Vegan Watermelon Popsicles

I never thought much about homemade popsicles until one particularly hot summer when my kids were begging for store-bought ones every single day. The sugar content on those boxes was insane, and my wallet was taking a hit.

That’s when I realized watermelon popsicles were basically a cheat code for summer. You blend up some fruit, add a squeeze of lime and a touch of sweetener, and boom—you’ve got a treat that feels like dessert but is mostly just fruit. No fancy equipment needed, no complicated steps. Just four ingredients and a popsicle mold.

What Kind of Watermelon Should I Use?

Any variety of watermelon will work great for these popsicles, whether you go with a classic seedless, a sweet mini watermelon, or even a yellow watermelon for a fun twist. The key is making sure your watermelon is ripe and sweet – give it a tap and listen for a hollow sound, which usually means it’s ready to go. If you end up with a watermelon that’s not super sweet, don’t worry, the lime juice will help balance things out and you can always add a touch of honey or agave if needed. Seedless varieties are obviously the easiest to work with, but if you have a seeded watermelon, just pick out the seeds as you cube it up.

Options for Substitutions

These simple popsicles are easy to customize with a few ingredient swaps:

• Watermelon: You can swap watermelon for other juicy fruits like strawberries, cantaloupe, or honeydew melon. Just make sure whatever fruit you choose has enough natural juice to blend smoothly.
• Fresh lime juice: If you don’t have limes, fresh lemon juice works just as well for that bright, citrusy kick. You could also try orange juice for a sweeter, less tangy flavor.
• Sweetener: If your watermelon isn’t very sweet, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, agave syrup, or simple syrup. Blend it in with the other ingredients and taste before freezing.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making watermelon popsicles is not straining the blended mixture, which can leave you with icy, grainy popsicles instead of smooth ones – pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds for a better texture.

Another common error is filling the molds all the way to the top, but leaving that 1/2 inch of space is important because the liquid expands as it freezes and could push the sticks out or crack your molds.

To make removal easier, run the outside of the mold under warm water for 10-15 seconds before pulling out the popsicles, and if you’re having trouble getting the sticks to stay centered, freeze the popsicles for about an hour first, then insert the sticks when they’re partially frozen.

What to Serve With Watermelon Popsicles?

These watermelon popsicles are perfect for a hot summer day, and they pair really well with other backyard BBQ favorites. I love serving them after grilled burgers, hot dogs, or chicken skewers when everyone’s looking for something cool and refreshing. They also make a great finish to a picnic spread with sandwiches, pasta salad, and chips. If you’re hosting a pool party or cookout, set them out alongside other frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches so everyone can grab what they’re craving.

Storage Instructions

Freeze: These popsicles will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container or wrapped individually in plastic wrap. I like to make a big batch when watermelon is in season so I always have a refreshing treat ready to go on hot days.

Serve: Let the popsicles sit at room temperature for about 30 seconds to a minute before trying to pull them out of the molds. If they’re being stubborn, run the outside of the mold under warm water for just a few seconds and they’ll slide right out.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 270-310
• Protein: 5-7 g
• Fat: 0-1 g
• Carbohydrates: 70-78 g

Ingredients

• 6 cups watermelon (cubed into 1-inch pieces and seeds removed)
• 3 tbsp lime juice (Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice preferred)
• 2 tbsp honey or agave nectar
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

Step 1: Prepare Watermelon and Blend Base

• 6 cups watermelon, cubed with seeds removed
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp honey or agave nectar
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

Cut your watermelon into 1-inch cubes and remove all seeds—this is important for texture, as seeds can make the popsicles gritty.

Add the cubed watermelon to a blender along with the lime juice, honey, and sea salt.

Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes.

The salt might seem like an odd addition, but I find it actually enhances the watermelon flavor and prevents the popsicles from tasting overly sweet.

Step 2: Fill Molds and Freeze

• blended watermelon mixture from Step 1

Pour the blended watermelon mixture into popsicle molds, filling each one to about 1/2 inch below the rim—this space allows room for the mixture to expand slightly as it freezes.

Insert the popsicle sticks into each mold, then place the entire mold in the freezer.

Freeze for at least 4 hours, though overnight freezing ensures the popsicles are completely solid and easier to remove from the molds.

Vegan Watermelon Popsicles

Delicious Vegan Watermelon Popsicles recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Cook Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Total Time 6 hours hrs 7 minutes mins

Servings: 10 popsicles

Calories: 290

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 6 cups watermelon (cubed into 1-inch pieces and seeds removed)
• 3 tbsp lime juice (Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice preferred)
• 2 tbsp honey or agave nectar
• 1/8 tsp sea salt

Method

 

1. Cut your watermelon into 1-inch cubes and remove all seeds—this is important for texture, as seeds can make the popsicles gritty. Add the cubed watermelon to a blender along with the lime juice, honey, and sea salt. Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes. The salt might seem like an odd addition, but I find it actually enhances the watermelon flavor and prevents the popsicles from tasting overly sweet.
2. Pour the blended watermelon mixture into popsicle molds, filling each one to about 1/2 inch below the rim—this space allows room for the mixture to expand slightly as it freezes. Insert the popsicle sticks into each mold, then place the entire mold in the freezer. Freeze for at least 4 hours, though overnight freezing ensures the popsicles are completely solid and easier to remove from the molds.