Cook up Some Watermelon Candy!
Make watermelon flavored candy by cooking watermelon juice with sugar and gelatin, pouring into molds, and chilling with adult supervision to set.
Step-by-step guide to cook up some watermelon candy
Step 1
Wash the outside of the watermelon under running water.
Step 2
With an adult, cut the watermelon into chunks.
Step 3
Put the watermelon chunks into the blender and blend until smooth.
Step 4
Pour the blended liquid through the fine mesh strainer into the heatproof bowl to remove seeds and pulp.
Step 5
Measure 1 cup of the strained watermelon juice into the small saucepan.
Step 6
Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the juice in the saucepan.
Step 7
Sprinkle 2 packets of unflavored gelatin (about 4 1/2 teaspoons) evenly over the juice in the saucepan.
Step 8
Wait 1 minute so the gelatin can soften in the juice.
Step 9
With an adult, place the saucepan on low heat.
Step 10
With an adult, stir continuously until the sugar and gelatin dissolve and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
Step 11
With an adult, carefully pour the hot watermelon mixture into the candy molds and set the molds flat in the refrigerator.
Step 12
Chill the molds in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until the candies are fully set.
Step 13
Pop the set watermelon candies out of the molds onto a clean tray.
Step 14
Share your finished watermelon candies on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a fine mesh strainer, blender, candy molds, or unflavored gelatin if we don't have them?
If you don't have a blender, use a food processor or mash chunks and use an immersion blender; strain the puree through cheesecloth or a clean thin dish towel instead of a fine-mesh strainer; use an ice cube tray or silicone muffin pan in place of candy molds; and if you can't find unflavored gelatin you can try agar-agar following its package instructions (it usually needs boiling and a different amount).
My candies didn't set or are still sticky — what likely went wrong and how do we fix it?
If candies don't set, confirm you measured 1 cup of strained watermelon juice, sprinkled two packets (about 4½ teaspoons) of unflavored gelatin over the cold juice and waited 1 minute before heating on low while stirring until fully dissolved, then chilled the molds flat for at least 2 hours, and if gelatin was expired or not fully dissolved, replace with fresh gelatin and repeat the heating and chilling steps.
How can we adapt the activity for different ages?
For toddlers let them wash the outside of the watermelon and hand chunks to an adult for cutting and blending; preschool/kindergarten kids can help pour blended juice through the strainer and measure the sugar; elementary-age kids (6–9) can sprinkle gelatin and help stir on low with adult supervision; and older kids (10+) can assist with heating and pouring into molds while an adult handles the hot saucepan.
How can we make the watermelon candies fancier or more personalized?
Stir in 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a drop of food coloring into the strained juice before heating for brighter flavor and color, pour a thin layer into molds and chill until tacky before adding a second color for two-tone candies, or roll the popped candies in granulated or citric sugar after they set to mimic a sugared watermelon rind.
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Facts about candy making for kids
🧊 Chilling speeds up the setting process — most gelatin candies firm up in a few hours in the fridge.
🧪 Gelatin melts when heated and sets into a gel as it cools — that’s how jelly candies form.
🫙 Silicone or plastic candy molds make it easy to shape fun watermelon slices and pop candies out cleanly.
🍬 Sugar not only sweetens candy but also helps it set and keeps the texture pleasantly chewy.
🍉 Watermelon is about 92% water, so its juice makes a naturally refreshing base for candy.
How do I make watermelon candy at home?
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