This recipe for watermelon simple syrup squeezes the flavor of real fresh, summery watermelon into a bottle that you can put in any beverage you can imagine.

Hero image of watermelon simple syrup. A bottle of watermelon simple syrup sits on a small wooden cutting board.

Growing up in Florida (aka the state that grows the most watermelon in the country) means you eat a LOT of watermelon. And you get creative with how to enjoy that watermelon. I’ve infused watermelon into liquor like tequila, and simple syrup infusions are another fun way to use the flavor of fresh fruit.

While this recipe was inspired by the other simple syrups I’ve made here on the blog, it differs in that the watermelon puree is not heated with the sugar syrup. Heating the watermelon juice drastically changes the flavor profile of the fruit, so it’s best to make the simple syrup first, and then combine the syrup with the strained fruit purée since we want a crisp and clean melon flavor. Think of bottling the flavor of a watermelon jolly rancher, and you’re up to speed. 🤗

why this watermelon syrup recipe works:

🍉 sweet & summery. This syrup infuses the sweet summer flavor of watermelon into anything you want! Think of homemade watermelon soda pops, watermelon limeade, or watermelon cocktails!

🙌 quick & easy. Unlike my other simple syrup recipes, this watermelon syrup doesn’t need to simmer over heat to infuse, making it super quick and easier to make

🤌 no frills. This syrup is straightforward, but impressive. It’ll leave your friends and family wondering how you got that exquisite watermelon flavor packed into a bottle!

🛒 what you need for watermelon syrup

watermelon – I like to use smaller varieties of seedless watermelon because they are easier to cut and process, and they tend to be more flavorful. This recipe uses about half of a small watermelon, meaning you’ll have enough left over to make a batch of watermelon-infused tequila if you like. 😏
granulated sugar – regular granulated sugar is perfect for simple syrups. It ensures your syrup will be light in color, and have a very pure, sweet taste without hints of nuttiness or caramel. Though you can definitely swap out the sugar for your favorite sweetener of choice. Avoid using artificial sweeteners, though, as they can change the sweetness level and consistency of this recipe.
filtered water – filtered water works best for simple syrups since the water will not be cooking at a rolling boil.
lemon juice – while this is an optional ingredient, I do recommend using it as it helps make the watermelon flavor pop!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 step-by-step process for making watermelon syrup

A hand from out of frame pours sugar into water in a saucepan on a burner to make simple syrup.

Step 1: Combine equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan.

Stirring a sugar-water mixture as it dissolves into a simple syrup.

Step 2: Heat on medium-low heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Squeezing lemon juice into a simple syrup.

Step 3: Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the lemon juice. Then, turn the stove off and remove the saucepan from the heat. Allow the simple syrup to cool while you prepare the watermelon juice.

Slicing a watermelon in half in preparation of making watermelon simple syrup.

Step 4: Slice your watermelon in half to make it easier to trim the rind off of your melon.

Cutting the rind off of a watermelon in preparation of making watermelon simple syrup.

Step 5: Trim the rind off the watermelon and cut it into cubes.

Step 6: Use an immersion blender to purée the watermelon.

A hand pours bright red watermelon puree from a glass measuring cup through a metal strainer into another measuring cup, against a pink tiled background.

Step 7: Once all the watermelon is puréed, pour the purée through a mesh strainer. Gently press the pulp down to extract all of the juice.

A hand pours simple syrup from a small glass into a large glass measuring cup filled with watermelon puree, against a pink tiled background.

Step 8: Combine the strained watermelon juice with the cooled simple syrup. Store the watermelon simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.

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💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ how to use your syrup

in cocktails

Use this in place of regular simple syrup in any cocktail recipe to add the flavor of fresh watermelon to your summer cocktails. It works especially well in rum, tequila, and vodka-based cocktails!

watermelon daiquiris – my favorite cocktail is a daiquiri because it’s easy to make, elevated, and super customizable.
watermelon mojitos – watermelon + mint = summer perfection!
watermelon ranch water – while a traditional ranch water only has tequila, lime juice, and mineral water, you can add an ounce of this simple syrup for a boost of flavor. My watermelon ranch water recipe also uses a watermelon-infused tequila, for maximum melon flavor!

in mocktails

You can also use this watermelon sugar simple syrup to sweeten non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails! I love using it in iced tea, too.

watermelon lemonade – use this watermelon syrup instead of sugar in any lemonade recipe to make watermelon lemonade!
homemade watermelon soda pop – make your own homemade sodas by adding 1 TBSP of watermelon syrup to unflavored soda water! You can even substitute watermelon simple syrup for the strawberry simple syrup in this strawberry Italian soda recipe.
watermelon iced tea – add this syrup to your favorite iced tea for a subtle hint of melon flavor.

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

taste your melon first – taste your watermelon before making the recipe to make sure that it’s fresh and usable. Choose the freshest watermelon for the best flavor. Check out the tips below for choosing the right melon! Slimy, or slippery watermelon is a sign that it has gone bad. Also, if the fruit tastes sour, or leaves you with a “fizzy” sensation on your tongue, it’s time to throw it out.

🔆 top tip

Use the freshest watermelon you can find for the best flavor. Seedless varieties are more popular nowadays as opposed to seeded varieties, and the mini varieties are much easier to process at home on a cutting board.

🍉 how to choose the best watermelon

Watermelon does not ripen after it is harvested, so what you see is what you get. That’s why it’s important to pick the best melon you can at the time of purchase. Here are some tips for picking the best melon:

color and shine – if a watermelon is dark and dull, it is ripe and ready to eat! If it’s shiny and bright, it’s not yet ripe.
field spot – you may have noticed that watermelons have a “field spot” on them, this is where the watermelon sat on the ground as it was growing in the field. If the spot is yellowish or orangey, it is ripe and ready to eat. If it’s light and white, it won’t be as sweet and ripe.
weight – the heavier a watermelon is relative to its size, the riper and juicier it will be.

♻️ customize your watermelon syrup

swap the sweetener – if you only have light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, or a natural less-processed sugar you can still make this recipe! Your finished syrup will have a more caramelized flavor. You can also use agave or honey if you only have that on hand.
swap the citrus – add the juice of a couple of limes instead of 1 TBSP of lemon juice to the watermelon to add some citrusy flavor to this syrup.
add herbs – simmer a handful of mint leaves, sprigs of rosemary, or a small bunch of basil leaves when you’re making your simple syrup base to give this syrup an herbal twist!

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

heavy-bottomed non-reactive saucepan – you can use whatever saucepan you have on hand, I love this 1.5-quart saucepan from All-Clad. The heavy bottom ensures even heating throughout the cooking time! A non-reactive pan is a pan that is made from a metal that doesn’t react to acidic substances, like stainless steel or enameled cast iron.
non-reactive mesh strainer a fine mesh strainer helps you to separate the watermelon pulp from the liquid after simmering the mixture. Make sure to use a mesh strainer that is made of stainless steel, or use a nylon straining bag for this recipe.
immersion blender – you’ll need to puree your watermelon into a juice, and I love using my immersion blender for the task because I can blend it right in the same measuring cup I’m making the syrup in!
measuring cups – if you don’t have a kitchen scale, you’ll likely need some measuring cups. I love using these anchor hocking glass measuring cup set because they can tolerate the quick temperature changes that happen when I’m making simple syrups.
kitchen scale – using a kitchen scale has so many benefits, from being more precise to helping you do less dishes! If you use a scale, you can simply put everything right in the pot as you measure it, no need to dirty up a bunch of extra dishes! I have and love this OXO kitchen scale (affiliate link).
airtight storage – you can use any airtight storage container you like. The OXO squeeze bottles are a favorite of mine for storing simple syrups because you can also stash them in the freezer. Glass bottles are great for gifting simple syrups to friends and family. You can also use a mason jar!

🫙 how to store watermelon syrup

Store your watermelon simple syrup in the fridge for 7-10 days, or freeze it for longer storage. In the freezer, simple syrups can last three to five months.

Since this syrup contains so much fresh juice, it’s best used within a week.

💬 q+a

Can I make this watermelon syrup using a heat cooking method?

Do not cook this watermelon simple syrup over heat because heat will change the flavor of the watermelon. If you’ve ever enjoyed grilled watermelon, you’ll know the flavor is more muted and less sweet. Since we are going for the classic watermelon flavor here, we don’t want to alter the flavor by cooking it.

How long does homemade simple syrup last?

Since this watermelon syrup is not heated while making it, it has a shorter shelf life of 5-7 days when refrigerated (as opposed to two weeks or more with other fruit-infused simple syrups). If you want to make your watermelon syrup last longer, add 1 TBSP of Everclear or 80-proof vodka to your syrup.

How can I use homemade watermelon syrup?

The only limit is your imagination! You can use it to create homemade beverages like watermelon limeade, watermelon soda pop, or cocktails like watermelon martinis.

I recommend using this mainly in beverages because it is much thinner than a breakfast syrup or dessert sauce. It would be delicious drizzled between layers of a vanilla or lemon cake!

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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