A fun, fruity cocktail made with fresh watermelon juice!

Watch me make this watermelon cocktail from start to finish!


My kids: “Mom what’s for dinner? Have you seen my charger? I can’t find anything to wear, did you wash my clothes?  ……”

Me: *whispering* “Lord, help me.”

Heat and hunger make me moody, I’ll admit. And with temperatures threatening to reach the hundreds around here, I’m not to be messed with.  My husband learned this early into our dating years but for some reason, my kids like to rapid-fire requests, questions, and complaints during this time.

Mama’s punch to the rescue. There is nothing more refreshing in the summertime than a swimming pool and a fruity cocktail. I’m convinced that it makes even the grumpiest of mamas more patient. So today we’re making use of one of my favorite summertime fruits: WATERMELON!!!

This watermelon cocktail screams summertime and it is one of my favorite hot-weather cocktail recipes! It’s lightly fizzing and the pineapple juice and white grape juice compliments the watermelon flavor without completely overpowering it. It all comes together so well to create the perfect poolside cocktail!

watermelon cocktail

How to pick a watermelon for a watermelon cocktail (sweetest & juiciest)

You want to use a ripe, sweet, and firm watermelon for your watermelon cocktail.  Here are my favorite tips for picking out the best watermelon.

  • Find the field spot. This is the yellowish patch where the watermelon was resting on the ground. You want the field spot to be darker yellow and not pale or white. Darker field spots mean the watermelon is ripe.
  • Do the knock test. Knock on the watermelon. Your knuckles should bounce back and the watermelon should be super firm when pressed. This means the flesh is firm. If the rind has a bit of give this means the watermelon is beginning to spoil and turn mushy
  • Look for pollination points. These are little black dots and indicate a sweeter watermelon.
  • How does it look and smell? You want your watermelon to look either round or oval. A watermelon with odd lumps and bulges could mean that it didn’t get adequate sun or water, which will affect the flavor and texture. You also want the watermelon to appear a bit duller and not shiny. Shiny watermelons mean it’s not quite ripe.
  • Scratch it. Scratch a bit of green peel off and take a sniff. It should smell like fresh watermelon. If it smells a bit sour or off, don’t purchase it. An odd-tasting watermelon will make your watermelon cocktail taste awful.

best watermelon cocktail recipe

INGREDIENTS LIST

Fresh Seedless Watermelon: A small 5lb watermelon will do it!  You’ll need about 3 cups of watermelon juice for this recipe. Usually,  a 5 lb watermelon will give you about 7-8 cups of fresh watermelon chunks and that will create 4-5 cups of juice. Some watermelons have more/less juice.

Pineapple juice: Pineapple juice goes amazing with juice about any fruit. combination. For this recipe, I used 100% pure canned pineapple juice.

Sparkling White Grape Juice: Grape juice also compliments the taste of watermelon. You don’t have to use the sparkling kind but I love it! I used a bottle of Welchers Sparkling White Grape Juice.

Powdered sugar:  To sweeten (This is optional and you could also use agave nectar, honey, or whatever sweetener you prefer)

Vodka- You can certainly use any of your favorite liquor here! Flavored vodka works great as well or you can leave out the alcohol altogether for a mocktail. This cocktail can also be turned into a watermelon margarita with tequila and rum!

Garnishes: Garnishes are optional but so nice, especially if you’re serving this drink for a brunch or special occasion! See my garnishing ideas below.

easy watermelon cocktail

How To Make A Watermelon Cocktail

  1. Cut the watermelon into cubes and place the watermelon cubes into a blender.
  2. Blend until the watermelon is liquid. This will only need a few pulses since watermelon breaks down so fast.
  3. Double strain the watermelon juice to remove the pulp.
  4. Add 3 cups of watermelon juice to your serving pitcher. (You’ll have leftover juice. You can either, drink it, discarded it, or make watermelon ice cubes to throw into future summertime drinks)
  5. Next, stir in the sparkling white grape juice and pineapple juice.
  6. Stir in the vodka.
  7. Taste and add enough powdered sugar to sweeten the watermelon cocktail to your liking. (The sugar really helps bring out all of the juice flavors, but you can certainly skip it and use the natural sweetness)
  8. Serve over ice or chill until ready to serve.
  9. Watermelon juice separates, so you’ll need to give it a stir before serving if you allow it to sit.
  10. Garnish with fresh mint, lime slices, or additional watermelon if desired.

Tips for making the BEST watermelon cocktail

Watermelon cocktails look so refreshing and irresistible when they are all dressed up! Here are a few of my favorite garnishing ideas.

  • Fresh Mint
  • Fresh Basil
  • Small watermelon slices
  • Lime or lemon slices

easy watermelon cocktail recipe

FAQ’s

Can I make this watermelon cocktail alcohol-free? Absolutely, simply omit the vodka. No need to add in club soda or a replacement. It’s a delicious mocktail.

Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the watermelon juice ahead of time and then just mix everything up when you are ready to serve it. That way the cocktail still maintains some of its subtle sparkle from the sparkling white grape juice.

My drink separated when I had it in the fridge, what should I do? Watermelon juice naturally separates. Making sure that it’s strained really well will help, but simply give it a stir before serving.

Do I need a simple syrup to make this cocktail? Since we only need a little sugar, powdered sugar works to sweeten it up. It’s also optional.

How do you make watermelon ice cubes? You can make watermelon ice cubes by placing the extra fresh watermelon juice into ice cube trays and freezing it. To make watermelon fruit ice cubes, I like to use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh. Place them on a parchment paper-lined pan and freeze.

Can I add fresh lime juice? Yep, a twist of fresh lime or lemons works great!

Want more watermelon recipes? Try this watermelon lemonade!


easy watermelon cocktail

Get the Recipe: Refreshing Watermelon Cocktail

5 from 1 rating
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients
 

  • 1 5 lb Seedless watermelon
  • 3 cups pineapple juice
  • 3 cups Sparkling white grape juice (One 25.4 oz bottle will work)
  • 1 cup Vodka (can use more or less to your liking)
  • ¼-½ cup powdered sugar (or sweetener of choice)
  • Optional garnishes: Mint leaves, watermelon slices, lemon or lime slices

Instructions
 

  • Cut the watermelon into cubes and place the watermelon cubes into a blender.
  • Blend until the watermelon is liquid.
  • Double strain the watermelon juice to remove the pulp.
  • Add 3 cups of watermelon juice to your serving pitcher. (You'll have leftover juice. You can either, drink it, discard it, or make watermelon ice cubes to throw into future summertime drinks)
  • Next, stir in sparkling white grape juice and pineapple juice.
  • Stir in the vodka.
  • Taste and add enough powdered sugar to sweeten the watermelon cocktail to your liking. (The sugar really helps bring out all of the juice flavors, but you can certainly skip it and use the natural sweetness)
  • Chill until ready to serve.
  • Stir before serving (watermelon juice separates). Serve over ice.
  • Garnish if desired.

Video

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