This Watermelon Mocktail recipe is perfect for those scorching summer days when you need a refreshing drink to cool down. It contains juicy watermelon, zesty limes, and hydrating coconut water. Plus, you get to customize it with your choice of sparkling water and sweetener. Read on to learn about the benefits of watermelon as well as tips and tricks for making this mocktail.

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board. All opinions are my own; I never feature a brand that I don’t love! This post may also contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Why You’ll Love It:

This Watermelon Mocktail is the perfect way to savor the taste of summer. Its vibrant color and easy prep makes it a fantastic choice for outdoor parties and weekend brunch. Here’s why you’ll love making this refresher.

• Hydrating: Watermelon and coconut water team up to provide hydration that your body craves, especially during those scorching days.
• Easy to Make: With just a few simple steps, you’ll have this mocktail ready to sip in no time. 
• Healthy: This watermelon drink uses simple, high quality ingredients that are good for our health. Mocktails also offer a satisfying and enjoyable experience without the alcohol.

Is watermelon healthy?

As a dietitian, I absolutely love watermelon and the nutrients it has. You can eat the whole watermelon, including the rind. The rind can be added to all kinds of recipes including sauces, kimchi, and more. Just be sure to thoroughly wash your watermelon with water before cutting. 

Although watermelon is commonly enjoyed during the summer, it’s available year-round. To pick the best watermelon, look for one free of damages and one with a yellow spot on the bottom. This creamy spot indicates that it was on the ground for enough time to properly ripen before it was picked. A perfectly ripe watermelon will be bursting with a juicy, sweet flavor.

Here’s a few health benefits that watermelon provides.

Hydrating 

Watermelon is 92% water, making it an excellent food to contribute to overall hydration. Hydration is essential for many functions including digestion, metabolism, and our body’s temperature regulation. This watermelon mocktail can help promote even more hydration too! 

Vitamins and minerals

Watermelon is a nutrient-dense fruit brimming with benefits. Each slice delivers powerful phytonutrients, satiating fiber, and vitamins and minerals. 

In fact, just two cups of watermelon has 80 calories alongside vitamins A (8% DV), B1 (8% DV),  B6 (5% DV), and C (25% DV), and the minerals potassium (6% DV), magnesium (6% DV), and phosphorus (2% DV). All of these nutrients help to support our health and wellness in different ways (read more about it here)!

A slice of happy

According to new research from the National Watermelon Promotion Board, 82% of watermelon purchasers say eating watermelon boosts their mood! They also found that 100% of respondents said watermelon makes them feel either very happy (70%) or somewhat happy (30%). 

Can watermelon be frozen?

Watermelon can be frozen in various different forms such as melon balled, cubed, or blended. This is a great option, especially if you have extra watermelon you can’t eat right away.

I love freezing watermelon balls to add to this mocktail and provide a refreshing icy element to the drink.

How to freeze watermelon:

1. Start by cutting the fresh watermelon into small, bite-sized cubes or use a melon baller to create watermelon balls.
2. Lay the watermelon pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and let the watermelon freeze for a few hours or until completely solid.
4. Once frozen, transfer the watermelon balls into a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container for future use. Be sure to label and date it.
5. By freezing watermelon in advance, you’ll have a stash of ready-to-use frozen watermelon balls whenever you want to whip up this Watermelon Mocktail. These frozen watermelon balls not only keep the drink chilled but also provide a fun texture and extra burst of flavor.

Frozen watermelon recipes

You can also enjoy frozen watermelon blended into numerous different recipes. Here’s some fun ones to try:

• Watermelon Daiquiri
• Watermelon Mojito Sorbet
• Watermelon Kiwi Smoothie

How do you make these watermelon mocktails?

You can whip these refreshing watermelon drinks together in no time. Here’s how to make them:

1. Gather everything you need 

This recipe only calls for a few key ingredients but they’re all key in creating the best drink experience.

2. Blend together your ingredients

You’ll start by blending together fresh watermelon, whole limes, coconut water, and sweetener. Be sure to use refrigerated or room temperature watermelon for this step, not frozen.

3. Strain out the mixture

Through the blending process, you’ll end up with some extra pulp. You could definitely go without straining it, but I prefer straining for the best mocktail texture. 

4. Assembly the final drink

After you have the strained mixture, you’ll just pour it over frozen watermelon balls, top with sparkling water, and garnish.

Recipe tips and tricks

• Serving Tips: I love to pair this Watermelon Mocktail with a light summer salad or grilled seafood for a refreshing and balanced meal.
• Sweetness: If your watermelon mixture is too tart for your liking, add a bit extra sweetener to balance it out.
• Scaling: To serve a larger crowd, simply double or triple the recipe. You can also keep the watermelon mixture in the pitcher, add over the sparkling water, and have people serve themselves from the pitcher.

Customize it your way

Like all of my other recipes, this Watermelon Mocktail is completely customizable. You get to choose certain ingredients you want to use. Here are a few ideas:

• Sweetener of your choice – I prefer to use 1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia (~40 drops) but you could also use about 2 or so tablespoons monk fruit or white sugar. You could even experiment with using other sweetener options like agave or honey. Use whatever you prefer and have on hand!
• Sparkling water of your choice – There are hundreds of different bubbly waters on the market nowadays. Choose your favorite flavor that includes zero added sugar. Bonus points for using a watermelon flavored sparkling water!

Making this watermelon mocktail recipe ahead of time

While this mocktail is best enjoyed immediately after preparation, you can make the blended watermelon mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Then, assemble the drink by adding the frozen watermelon balls to glasses, pouring over the watermelon mixture and sparkling water, and garnishing.

Can I store leftovers?

Store any leftovers of this watermelon cooler in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. For longer storage, you can freeze the watermelon mixture in ice cube trays and use them as flavor-packed additions to future mocktails.

Need more help with recipes for your busy schedule?

In my coaching + cooking program, I help busy people with beginner cooking knowledge become confident in the kitchen so that they can enjoy nourishing foods they love and stress less about mealtime. Click here to learn more about this virtual program led by a dietitian.

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Want more watermelon? Try these other recipes:

• Watermelon Caprese Salad
• Watermelon Rind Orzo Salad
• Watermelon “Cupcakes”