The Lazy-Genius Frozen Treat I’m Eating All Summer Long Is Just 1 Ingredient

There is a certain 4-year-old in my household who can’t seem to eat enough popsicles. It all started back when he had his adenoids out last fall. He’d actually never even tried a popsicle before, but one taste in the post-op room and he was hooked. Over the last few months he’s become quite the ice pop aficionado. Of course, he doesn’t like just any popsicles, he likes a brand that rings up in double digits at my grocery store.

Needless to say, my wallet needed a break. I’d been meaning to make popsicles with him for a while, but one thing I’ve come to learn about 4-year olds is they are not super long on patience. So when I saw this absolutely genius tip from the Allrecipes TikTok page, I knew I had to give it a try. 

How to Make Watermelon Popsicles

To make watermelon popsicles, you first cut your watermelon in half. Then, take one half of the watermelon and cut a bunch of tiny slits directly into the rind, wide enough for a popsicle stick. The number of slits you make will depend on the size of the melon you are working with, but a good place to start is six rows of four, leaving about an inch between each slit. Then, you insert the popsicle sticks into the slits and cut around them with a chef’s knife to reveal perfectly portioned and symmetrical watermelon pops. Repeat with the other half of the watermelon, if desired.

3 Tips for Making Watermelon Popsicles

• The Best Knife for Cutting Slits: The best knife for cutting slits into the watermelon rind is a sturdy paring knife, but a boning knife, or even a solid steak knife can work in a pinch.
• How to Get the Popsicle Sticks to Stay in Place: Cut the slits slightly smaller than the width of the end of the stick, then use a little force to embed the stick a few inches into the rind. If you wiggle it, the stick shouldn’t budge. 
• Where to Find Popsicle Sticks: You can find popsicle sticks on Amazon, just make sure they are the wide variety like you might find at a doctor’s office (the thinner ones won’t be sturdy enough). You also want to double-check that they are food grade.

How to Serve Watermelon Popsicles

What I love about this idea is that you can serve these popsicles in a variety of ways. For impatient toddlers and little kids, you can serve them as is. To take it one step further, you can freeze the watermelon pops on a sheet pan in the freezer for about 3 hours to make the ultimate 1-ingredient popsicles. The texture is a cross between an ice pop and a slushy and is a big hit among the 1 and under crowd (perfect for teething!). 

If you happen to be entertaining a crowd that already has all of their teeth, these are also super fun for cocktails or even a little amuse bouche. Dip them in a little Tajin for a quick, easy and refreshing snack, or freeze them and add them to Aperol spritzes or margaritas for a festive summery touch. Alternatively, you could also drizzle a little melted chocolate on them before enjoying if you are feeling fancy.