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.
About this activity
Make watermelon flavored candy by cooking watermelon juice with sugar and gelatin, pouring into molds, and chilling with adult supervision to set.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Wash the outside of the watermelon under running water.
- 2
Step 2
With an adult, cut the watermelon into chunks.
- 3
Step 3
Put the watermelon chunks into the blender and blend until smooth.
- 4
Step 4
Pour the blended liquid through the fine mesh strainer into the heatproof bowl to remove seeds and pulp.
- 5
Step 5
Measure 1 cup of the strained watermelon juice into the small saucepan.
- 6
Step 6
Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the juice in the saucepan.
- 7
Step 7
Sprinkle 2 packets of unflavored gelatin (about 4 1/2 teaspoons) evenly over the juice in the saucepan.
- 8
Step 8
Wait 1 minute so the gelatin can soften in the juice.
- 9
Step 9
With an adult, place the saucepan on low heat.
- 10
Step 10
With an adult, stir continuously until the sugar and gelatin dissolve and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
- 11
Step 11
With an adult, carefully pour the hot watermelon mixture into the candy molds and set the molds flat in the refrigerator.
- 12
Step 12
Chill the molds in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until the candies are fully set.
- 13
Step 13
Pop the set watermelon candies out of the molds onto a clean tray.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished watermelon candies on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I make watermelon candy at home?
To make watermelon candy, strain fresh watermelon juice to remove pulp, then measure juice and sugar into a saucepan. With an adult, gently heat the mixture until sugar dissolves and it simmers; stir in powdered gelatin (bloom in a little water first) until fully dissolved. Remove from heat, add a few drops of food coloring if desired, pour into candy molds, and chill in the fridge until firm. Pop candies from molds and store in an airtight container.
What materials do I need to make watermelon candy?
You’ll need about 2 cups strained watermelon juice, 1–1½ cups granulated sugar (adjust to taste), 1–2 tablespoons powdered gelatin (or agar-agar for a vegan option), water to bloom the gelatin, candy molds or a lined tray, a saucepan, a sieve, measuring cups and spoons, a heatproof ladle, optional food coloring, and an airtight container for storage. Adult supervision and oven mitts are required for handling hot pans.
What ages is making watermelon candy suitable for?
This activity suits children aged about 6 and up with close adult supervision because it involves hot syrup and gelatin. Younger kids (3–5) can join for rinsing, pouring premeasured ingredients, and decorating cooled candies but must stay away from the stove. Preteens (10+) can lead more steps if taught safe handling. Always have an adult do the heating, simmering, and pouring to prevent burns.
What safety tips should I follow when making watermelon candy?
Always supervise near the stove — hot sugar can cause serious burns. Use oven mitts, long-handled utensils, and keep children back during boiling and pouring. Bloom gelatin separately and stir gently to avoid splashes. Check for watermelon or gelatin allergies and use alternatives if needed. Let candies cool fully before touching or tasting, store them refrigerated in an airtight container, and discard after about a week.
Watch & Learn
Need 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.