Triple Melon Popsicles Recipe — REDUCETARIAN FOUNDATION

August is the height of melon season, and what better way to enjoy them and to beat the summer heat than with some beautiful, rainbow-hued melon popsicles? These popsicles are easier to make than they look and require just a couple of ingredients!

Popsicles are naturally simple to make vegan and refined sugar-free. Since ripe melons are so lusciously sweet on their own, you may only need to add a little sweetener to these popsicles, making them a healthy treat as well. Kids will be delighted by them.

How can you tell when melons are ripe? For watermelons, look for ones that are heavy and make a hollow, deep sound when you thump it lightly. The rind should be dull and feel rough instead of being shiny and smooth. Finally, look for the whitish-yellow spot at the end where the watermelon rested on the ground while growing; the more yellow it is, the more ripe.

For cantaloupes also choose ones that are heavy for their size. They should be symmetric and not have bruises or other discoloration, and the color underneath their webbing should be golden yellow, not green. They should also smell very fragrant. If there’s no scent, it isn’t ripe yet. Honeydews should also be symmetrical; avoid ones that are oblong or misshapen. Look for ones that are more yellow-white than green, with smooth, waxy-looking rinds. Although they’re not as strongly fragrant as cantaloupes, you can often still detect a sweet scent if they’re ripe.

There’s actually two ways to make these popsicles! If you want just pure fruit flavor and a lighter popsicle, you don’t have to add the coconut milk. The fruit puree will still freeze into a sweet, icy treat. Add the coconut milk if you want a creamier flavor like a creamsicle. You can also get creative and substitute other berries or fruits for the melons; this is a very flexible recipe that’s perfect for exercising your creativity.

This recipe is proportioned for about ten regular size popsicles. I found that a silicone popsicle mold works really well and unmolds easily, but any shape mold should work for these popsicles.

No matter how to make it, you’ll end up with a perfect sweet treat for summer.

Triple Melon Popsicles

1 ½ cups each cubed watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1/3 cup (6 tbsp) lime juice
Honey or agave nectar as needed to taste
Instructions
Combine watermelon, ½ cup of the coconut milk, and 2 tablespoons of the lime juice in a blender, and puree until smooth.
Taste and add honey or agave nectar as desired to sweeten, a tablespoon at a time.
Repeat the process with the cantaloupe and honeydew.
Fill popsicle molds a third full with the watermelon mix and insert popsicle sticks. Freeze for an hour until frozen.
Fill the middle third with the cantaloupe mix, and freeze for another hour until frozen.
Fill the top third with the honeydew mix, to just below the top of the molds, and freeze until fully solid.