This Watermelon Syrup is sweet, delicious, and so easy to make. It only requires TWO ingredients! This syrup is the perfect addition to all of your summer drinks and is wonderful in cocktails and mocktails.
Sure you could buy a bottle of watermelon syrup at the store--Monin and Torani both make one--but by making it at home you will save money, avoid preservatives and other strange ingredients, and get to brag to all of your friends about your syrup-making skills. They don't need to know that this syrup is actually super easy to make.
If you're looking for more sweet and fruity homemade syrups, try my Cherry Simple Syrup and Raspberry Simple Syrup.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
It only requires TWO ingredients. All you need is some fresh watermelon and some granulated sugar.
It's incredibly easy to make. Most of the preparation is totally hands-off, too!
It tastes great. It's sweet and has the delicious flavor of fresh watermelon.
What is Watermelon Syrup?
At its most basic, this is a sugar syrup that's infused with the flavor and color of fresh watermelon. However...
In most of my syrup recipes, the simple syrup is made by heating water, sugar, and some kind of flavoring (fruit, extract, etc.) on the stovetop. But not this syrup. Oh no.
This syrup is a little different because it's made in the Korean cheong style. Korean fruit cheong is made by fermenting fruits, flowers, and/or herbs with sugar. Basically, you combine equal parts of your chosen ingredient (in this case it's fresh watermelon) with sugar and then allow it to sit and macerate until it reaches a syrup-like consistency.
Once you strain out all the solids, you're left with a sweet, delicious, and brightly-hued watermelon syrup that's great in so many beverages.
Ingredients
This recipe only requires TWO ingredients! See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Fresh watermelon: Sweet, fresh watermelon gives amazing flavor and color to this syrup. I recommend using peak in-season watermelon.
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar for this recipe.
How to make Watermelon Syrup
It almost couldn't be easier to make this syrup. Let's walk through it below.
- Start out by combining the watermelon and sugar in a zip top bag or other airtight container.
- Mix it all together, smashing the watermelon slightly. Stash it in the fridge for about 24 hours.
- This is what the watermelon will look like after about 24 hours. It's much juicier.
- Strain the contents of the bag through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the leftover watermelon chunks.
- You'll be left with a sweet, watermelon-colored and flavored syrup.
After that, all you need to do is stash your syrup in an airtight container in the fridge. I really like to use these <a href="http://<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2354804&u=3864881&m=142016&urllink=&afftrack=">Chubby BottleChubby bottles by Crew (I have three!). In fact, that's what's pictured in the first photo of the syrup. I like that they are easy to clean: the bottom screws on and off, and the glass part is dishwasher safe. Plus they're aesthetically pleasing.
Watermelon Syrup Uses
One of my absolute favorite ways to use this watermelon syrup is in a crisp, refreshing Watermelon Mojito. I know that making a mojito can be a bit of an ordeal, especially when doing it for a crowd, what with all the muddling and whatnot. But the payoff is worth it for this cocktail. Trust. You won't regret it and your guests will be impressed and satisfied.
If you need a drink that the whole family can enjoy, try substituting some or all of the simple syrup in Homemade Lemonade for some watermelon syrup. Not only is it really delicious, but the watermelon syrup will naturally make the lemonade into pink lemonade.
I also won't tell if you want to make your lemonade into an adult bevvy. Maybe... sub watermelon syrup for the strawberry syrup in this Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail?
Regardless of whether you make one of my recipes or not, I'd love to know how you use this syrup. Drop me a comment or email and let me know!
More Watermelon Drink Recipes
Okay, so we've covered the Watermelon Mojito as an option for using this watermelon syrup.
But if you're looking for drink recipes that use fresh watermelon juice... I have a couple of those, too. These Watermelon Mimosas are such a beautiful twist on a classic mimosa. They're great for brunch, holiday breakfasts, Mother's Day, bridal showers, etc.
Check out my Watermelon Crush cocktails, too. If you've never had a Crush... hoo boy are you in for a treat. They're super refreshing, and pretty perfect for a hot Summer day.
Recipe FAQs
In theory, yes. But using a different kind of sugar (like brown sugar or turbinado) will change the flavor and color of your syrup. I also haven't tested this recipe with any sugar other than granulated sugar. So do this at your own risk. If you do try to make this with another kind of sugar, please let me know how it goes for you!
Yes, it will eventually go bad. It should last about a week or two in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.
This syrup should last about a week or two if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can prolong the shelf life a little bit by adding about half an ounce of vodka to the syrup.
Yes, it needs to be refrigerated. Make sure to store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
More flavored syrup recipes
If you loved this recipe, and are looking for more flavored syrup recipes,I have more! Click on any of the photos below to be taken straight to the recipe.
✨ Recipe
Watermelon Syrup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh watermelon cubed
- 8 ounces granulated sugar
Instructions
- Combine the watermelon and sugar in a zip top bag. Toss everything around so that the watermelon is coated in the sugar.
- Gently smash the watermelon pieces a bit.
- Place the bag in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The watermelon will release its juices.
- Once 24 hours has gone by, strain the watermelon syrup through a fine mesh strainer.
- Store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
- You can prolong the shelf life of this syrup by adding about half an ounce of plain vodka to the syrup before storing it in the fridge.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
Andreas
hi there! how long is the shelf life with and without the vodka if stored in the fridge? 🙂
Lauren Pacek
Hello! The shelf life is about 1-2 weeks in the fridge without vodka, and a little longer than that with vodka. Check out the FAQs for more info!