Frozen Watermelon Cocktail

This frozen cocktail is made with juicy watermelon and flavored with hints of grapefruit, citrus, and rosé wine. A cooling drink for the late summer heat!

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About Frozen Watermelon Cocktail

Watermelon season runs from May through September, and that means we’ve got five solid months to enjoy as much watermelon as we can – that is, unless we freeze some for later.

And I don’t know about you, but it’s a personal quest every year to enjoy as much watermelon as I can before it’s gone.

Like, say, having watermelon in a glass.

With wine.

And hints of ginger and citrus.

All of which makes this delicious frozen watermelon cocktail. It’s the perfect solution for all those warm summer nights (and for those that can freeze for another day, the cozy winters by the fire, too).

Can you make this drink in advance?

Actually, yes! You totally can!

Once you’re done blending everything together, just store it in the freezer until you’re ready to serve. The alcohol will ensure that it will never totally freeze solid so a few minutes on the counter should be all you need to get it the perfect pourable consistency.

How do you freeze watermelon?

I recommend cutting the watermelon into cubes (one or two inches in size) before freezing. Watermelon should freeze solid within four to six hours, depending on the temperature of your freezer.

Another tip: Whenever I’ve frozen watermelon in the past, I’ve always stored it in a durable freezer bag or a strong sealable container, because the juice in the watermelon almost guarantees that it will freeze into one giant piece. You’ll need to knock it against the counter a few times in order to break up the cubes.

How long can you freeze watermelon?

This recipe works best when using frozen watermelon, and given this, you might be wondering just how long watermelon will last in the freezer.

The awesome part is that when watermelon is kept properly (or in other words, placed in airtight containers or freezer bags and kept consistently frozen), watermelon can be stored and remain at best quality for 10 to 12 months.

If you ever need to thaw the watermelon, it should be kept in the refrigerator until ready to use. Watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator (still in a sealed container) for up to 3-5 days.

How to pick a watermelon

• Check the stem. If it’s green, that means the watermelon was picked before it had a chance to become ripe. A brown stem is what you want.
• Pick a watermelon with a large yellow spot. This means the watermelon had some to sit and ripen in the sun.
• Aside from the yellow spot, check the other colors of the watermelon. It should be a deep, dark green, with creamy, light yellow stripes.
• The watermelon should look “dull.” A shiny watermelon is likely underripe.
• Press the watermelon with your thumb. If you feel it give a little, it means the watermelon is ripe.
• And finally, gently knock on the watermelon with your knuckles. If the watermelon sounds hollow, that means it’s full of juice, which is what you want. Aovid watermelons that sound like you’re tapping plastic.

Can you substitute Grand Marnier for Cointreau?

I still have a lot to learn when it comes to spirits, so when a reader asked me this question, I had to do some research…  and was surprised by the answer.

While Cointreau and Grand Mariner can both be classified as an orange-flavored liqueur, Cointreau is technically a triple sec. This means that while Grand Mariner is orange in color and made with brandy, Cointreau is colorless and made with neutral spirits.

So could you use Grand Marnier in place of Cointreau? Yes, so long as you don’t have an aversion to brandy. Aside from that, both liqueurs will have a pleasant orange flavor that will do just fine in this frozen margarita.

Notes & tips for this frozen watermelon cocktail

• I made this frozen cocktail using the ice cream maker attachment for my KitchenAid Mixer. I liked that it was one less appliance in my house and it stores a little better than a stand-alone ice cream maker.
• Like the silver straws in these pictures? You can pick up a box of them here.

Other fun drink recipes

How to make a frozen watermelon cocktail

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – To kick things off, add all of the following ingredients to a food processor: frozen watermelon, powdered sugar, grapefruit soda, orange liqueur, and rosé wine. Blend it up until smooth.

Step 2 – Pour the cocktail mix into your chosen ice cream maker (I use the ice cream maker attachment for my stand mixer).

Step 3 – Churn until the cocktail turns nice and slushy, about 30 minutes. Cocktail can either be enjoyed immediately with straws or stored in the freezer to eat later with spoons.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!