Watermelon Simple Syrup
For this no-cook simple syrup, you’ll soak juicy watermelon in sugar to make a fresh watermelon simple syrup with true watermelon flavor. Perfect for adding a burst of sweet and juicy melon flavor to ice teas, lemonades, cakes, cocktails, mocktails, and more.
Did you know you can make fruit-flavored simple syrups without heat or water? Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it pulls the moisture from whatever it’s added to. Cooking fruit to make simple syrups can alter the taste, but this process doesn’t disturb the fresh fruit water.
To sum it up, coating watermelon in sugar pulls the juice from the fruit, creating a sweet, sticky syrup with pure watermelon flavor.
So, you should make this watermelon syrup because…
- Using a no-cook, cold process method doesn’t alter the flavor of the fruit.
- If stored properly, it lasts for 2 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.
- The best way to add natural watermelon flavor to drinks and desserts.
Ready to make watermelon-infused simple syrup? Plan ahead, so you have plenty of time to soak the watermelon in the sugar, and let’s do it.
🍉 Ingredients
Using a cold process to make simple syrup eliminates the need for water, so all you will need is:
- Watermelon – The star of this simple syrup flavor. Seedless varieties are easier to strain, but you can use any perfectly ripened watermelon. You’ll need about 2 heaping cups.
- Sugar – To sweeten the syrup, you’ll need sugar. You can use any sugar here, but granulated sugar and caster sugar work best.
🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)
1️⃣ Step One: Coat watermelon with sugar
After cutting the watermelon into cubes, add it to a medium-size bowl or jar, then add the sugar. Mix well to coat the watermelon thoroughly in sugar.
2️⃣ Step Two: Chill for 12-24 hours
Set the bowl in the fridge and let the watermelon chill for 12-24 hours, allowing it to release its juices.
3️⃣ Step Three: Strain
Once the watermelon has released its natural juice, strain the liquid through a metal strainer or sieve to remove the seeds and pulp.
4️⃣ Step Four: Cool and store
Let cool, then store it in a glass jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To freeze, pour the syrup into ice cube trays and freeze, then store the frozen cubes in a freezer-friendly bag for up to six months
💭 Questions + quick tips
Yes, you can make simple syrup from frozen watermelon. Toss the frozen chunks with plenty of sugar and set the container in the fridge for 12-24 hours or until the mixture is primarily liquid.
Yes. It works best with peeled juicy fruits like watermelons, peaches, apricots, and cantaloupe.
One pound of fresh watermelon will reduce to 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of watermelon syrup.
If you want to make more than a cup of simple syrup, multiply the ingredients by the number of cups you need.
🍧 How to serve
Watermelon syrup for drinks – Add a tablespoon of watermelon syrup, plus more to taste to enhance these refreshing drinks.
- Iced tea
- Lemonade
- Sparkling water
- Club soda
- Lemon-lime soda
Watermelon syrup for cocktails – See below for easy watermelon cocktail ideas.
- Hard watermelon lemonade – Add 1.5 ounces of vodka and 1 ounce of watermelon simple syrup to a glass with ice. Fill the rest of the glass with lemonade and stir.
- Watermelon margarita – Shake 1.5 ounces of tequila, 0.5 ounces of triple sec, 0.5 ounces of watermelon syrup, and the juice from one lime with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain the mixture into a salt-rimmed glass.
- Watermelon cosmo – Add 2 ounces of watermelon vodka, 1 ounce of watermelon syrup, and the juice from one lime to a cocktail shaker. Shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass.
Watermelon syrup for desserts
- Drizzle watermelon syrup over ice cream
- Add to smoothies
- Make watermelon candies and sweet treats
- Blend with fresh watermelon and freeze in popsicle molds
🧊 How to store
DIY simple syrups make great gifts for the coffee and cocktail lovers in your life. They keep well in both the fridge and freezer.
- Refrigerator storage: After cooling completely to room temperature, pour your watermelon syrup into a sanitized glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid and keep it stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer storage: You can freeze your syrup in a freezer-safe jar or bottle. OR, you can freeze the syrup into cubes in an ice cube tray, then freeze the cubes in a freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.
🍊More fruit simple syrup flavors
Don’t miss these fruit-flavored simple syrup recipes if you love adding sweet and juicy fruit flavors to your drinks.
- Pear Simple Syrup
- Lemon Ginger Simple Syrup
- Orange Simple Syrup
- Blueberry Simple Syrup
- Pineapple Ginger Syrup
- Raspberry Simple Syrup
- Peach-Infused Simple Syrup
Watermelon Simple Syrup (No Cook)
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl or jar
- 1 fine mesh sieve
- 1 glass jar or bottle for storage
Ingredients
- 1 pound watermelon 16 ounces (about 2 heaping cups); cut into cubes
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- After cutting the watermelon into cubes, add it to a medium-size bowl or jar, then add the sugar. Mix well to coat the watermelon completely in sugar.
- Set the bowl in the fridge and let the watermelon chill for 12-24 hours, allowing it to release its juices.
- Once the watermelon has released its natural juice, strain the liquid through a metal strainer or sieve to remove the seeds and pulp.
- Then, store it in a glass jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. To freeze, pour the syrup into ice cube trays and freeze, then store the frozen cubes in a freezer-friendly bag for up to six months
