Watermelon Simple Syrup

5 from 1 vote

Capture the essence of summer in this delicious Watermelon Syrup recipe! Make a large batch and you can keep making flavorful drinks all summer long.

A glass of red juice with a gold straw is in the foreground. In the background, there are blurred slices of watermelon on a wooden cutting board.

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About this Watermelon Syrup recipe

This homemade watermelon syrup is one of the most fun ways to use up some extra watermelon! I love getting loads of watermelon when it reaches peak season during the summertime. It’s definitely a summertime picnic favorite.

So once I figured out how to make watermelon syrup, I knew I could make the best cocktails and beverages with this perfect refreshing enhancement. It’s a flavorful addition to mojitos, lemonade and so much more.

I specifically love making homemade simple syrups because they’re made with real, natural flavors and don’t have any additives, preservatives, or food dyes added to them. This means that my cocktail recipes turn out extra delicious because my simple syrup recipes have ALL of the good stuff and none of the fluff.

Since fresh watermelon is in abundance during the summer, you can make this tasty syrup to use up any extra watermelon you have on hand. It’s shelf life is pretty good too, so then you’ll have a sticky sweet syrup to use for weeks to come!

More fruit syrup recipes: Blueberry Simple SyrupPeach Simple SyrupStrawberry Simple Syrup

A glass of red watermelon juice with a gold spoon inside, placed next to watermelon slices, a jigger, and green mint leaves on a white surface.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

With watermelon syrup, you get to capture summertime sunshine in a bottle! There’s so much to love about that:

  • You can make loads of this syrup from just a small portion of a large, ripe watermelon. It’s incredibly affordable and tastes insanely good.
  • Watermelon syrup sets you up for amazing drink experiences. Add so much flavor to simple recipes and unique cocktails with just a splash of this fruity mix.
  • The vibrant color of watermelon will make your drinks so pretty and summery! Everything’s an extra level of tasty when it looks pretty too.

Tools & equipment

To make this simple syrup, you’ll at minimum need a saucepan, measuring cups, a spoon and an airtight storage container.

If you’re making your own watermelon juice, then you will also need a blender, fine mesh strainer and a silicone spatula.

Ingredients

You only need three simple ingredients to make this yummy syrup recipe. Here’s what to have on hand:

  • watermelon juice or fresh watermelon: If you do not have access to pure watermelon juice, you can use fresh watermelon instead. You’ll need about ½ a pound.
  • sugar: Pure cane sugar is all you need to make the sweet watermelon flavor that this simple syrup recipe creates
  • lemon juice, optional: I like the slight tart bite that lemon juice adds to this easy syrup recipe. You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, but it does add a little something extra special! You can also use lime juice if you prefer.

Substitutions & variations

Mix things up with one of these variations:

Spicy watermelon syrup: Warm up the syrup with some jalapeño slices, then let it cool with the slices still in it. If you leave the seeds in, it will be spicer than if you remove them.

Lime watermelon syrup: Mix in lime juice to give this syrup more of a kick. It’s great if you’re planning to add it to mojitos or margaritas.

Sugar-free watermelon syrup: If you want to reduce the amount of sugar (keeping in mind that watermelon is sweet) you can do so with a natural sugar like coconut sugar or mix in your favorite sugar substitute to make a sugar-free simple syrup.

A glass of watermelon juice next to slices of watermelon and a sprig of mint on a wooden cutting board.

Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions and in not time you’ll have the tastiest watermelon syrup:

A blender pitcher filled with cubed watermelon pieces.
A blender pitcher half-filled with blended red liquid, featuring measurement markings, a black lid with handle, and condensation on the inside.

If you’re using fresh watermelon, slice it up into cubes and then place them in a blender or food processor.

Red liquid being poured through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass measuring cup marked "Pyrex.

Pulse the watermelon until smooth, then pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer.

A person uses a turquoise spatula to strain pink liquid through a mesh sieve into a large Pyrex measuring cup on a white surface.

Using a silicone spatula, push the pureed watermelon through mesh to remove the solids from the liquid.

A pitcher of red liquid being poured into a stainless steel pot.
Sugar being poured into a pot filled with red liquid on a stovetop.

Once you have your watermelon juice, pour it into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, but be sure not to boil the mixture.

A turquoise spatula sits in a stainless steel pot filled with red liquid.

Remove the syrup from heat and allow to cool completely, then stir in lemon juice.

Store in a food-safe, airtight container for up to 3 weeks. If it ever appears cloudy, you should discard it. For the best tips and tricks on storing simple syrup, check out my blog on how to store simple syrup.

A spoon drips liquid into a glass jar filled with red juice. In the background, there are watermelon slices and mint leaves on a wooden cutting board.

Tips & tricks

For the best results, follow these few tips and tricks:

  • For the most sweet flavor, choose ripe and juicy watermelon! A watermelon that is more pink on the inside, instead of red, won’t produce syrup with a very bold flavor.
  • It is really important that you strain the syrup very well so that it is smooth. If you leave behind chunks or seeds, it can effect the quality of the syrup.
  • Depending on how ripe your watermelon is, you may need to adjust the level of sweetness. If you’ve got a sugary sweet watermelon, a full cup of sugar may make the syrup too sweet!
A clear glass filled with red liquid is placed next to a gold spoon with sliced watermelon pieces in the background.

Uses for Watermelon Syrup

There are seemingly endless uses for this incredible recipe! It makes my agua fresca recipe extra easy to throw together and makes downright drool-worthy watermelon margaritas. You can even use it to make watermelon lemonade.

And if you’ve never had a watermelon mojito, it’s the quintessential refreshing summertime beverage. Oh, and it’s so tasty drizzled on top of vanilla ice cream too!

You can also use it to make an Italian soda, by adding a little syrup to a glass of ice and topping it with seltzer. It’s actually a great addition to watermelon salad too!

A clear glass filled with pink juice and a metal straw, with sliced watermelon and mint leaves in the background.

FAQ

How long is simple syrup good for?

If stored in an airtight container, it will last for about 3 weeks. But there are many other ways that you can store homemade simple syrup to extend it’s shelf life!

How can I use watermelon syrup?

Use this sweet syrup as an enhancer for cocktails and mocktails. You can also add it on top of desserts, like ice cream, and mix it with other ingredients to make tasty popsicles. It can be a tasty addition in a vinaigrette and even added into your baking routines for extra fun flavor!

More watermelon drinks: Watermelon SangriaWatermelon MimosasMexican Candy Shot

A glass of red juice with a gold spoon placed on top, shown with slices of watermelon on a cutting board in the background.

More simple syrup recipes

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

A glass of red watermelon juice with a gold spoon inside, placed next to watermelon slices, a jigger, and green mint leaves on a white surface.

Watermelon Simple Syrup

Yield: 10 ounces
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
This watermelon simple syrup is so easy to make and is the most fun summer recipe! With three simple ingredients, you can have a bottle full of summer sweetness.
5 from 1 vote
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ingredients

instructions

  • If using fresh watermelon, slice it into cubes and place them in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Strain out the solids with a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spatula to push the liquid through the mesh.
  • In a medium saucepan, warm the watermelon juice over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Do not boil.
  • Remove from heat and let cool completely. Stir in the lemon juice.
  • Store in a food-safe, airtight container for up to 3 weeks. If it ever appears cloudy, it’s time to toss it.

notes

How much watermelon to use: I juiced a 2-pound watermelon and it made 4 cups of juice. If you want to reserve some of your watermelon for eating, use about a ½-pound of the melon to get enough juice for this syrup recipe.

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nutrition information

Yield: 10 ounces

amount per serving:

Serving: 1ounce Calories: 82kcal Carbohydrates: 21g Protein: 0.1g Fat: 0.1g Saturated Fat: 0.003g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 0.4mg Potassium: 19mg Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 21g Vitamin A: 87IU Vitamin C: 2mg Calcium: 1mg Iron: 0.05mg
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