Frozen Watermelon: The Easiest Popsicle Ever
It’s J’s (and the county’s) last day of school today. Watermelon is in season. It’s HOT outside.
I guess summer’s here. I should be happier about it but, alas, summer in Florida is not exactly the heavenly experience that it is on the rest of the continent. Not at all! Which is why I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to beat the heat this year and I’ve come up with a doozy.
It’s not often that we parents find a food that:
a) is healthy;
b) our kids LOVE;
c) is ridiculously easy to make.
Well, we’ve found one! Frozen Watermelon.
It’s slurpable and full of summer fun for the kids. And, since it’s low calorie and refreshingly not too sweet, mom can join in every time.
Cut watermelon into slices, trim off the rind, insert stick, freeze. No sugar or anything else added (except the popsicle stick, of course).
I hesitate to actually give a recipe since that’s all there is to it. But in case you want really explicit instructions, here you go.
Frozen Watermelon: The Easiest Popsicles Ever
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Ingredients:
- half of a seedless watermelon (you probably won’t use all of it though)
- popsicle sticks
Instructions:
- Cut: From your watermelon, cut off one half moon of a slice about 3/4 inch thick. Trim off the rind, poke off any pale seeds that are showing and then cut the slic
e into 3-4 triangles. - Insert stick: Lay one triangle of watermelon on a cookie sheet. Slide a popsicle stick in at least halfway (I slide mine into the curved edge where the rind used to be but it doesn’t really matter where you stick it as long as it goes at least halfway in and is completely surrounded by watermelon).
- Repeat: Repeat with remaining watermelon until you have as many popsicles as you’d like (note that they can’t be touching while they freeze or they become hard to break apart. So only make as many as you have space for on cookie sheets in your freezer).
- Freeze: Spread the slices out on the cookie sheet so that they’re not touching. Freeze on the cookie sheet for 3-4 hours, until frozen through. Eat or wrap watermelon popsicles individually in plastic wrap and return them to the freezer where they’ll keep for 5-7 days.
Great pictures for sharing:
Chris, where do you get popsicle sticks?? I’ve been looking for them for our homemade “corn dogs” as well, and the best I’ve been able to substitute are coffee sticks (same shape as a popsicle stick but flimsy).
Audrey Russell recently posted: Caramelized French Toast
These come from the craft section of Target. I bought them ages ago for a craft, threw away the packaging and kept them in a ziplock bag. Now I find myself wondering if they were even food safe!?!?! But I bet Michaels and Joannes have them too, and they’d definitely have food safe ones. Worth trying Walmart also.
Why have I not thought of this? So easy, so good, and it should make the watermelon last longer, right? (I sometimes end up throwing some away because after a few days in the fridge we just get watermeloned-out.)
Kerry Ann (aka Vinobaby) recently posted: Clear the Clutter with Pinterest *and* Get Ready for Hit or Miss Monday Linky
That’s EXACTLY what made me think of it. I was pureeing watermelon to make juice to freeze into popsicles because I knew we weren’t going to get through it all. And then I was like, “It’d be so much easier if I didn’t have to puree it first. Hey wait. Do I have to puree it first.” Inserted sticks and had popsicles a couple of hours later. Yay!
Love this idea—I have to give this a try the next time I buy a watermelon!
katie recently posted: Pasta with Snap Peas, Basil, and Spinach
I haven’t tried it myself but I’ve heard that soaking the slices in a bit of rum before freezing is a nice twist! I think you guys would like that :).
Now that is one refreshing summer treat!
Paula recently posted: Lemon Meringue Squares – Tart and Buttery
For sure!
Ok, if there was any doubt (which there really wasn’t) about your sheer brilliance then this recipe has settled it. Will ‘make’ these tonight!
{Adventuresindinner} recently posted: Food Waste Friday and BBQ Heaven
I’m usually pretty modest but I have to agree that discovering this felt like sheer brilliance. I was amazed at me. I even googled around and couldn’t find anything like them online so I felt even more amazing. But then after posting it I’ve heard from many people about how they’ve been doing this for years. I even found an alcoholized version online. So brilliant, maybe. Original, not as much as I thought! Oh well. They’re still delicious and still make both J and me happy so all is well.