Homemade Watermelon Ice Cream: The Ultimate Refreshing Summer Treat

Beat the summer heat with this incredibly refreshing watermelon ice cream! Sweet, creamy, and bursting with fresh watermelon flavor, this homemade dessert is the perfect way to cool down. We even add a few chocolate chips to mimic those classic watermelon “seeds” for a fun visual touch, making it a delightful and vibrant treat for all ages.

Summer is synonymous with vibrant flavors, outdoor adventures, and an undeniable yearning for anything that helps us stay cool and energized. Just yesterday, my family and I enjoyed a fantastic company summer party at Horsetooth Reservoir. It was a day filled with exhilarating activities like wave runners, stand-up paddleboards, pontoon boats, and water skiing – truly a perfect escape from the daily grind and a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues and their families. The sun was shining brightly, the water was inviting, and the air was alive with laughter and good cheer. Days like these, spent basking in the summer sun, inevitably lead to craving light, sweet, and utterly refreshing treats. And what could be more perfectly suited to this desire than a generous scoop of homemade watermelon ice cream?

The Undeniable Appeal of Watermelon: A Summer Essential

There’s an undeniable magic to watermelon that firmly establishes it as the ultimate fruit of summer. Its remarkably high water content makes it incredibly hydrating, providing essential electrolytes and acting as a fantastic natural way to replenish fluids on even the hottest of days. Beyond its exceptional hydrating properties, watermelon is also a wonderful source of vital nutrients, including vitamins A and C, and it’s rich in lycopene, a potent antioxidant known for its health benefits. But let’s be honest, for many, it’s the sheer juicy, sweet, and refreshingly crisp flavor that truly captures our hearts and makes it a seasonal favorite.

The versatility of watermelon in culinary applications is truly astounding. While a simple slice, chilled to perfection, is always a winning snack (I personally keep some in my fridge all summer long for easy indulgence), it also shines brilliantly in a variety of other creative dishes. Imagine a light and zesty watermelon salad, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavors that awakens the palate. Or perhaps a sparkling watermelon soda, a bubbly and sweet concoction perfect for sipping by the pool or enjoying at a backyard barbecue. This fruit truly screams summer no matter how you prepare it. For me, however, one of the most delightful and innovative ways to enjoy this incredible fruit is by transforming it into a cool, creamy, and utterly satisfying homemade ice cream. It’s a new twist that combines the best of both worlds – the natural goodness of watermelon and the luxurious indulgence of a frozen dessert.

Crafting Your Own Watermelon Ice Cream: Simple Steps to Summer Bliss

This watermelon ice cream recipe offers a super fun and unique twist on traditional ice cream, bringing a vibrant burst of summer joy with every single spoonful. What makes this recipe even more appealing is how surprisingly easy it is to prepare, even for those who might be new to making ice cream at home. The process involves creating a rich, subtly sweet, custard-like base on the stovetop and then combining it with freshly pureed and meticulously strained watermelon juice. The beautiful result is a naturally pink dessert that captures the authentic taste of biting into a perfectly chilled slice of watermelon, but with the added luxurious, smooth, and creamy texture that only homemade ice cream can provide.

One of the most delightful and charming visual elements of this particular recipe is the optional, yet highly recommended, addition of mini chocolate chips. Scattered thoughtfully throughout the ice cream, these tiny chips cleverly resemble the distinctive black seeds of a watermelon. This playful touch adds a charming and realistic visual appeal, making this dessert not just incredibly delicious, but also wonderfully Instagram-worthy and a guaranteed hit with both children and adults alike. It’s a simple detail that truly elevates the entire watermelon ice cream experience.

Essential Tips for Achieving Perfect Watermelon Ice Cream

Selecting the Best Watermelon: For the most flavorful ice cream, start with a ripe, sweet watermelon. Look for one that is symmetrical, heavy for its size, and has a creamy yellow spot on its underside, indicating where it ripened on the ground. When tapped, a ripe watermelon should produce a hollow sound.
Proper Pureeing and Straining: This step is critical for a smooth, non-icy ice cream. After pureeing your cubed watermelon in a blender or food processor until entirely smooth, do not skip straining the juice through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. This removes any fibrous pulp that could interfere with the creamy texture.
Thorough Chilling is Paramount: It cannot be stressed enough – ensure both your cooked milk mixture and your pureed, strained watermelon juice are thoroughly chilled before combining them and pouring into your ice cream maker. This extended chilling time (3-6 hours for the juice, and at least 2 hours for the milk base after cooling) is crucial for achieving the proper consistency and preventing large ice crystals from forming, which can make your ice cream grainy.
Adjusting Sweetness to Taste: The natural sweetness of watermelons can vary significantly depending on ripeness and variety. Before you combine the chilled milk mixture with the watermelon juice, taste the watermelon juice. If your watermelon is not as sweet as you’d like, you might consider adding an extra tablespoon or two of granulated sugar to the milk mixture while it’s heating. This allows you to customize the flavor perfectly to your preference and the ripeness of your fruit.
Avoid Over-Churning: Always follow the specific instructions for your ice cream maker. Over-churning can lead to a less creamy texture. The ice cream will typically have a soft-serve consistency directly after churning, which is ideal for incorporating the chocolate chips.
Optimizing Storage for Firmness: Once churned and the chocolate chips are folded in, transfer your watermelon ice cream to an airtight container. Place this container in the freezer for an additional 2-3 hours. This “ripening” period allows the ice cream to firm up to a perfectly scoopable consistency, developing its full, rich texture and flavor.

By keeping these expert tips in mind, you are well on your way to crafting a cool, creamy, and wonderfully refreshing homemade watermelon ice cream that will undoubtedly be the highlight of any summer gathering, a delightful family dessert, or simply a well-deserved personal indulgence on a hot day. Enjoy the process and savor every spoonful of this vibrant summer delight!

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Watermelon Ice Cream

By

Erin Sellin

Refreshing watermelon gets mixed with cool and creamy ice cream for a great summer treat. Plus a few chocolate chips for the “seeds.”

Prep:

15 minutes

Cook:

30 minutes

Chill Time:

6 hours

Servings:
8

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Ingredients

▢

¾
cup

sugar
▢

1
Tbls

cornstarch
▢

1
cup

whole milk
▢

¾
cup

heavy cream
▢

½
tsp

vanilla extract
▢

10
cups
approx. watermelon cubed (2 ½ cups juice)
▢

½
cup
mini chocolate chips

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, whole milk, and heavy cream. Heat this mixture over medium heat, stirring continuously with a whisk to prevent lumps and ensure even cooking. Continue heating until the mixture begins to gently bubble around the edges and thickens slightly, reaching a consistency akin to a thin custard. This process usually takes about 5-10 minutes. Once thickened, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract until it’s thoroughly combined. Allow this rich custard base to cool completely to room temperature on your countertop, then transfer it to the refrigerator to chill further for at least 2 hours, or until it is very cold. This cooling process is crucial for the final texture of your ice cream.
While your milk mixture is chilling, prepare your fresh watermelon juice. Begin by cubing approximately 10 cups of fresh watermelon, carefully removing any visible seeds. Place the watermelon cubes into a powerful blender or food processor and blend until the watermelon is completely pureed and smooth, with no large chunks remaining. Next, pour this watermelon puree through a fine-mesh strainer or a sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl. Press down firmly on the solids collected in the strainer using a spoon or spatula to extract as much juice as possible, ensuring you get maximum flavor. Discard the remaining pulp. Transfer the strained watermelon juice to the refrigerator and chill it for 3-6 hours, or until it is very cold. This thorough chilling is absolutely critical for achieving the best, creamiest ice cream texture.
Once both the milk mixture and the watermelon juice are thoroughly chilled and very cold, combine them in a large mixing bowl. Whisk them together until they are well integrated and homogenous. Before proceeding, double-check that the combined mixture is still exceptionally cold; if it has warmed up, return it to the fridge until thoroughly chilled again. Pour the cold liquid mixture into your ice cream maker’s frozen bowl, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Churn the mixture for approximately 20 minutes, or according to your specific appliance’s guidelines. At this stage, the ice cream will typically have a soft-serve consistency – perfectly creamy but not yet firm.
After the churning process is complete, gently fold in the mini chocolate chips. These tiny chocolate pieces are not just for flavor; they cleverly resemble watermelon seeds, adding a charming and realistic visual element that enhances the overall appeal of your dessert. Once the chocolate chips are evenly distributed, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container. This helps prevent freezer burn and maintains the ice cream’s quality. Place the container in the freezer for an additional 2-3 hours to allow the ice cream to firm up completely to a scoopable, firm consistency. Once set, serve chilled and enjoy this delightful, homemade, and incredibly refreshing summer treat!

Notes

Sweetness Level: The natural sweetness of watermelons can vary considerably depending on factors like ripeness and variety. We highly recommend tasting your freshly pureed watermelon juice before you proceed to combine it with the milk base. If you find that your particular watermelon is not as sweet as you prefer or if you desire a sweeter ice cream, you might consider adding an extra tablespoon or two of granulated sugar to the milk mixture while it’s heating on the stovetop. This allows you the flexibility to customize the flavor perfectly to your personal preference and to accommodate the inherent sweetness (or lack thereof) of your chosen fruit.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author:

Erin Sellin

Prep Time:

15 minutes

Cook Time:

30 minutes

Chill Time:

6 hours

Course:
Dessert Recipes

Cuisine:
American

Servings:
8

Calories:
284

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