How To Make Watermelon Simple Syrup

No other fruit hits those summer taste notes quite like fresh watermelon! This delicious juicy treat brings back instant memories of hot sunny days by the pool, especially when served as part of an ice-cold cocktail.

But if your favorite cocktail recipe includes watermelon simple syrup, how easy is this to make at home?

How do you make watermelon simple syrup? Watermelon simple syrup is quick and easy to make at home with just a few basic ingredients. All you need is some fresh watermelon, sugar, and water. The quickest method to make watermelon syrup is the hot process technique, while the cold process method gives better results.

In the mood for making some delicious cocktails? Let’s find out everything you need to know about making homemade watermelon syrup!

What Is Watermelon Simple Syrup?

While we all love chunks of fresh fruit in our summer cocktails, adding a concentrated syrup will give a more intense fruity flavor to the whole drink.

And when it comes to watermelon, just a splash of watermelon simple syrup really does bring a taste of sunshine to your glass!

Fruit syrups are highly concentrated fruit drinks, made from the juice of the fruit. Some fruit syrups contain added sugar, while others rely solely on the natural juices of the fruit for sweetness. 

Watermelon is one of the classic flavors of summer, and this delicious and refreshing fruit is ideal for making a fruit syrup. The water content of watermelon is very high, with a natural sweetness and delicious refreshing flavor.

This juice can be extracted from the watermelon fruit and turned into watermelon simple syrup. The end result is an intensely flavored sweet liquid, that is packed full of the taste of watermelon.

What Is Watermelon Simple Syrup Used For?

Fruit syrups are not designed to be consumed in their concentrated state but instead are added to other ingredients to bring an intense hit of fruit flavor.

They can be used in baking, served on desserts, and, of course, in summery drinks!

Watermelon simple syrup can be used in a multitude of drinks to add an extra twist of flavor. A really simple option is to add a splash of watermelon syrup to a glass of chilled soda or lemonade.

It can be used to flavor iced tea or combined with ice cream and soda to make the ultimate watermelon ice cream soda.

However, it is when it comes to cocktails and mocktails that watermelon simple syrup really comes into its own!

You will often see watermelon syrup in the grocery store, next to other classic cocktail flavorings such as grenadine and blue curacao.

The reason that watermelon syrup is so versatile in cocktails is that it adds flavor without bumping up the alcohol content.

So if you like your drinks long and refreshing, using a fruit syrup is a great way to build flavor without going overboard!

One of the most popular cocktail recipes for watermelon syrup is a classic watermelon fizz, served with vodka, lime juice, and soda. Add in some frozen watermelon chunks for next-level decadence!

If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, watermelon syrup tastes great served on pancakes or ice cream. It can also be used to flavor cake batter or mixed with yogurt, granola, and fruit for a healthy breakfast.

How To Make Watermelon Simple Syrup

While store-bought watermelon syrup tastes great, the homemade version is even better!

Watermelon simple syrup can be made from scratch with just a few ingredients, and you will get an intensely fresh flavor that beats the store-bought version, hands down.

There are two techniques used to make watermelon simple syrup. The cold process method uses sugar to draw the liquid from the fruit, a process known as maceration.

Hot process watermelon syrup is made by simmering pureed watermelon with water and sugar, to create an intensely flavored liquid.

Many people use the hot process method with good results, but cocktail connoisseurs will tell you that nothing beats cold process watermelon syrup.

The reason for this is simple: heating the watermelon syrup changes the taste of the fruit, so hot process watermelon syrup does not taste like fresh watermelon.

By heating the pureed fruit you are effectively cooking it, and this creates a whole different flavor profile!

The hot process method also includes added water, which is then simmered to create the intensely flavored syrup. Cold process watermelon simple syrup contains pure watermelon juice and sugar, giving a fresher, more natural favor.

However, in the interest of fairness, today we are going to give you the best way to make both hot and cold process watermelon simple syrup. Why not try both, and decide for yourself which is best?!

Both of these methods can be adapted to make syrup from any type of soft fruit—strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and so on.

Alternatively, you could use a mix of fruit and watermelon, creating your own unique blend of mixed fruit syrup!

How To Make Watermelon Simple Syrup – Cold Process Method

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh watermelon, rind, and pips removed
• 8 oz granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Chop the fresh watermelon into ½” cubes.
2. Place the watermelon into a bowl or airtight container, along with the sugar.
3. Gently stir the fruit to ensure it is evenly coated in sugar.
4. Place the container in the refrigerator overnight, for up to 24 hours. After this time you will see a layer of liquid surrounding the watermelon.
5. Sieve the liquid into a bowl, leaving the watermelon pieces behind. These can be frozen and served as fruity ice cubes in cocktails.
6. Stir gently to dissolve any remaining sugar, and pour the liquid into a bottle or jug.
7. Your fresh watermelon syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

How To Make Watermelon Simple Syrup – Hot Process Method

Ingredients

• 1 large or 2 small watermelons
• 14 oz granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Remove the rind and pips from the watermelon, and cut the flesh into ½” cubes.
2. Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
4. Reduce the heat and simmer for around 30 minutes, until the watermelon loses its color.
5. Strain the liquid into a second saucepan, discarding the watermelon pieces.
6. Bring the liquid to a boil for around 15 minutes, until the mixture is reduced by around half.
7. Allow to cool completely, then pour into a bottle.
8. This liquid can be stored in the refrigerator for around 1-2 weeks.

How Long Can Watermelon Syrup Be Stored For?

If you’ve bought a bottle of watermelon syrup from the store, it can be stored at room temperature even after it has been opened. This is because it contains preservatives, keeping it shelf-stable for a long period of time.

However, it is a good idea to keep your store-bought watermelon syrup away from heat and direct sunlight as it may affect the flavor of the syrup. A cool, dark cupboard or pantry shelf is the ideal place to keep your watermelon syrup.

But what about homemade watermelon syrup? How long can our fresh cocktail flavoring be stored for?

Well, as with anything homemade, it will not last as long as the store-bought version. Neither of the recipes described above contains preservatives, so your fresh syrup can only be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week or so.

After this, it will start to develop a layer of mold on the surface, at which point it should definitely be discarded!

But what if you’ve made a huge batch of watermelon syrup? Are there ways to store it for longer?

To start with, you need to reduce the likelihood of bacterial contamination of your syrup occurring.

Syrups are highly sweetened and so do have some natural preservative properties, but bacteria will quickly colonize the surface of your syrup if given the opportunity.

Ensure that your storage bottle for watermelon syrup is sterilized, and maintain good levels of hygiene when decanting the syrup into the bottles.

If you are planning on serving your watermelon syrup in cocktails, you can add a splash of vodka to preserve it for longer. Make sure you clearly label the bottle and keep it out of the reach of children!

Another great way to preserve watermelon simple syrup for longer is to freeze it. Your spare watermelon simple syrup will stay in peak condition for up to 6 months in the freezer.

If you are planning on freezing your watermelon simple syrup, it is a good idea to split it into smaller batches first. Then you don’t need to defrost it all at once when the time comes to use some.

Alternatively, freeze the excess syrup in ice-cube trays. Then, when cocktail hour arrives, all you need to do is pop a frozen cube of watermelon simple syrup into your drink!

Bear in mind that watermelon syrup with a high sugar content may not freeze solid, so ensure that any ice cube trays are stored on a flat surface inside the freezer.

It can be a good idea to pop them inside a secondary container, just in case they accidentally get knocked over!

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