelon shape to create empty spaces. Refer to the feature photo for ideas and the blog post for a step by step guide.
- Push the small melon shape into the empty space of the watermelon shape. It's a bit like a jigsaw!
- Gently push a kebab skewer up through the bottom of the watermelon shape, then through the melon shape in the centre space, then through the top of the watermelon so the skewer pierces all three layers. Stop just before the skewer pokes out the top.
- Skewer grapes onto the stick, alternating colours, pushing them up to the watermelon.
- 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). Note - sun designs are heavy, so lay them flat rather than standing upright.
- NOT TO BE CONSUMED BY SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS SUPERVISED. THE TOOTHPICKS ARE A CHOKING HAZZARD!
Notes
Top tips
Keep initial slices the same thickness as your cookie cutters
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.Score the skin
A big sharp knife really helps to cut thin slices from the watermelon and melon (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, it gives the knife a bit if a 'bite' and will prevent the knife slipping.Leave enough of a rim on the 'framing' fruit piece
The size of the 'inside' (small shape) cookie cutter needs to be small enough so you have a decent sized rim left on the larger 'framing' shape when you cut the hole out, otherwise the whole shape might collapse.Secure *all* the pieces with the kebab stick
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.**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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