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Watermelon Ice Cream

“When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat.” –Mark Twain

Watermelon Boy!

Some of y’all might remember Whole Foods Boy.

But I only referred to him as Whole Foods Boy on the blog. In real life, I gave him the nickname of Watermelon Boy, because he could eat an entire watermelon at one time. Therefore, if you ever still read my blog, WF Boy, this recipe is for you!

watermelon3

As a vegan and a healthy eater, I get a ton of veggies in my diet. But I don’t actually eat much fruit. (Maybe only 1-2 servings per day?) I adore fruit—especially summer-fresh fruit—but I never eat a ton of it at one time because it’s so sweet. I guess my lack of sweet tooth extends to naturally-sweetened foods too. And fruit as dessert?

I’d rather have chocolate!

Or fruit and chocolate, like in my Chocolate-Raspberry Frosting.

If given a choice between (vegan) ice cream and sorbet, I’ll pick the ice cream every time. Except yesterday… About a week ago, one of my friends cut up a super-huge watermelon and gave me a container to take home. I ate some of it fresh, but was afraid the rest would go bad before I had a chance to finish it all. So I froze it. Then, yesterday afternoon, I made the most delicious sorbet! (You can also turn it into ice cream.)

watermelon1

Watermelon Ice Cream

  • 2 cups cubed watermelon, frozen
  • 2 fresh mint leaves (you can omit if you don’t have any)
  • Optional: feel free to add sweetener if you want a sweeter sorbet
  • Optional: if you don’t have a high-powered blender, add a little milk of choice or juice right before blending, so your blender can handle it. The result won’t be ice-cream-like, but it’ll still be a delicious slushie!

Thaw your watermelon a little, so your blender can handle it. Then blend everything together. I opted for sorbet this time, but if you’d rather have ice cream, simply freeze a little milk of choice along with the watermelon cubes. (For a rich, ice-cream-like consistency, use canned coconut milk.)

For presentation tips, see: How to make it look like ice cream.

watermelon
Do you like fruity desserts, such as sorbet?

I love to throw fruit into recipes, such as my Blueberry Pie Pancakes.

I also like it in oatmeal or paired with my vegan whipped cream.  And although I don’t often crave fruity desserts, I do eat fresh fruit every day, as part of pre-run breakfast.Watermelon is one of my favorite summer fruits, because it’s only good when it is very fresh.

Published on June 30, 2011

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106 Comments

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      • Berta says

        The best ice cream/sorbet I ever had was in Rome in 1970. It was real watermelon with mini chocolate chips. Delicious! I’ve wanted to duplicate it ever since.

  1. Lisa Fine says

    This definitely counts as a recipe.

    Hmm…I think I may have to buy more watermelon to make some of this sorbet, and to do some experimenting. Thanks!

  2. Lisa C says

    Oh wow, I want some! Bookmarking this recipe. I feel like I need to go grocery shopping every single day because I ALWAYS want to make what you post that day!

  3. Freya says

    Aah I like adding xanthan gum to blended watermelon – it turns into mousse!
    Yep, I eat LOADS of fruit! I’m averaging about 2 bananas, 3 apples and countless berries every day atm! But in winter / autumn, I’m more a veg girl. The veg I love is all root veggies, so they’re hard to get in summer 🙁

  4. Sarahishealthy says

    omg omg aljailkndxz,mzn:LKM;lM it’s so pretty! I need to buy some watermelon… and get a vita-mix :(. Thanks ffor always giving a variation for those of us who have cr*ppy blenders, though. I really appreciate it! And now I’m going to have a watermelon slushie for snack today :).

  5. Sam says

    Mmm. I have a wedge of watemelon in the fridge right now but I’m not sure I will finish it! May need to make this to amend that 🙂

  6. Liza says

    During most of the year, I don’t eat that much fruit, maybe 2/day, but in the summer I crave it! Blueberries, grapes, oranges, and melon… ooo I need some melon in my life. I like certain sorbets but sometimes they are too sweet!

  7. Jess says

    I eat a minimum of three servings of fruit a day. I try not to go over that most days, but some times (like now with all the amazing summer fruit) it’s hard to not eat tons of fruit! I don’t think I could ever eat too much watermelon 🙂

  8. Qi Ting @ Misadventures of Fat free Baking says

    I love fruits and can eat an ENTIRE watermelon at a time, like Lenna! I did it once before. It hurt my tummy though. Watermelon’s always been my favourite fruit, along with blueberries and strawberries 😀
    Thanks for the sorbet! I can imagine how delicious it tastes already 😀

  9. tea-bag says

    oh my, i eat so much watermelon! i ate 1/2 of a huge one all by myself on my birthday! (and i’ve eaten a whole one in one day) this recipe is dangerous for me! 🙂

  10. Jennifer says

    Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits of all time! Actually, I love all fruits. My friends at work used to joke about “grape time” and “apple time” and “pear time” because at some point every morning one (or more) of those would be broken out of hiding.

  11. Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says

    Silly as it may sound, I used to forget to eat fruit! I’ve now gotten into in a big way. Just brought home a watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple. I cut them all up and have them ready in the fridge to use at will. Since fruit is now Free on Weight Watchers (I am a Lifetime Member at Goal!) it has become my best friend.

  12. Lisa says

    so weird! i JUST saw a post for a watermelon mint ice cream shake right before I clicked here! haha. that looks delicious tho, i LOVE watermelon sherbet. In fact, I love sherbet in general. I prefer it over ice cream!! 🙂

  13. Maria @ runningcupcake says

    Yum- I eat quite a lot of fruit I think- especially in the summer when it is warm and all the fruit is fresh.
    I broke my blender last year on frozen watermelon! I prob would cut it into tiny cubes before freezing to help it along. I make a similar thing jut using frozen raspberries and it is amazing- just like sorbet but with no sugary syrup.

  14. Sarah says

    This looks lovely! Imagine the fruity possibilities .. it doesn’t have to just stop with H2O melon! I bet raspberry pomegranate would be ridic.

  15. Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola says

    Oh this looks so delicious! I’m not even that big of a watermelon fan but I love that it is so simple and without any yucky preservatives! All of these ice cream recipes make me REALLY want a vita mix but they are so expensive! Any other ones that you would recommend??

    • chocolatecoveredkatie says

      Magic Bullet!
      Obviously, it’s nowhere NEAR as powerful as a Vita. And so it can’t make ice cream like this. But what it can do is make clean-up a breeze! I love how easy it is to clean… just pop it in the dishwasher :). I use that more than my Vita-Mix!

    • Lorin says

      You can get a food processor and I think that will work the same. I’m trying it tonight with my new processor, but it’s way cheaper than a vitamix.

  16. Leslie Paquette says

    MMM, that looks delicious!! Know that I have a Vitamix I can’t wait to make it. I also buy whole watermelons because they are cheaper and end up eating watermelon 3xday for a week cause I don’t want it to go bad. I froze chunks of honeydew melon recently for the same reason, hmm I wonder if I could make honeydew melon sorbet.

  17. Chocolate, Cheese and Wine says

    This looks great! I have been loving mint lately – it’s so nice and refreshing, I bet it’s great in Watermelon Ice Cream!

  18. Aine @ Something to Chew Over says

    Beautifully simple Katie 🙂

    I love fruit – I have no trouble getting two to four servings a day. I have it with my oatmeal, yoghurt, almond butter, or just on its own as a snack. I like fruity desserts too but like you I much prefer chocolate!

  19. Faith @ lovelyascharged says

    I love watermelon flavor but I never actually buy it..a whole watermelon usually goes bad by the time I get through it and I’ve had several nasty-textured pieces that have scarred me for life! The sorbet version sounds super yummy though, even though like you I usually roll with a chocolatey dessert when I want a sweet fix!

  20. Lenna says

    Great idea! I love watermelon, I also could eat a whole melon in one sitting, as “your” WF boy 🙂 But I love any kind of fruit, I eat maybe 10 servings a day. It is strange, because I don´t like sweets and I don´t enjoy sweet taste very much. I like chocolate when it has almost 100 percent cocoa content, so it is more bitter than sweet. And I never add artificial sweeteners and such. But fruit is a must for me. I need it for breakfast, snacks, after dinner… 🙂

  21. LizAshlee says

    What a great idea..watermelon! I luv fruit and eat a lot of it…currently, I am enjoying blueberries (plump ones of course:), apples, and I have a couple pears to snack on also! Oh, I also bananas quite often in my smoothies!

    Have a fabulous day!

  22. Jess says

    i probably eat more fruits than veggies, for the exact opposite reason. i’m picky about my carrots, and most of the veggies i eat are green beans (haricot vert), green peas, asparagus, potato, kale, collards, spinach, and seaweed. i’ll eat just about any fruit, except cucumber, in particular. i’d pick ice cream an chocolate over fruit though too.

  23. Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFIles says

    I was just thinking about how I haven’t been eating much fruit! But now that it’s summer I’m craving things like watermelon and strawberries. I wish I had a Vita, but I’m bookmarking this so I can tweak it for my ice cream maker!

    As far as my desserts, though, chocolatey and indulgent all the way 🙂

  24. natalie @ southern fit foodie says

    Watermelon is the BEST. We get them at the Farmers Market and always ask the producer to pick out the one he/she would take home to eat. I love watermelon sorbet! Our local frozen yogurt place had watermelon sorbet for a few weeks, and it tasted so pure and simple it was amazing.

  25. Anna Crouch says

    you’re hilarious!! When i read that you don’t eat much fruit, I was like “hmm, really?” And then I read that “not much” meant only 1-2 servings I was FLOORED!!!!!!!!!!!! I probably eat like 5-6 servings of fruit a day!!! haha so “not much” in my mind was like at least 3-4. LOL I just don’t understand that!! I gotta have my sweet fruits everyday, multiple times a day. hahaha But it balances out, because i do eat less veggies than you, probably. More than 1-2. But still 🙂

  26. Ashley @AlmostVegGirlie says

    Fruit is probably my favorite food group! I eat some at almost every meal and also between meals! I’m not too picky about the fruits I like–the only ones I’ve ever tried that I don’t really like are pears and plums. Watermelon sorbet looks soooooo good, I had some one time at an ice cream place but homemade is even better.

  27. Ragnhild says

    This looks so refreshing! Kind of reminds me of watermelon smoothe (so good- just water melon + a little limejuice).
    I eat 1-3 fruits a day I think. Sometimes I feel a little bloated when I eat to much, but I usually crave some in the morning:)

  28. Oc Ziegler says

    Stunning photography as always Katie 🙂
    This looks so great! Watermelon is one of my all time favorite fruits!

  29. kaila @ healthy helper says

    I love icecream….but I hate watermelon!!! But that’s okay I can easily make this with another fruit and I am sure it will be uber delish!

  30. Charissa says

    Wow…these pictures are great…the colours and props you used compliment each other perfectly! My mouth is WATERing…because I love WATERMELON! 😉

  31. Michaela says

    That sounds delicious! And thanks for the guide to supercreamy ice-cream.
    I do eat a lot of fruit, but I do not like super sweet fruits (like grapes and I also do not like eating bananas, I am only using them for milkshakes, baking and your fudge recipes ;)). My favorite would be apples. Followed by mangos and berries!

  32. Ann Claire says

    I eat so much fruit, like way too much probably. I just can’t stop my self. I figure there are worse things I could OD on though, right?
    And yes I love fruity desserts. Pretty much fruit in any form makes me happy. The watermelon ice cream looks so summery and delicious!

  33. Emily@RunningPerspective says

    yummmmmmmmm looks so so good! i love this!
    i make this with frozen blueberries thrown in too 🙂 so so good!

  34. Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says

    LOVE watermelon…..I love all fruits really, but I’m like you and can’t really eat a ton of it…

  35. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    That looks so good! I’d actually let it be more slushy, add watermelon vodka and/or peach schnapps, and call it a day 🙂 It’s that kind of weekend, right?! A holiday!

    Seriously I love watermelon though and have been going to TOWN on it. I swear I post about watermelon at least every 24 hrs on my site. haha!

    And I have thoroughly enjoyed our little photography and talking shop emails. All of it…so true on those sites! Sometimes it’s just one big hair pull! Good thing we have watermelon sorbet/ice cream to fall back on!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Ugh lol yes, hair pull! Watermelon photo straight to page 2 today. I know, I know… a month ago I was complaining to you that they weren’t taking my stuff at all. I just like to complain, I guess ;). And you are such a sweet friend to listen/put up with me!

  36. Moni'sMeals says

    Lovely! Very creative. I am working on a watermelon rum recipe myself. 🙂

    I like how refreshing this would be especially for kids.

  37. Amanda Jewell says

    DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!
    I love using watermelon in surprising ways! You may be grossed out by this, but try it (trust me, you won’t regret it):
    Cut up watermelon into chunks and freeze
    Next day, grab some of those chunks and add them + 1 Cup vanilla (unsweetened or sweetened) almond milk
    Add 1tsp vanilla (non alcohol) extract –> optional
    Blend.
    You’ll end up with a watermelon slushy type drink that is seriously refreshing! I used to drink this everyday when I lived in Houston to cool down from that hot, Texas heat.

  38. Pureglow*16 says

    I love your posts! =) I love watermelon and anything fruity!!!
    I always eat it b4 meals though because fruit digests best on an empty stomach.
    DESSERT FIRST!!!
    I’m always snacking on fruit during the day!!

  39. Teniesha @ Vegan on the Go-Go says

    I just talked about fruit servings on my blog today! I used to eat 3-4 servings a day, but recently, it’s been more like 1-2. I’m not sure whether or not that’s a good thing, but I can’t wait to get home next week to fresh watermelon and berries, two things that, as far as I can tell, are nonexistent in France. 😛

  40. Nikita says

    Yum! I have watermelon cubes in the freezer right now, just waiting to turn into something special. Unfortunately its only about 56 degrees here in Portland and I’m not wanting anything cold!

  41. Tara says

    I tried this as soon as I read the post! I modified it a bit, but I’ll post it on the blog in a few days because it was AWESOME!
    I love fruity desserts! Though it really depends. I would choose homestyle apple pie over flourless chocolate cake, but I would probably choose chocolate over lemon sorbet or something. Or you could just combine the chocolate and the fruit and the world would be in harmony 🙂

  42. BroccoliHut says

    I defintely have to TRY to eat fruit–I eat so many vegetables naturally, but I have to remember to trade the broccoli for the berries every now and then.

  43. Green Groats says

    What great timing! I have 1/2 of a watermelon in my fridge!!! Score. I WILL make this today 🙂 Thanks Katie.

    I eat way too much fruit. I just can’t get enough of it!

  44. Marissa says

    I don’t eat very much fruit, sadly! I don’t even know why. Last summer, I ate sooooo much of it, but then I stopped when everything but apples and bananas got crazy expensive over winter… and I just haven’t started eating it like I did last year! Hmm.

    Sadly, I’m allergic to watermelon. 🙁

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      That reminds me of my sister, who’s allergic to honeydew! It’s one of my favorite foods. So weird that one sister loves it and the other’s allergic! (I guess it’s good tht I’m not the allergic one.)

  45. Catherine @ Running Beginners says

    I don’t eat as much fruit as I should but I do like it. But I do have a sweet tooth so that could be why hehe. As for choosing between ice cream and sorbet – it depends what flavour they both are and what I feel like on the day. I’m an equal opportunity sweet eater 😀

    Had a very tasty berry sorbet on top of a mini loaf cookie dough boatmeal last night that was rather nice 🙂 But would have been equally tasty with ice cream instead 🙂

  46. Rebecca says

    It looks great and refreshing (minus the mint 😉 ) I adore fruit, sometimes I wonder if I eat too much fruit somedays!

  47. Toni Hardy says

    I LOVE ur blog. I have a super sweet tooth and its hard to give up certain things. I made the watermelon ice cream today with a tweak – added some frozen strawberries in it.

    OMG it is sooo good and I don’t have the guilt or the lactose issue after I eat regular ice cream!

    thank u and keep up the blog please – I am addicted!!

  48. Elise says

    Usually I prefer rich and creamy desserts, drinks, or whatever, but my mom brought home half of a watermelon the other day and it just looked so juicy and delicious! So I made this with a little bit of coconut butter. Sooooooooo delicious. I could eat it for days. I freaked out when I got home today because I thought all of the watermelon was gone 🙁

  49. Christie says

    I love your website! Just learned I needed to be on a dairy-free diet about a year ago and have been searching for good recipes ever since. You’ve helped me so much! Can all the ice cream recipes be made in an actual ice cream maker?

  50. Wendy Hill says

    I love this idea for myself, but for my son who has a life threatening dairy allergy the milk won’t work for him, I am following you on pinterest, can you tell me if you have a recipe for sorbet, or ice cream that doesn’t use regular milk, he can have coconut or almond, but mostly drinks the 8th continent soy…thank you…………oh and I am a BIG chocolate person myself…LOL!!

      • Wendy Hill says

        I apologize, I saw the non dairy but for some reason I thought milk, and then stopped reading, if I hadn’t stopped I would have seen the coconut milk………….thank you for this site, I am using so many of these recipes!!

  51. melanie says

    Made this tonight with watermelon I cubed and froze a month ago. Used my Vitamix, added a little bit of milk (up to the bottom of the blades & not frozen), agave nectar, 2 mint leaves and the frozen watermelon (didn’t defrost it & about 3 cups). Came out DELICIOUS! thank you so much!

  52. rosie_line says

    Bonjour,

    Je suis française ( près de Paris ), je découvre ton site. Gourmande, je le colle en favori, j’ y reviendrais à mon retour de vacances, pour essayer tes recettes.

    Merci pour tout, et belle journée.

    Helene

    Hello,

    I am French (near Paris), I discovered your site. Greedy, I glue favorite, I would return to my return from vacation to try your recipes.

    Thank you for everything, and beautiful day.

    Helene

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