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These watermelon jello slices are the ultimate fun summer snack for a party or fun project! This version is made without any boxed jello or alcohol!

I’m all about fun recipes year-round, and you can have even more fun during the summer with all of the fresh fruit! Last year I saw quite a bit of watermelon jello recipes, including watermelon jello shot slices with jello formed in a watermelon rind using boxed watermelon. I love the concept, but I thought… why can’t we just make it with the watermelon juice and keep it alcohol-free? So that’s exactly what we did!

Why You’ll Love These Watermelon Jello Slices

  • It’s free of alcohol. This concept is usually done as a jello shot, but this version is safe for kids and those who don’t want to drink!
  • It reduces food waste and the need for a fancy mold. I love making food in fun molds, and this is the best of both worlds! You simply use the natural mold of the watermelon rind, giving it a new life and removing the need for a new mold.
  • It’s made with real fruit. No food coloring, no boxed jello!

The Ingredients

  • A small watermelon. I find this recipe way easier to tackle with a small watermelon! If you use a large one, you’ll have to add more gelatin.
  • Strawberries and lemon juice. Since this recipe is made without alcohol, I found that adding some extra flavor from strawberry and lemon made it more interesting!
  • Gelatin. Skip the boxed jello and just use gelatin!

How to make Watermelon Jello Slices

  • Step one. Halve the watermelon. Using one halve, scoop out of the fruit, leaving an empty rind.
  • Step two. Blend the watermelon, strawberries and lemon juice until liquid and strain.
  • Step three. Add the gelatin and transfer the pot to the stove and heat over low heat for 3-4 minutes or until fully liquid.
  • Step four. Allow to set in the fridge until solid before slicing!

Tips & Tricks

  • Add watermelon “seeds”. I kept this recipe looking like a seedless watermelon but you can grab some mini chocolate chips or even black sesame seeds for a seeded watermelon look.
  • Add different flavorings. As long as you keep the ratios the same, you can use different red fruits like raspberries or pitted cherries instead of strawberries or lime instead of lemon.

Storage instructions

Keep this recipe covered in the fridge for about a day or two. When you’re ready to serve it, make sure to not leave at room temperature for too long!

How to make this recipe without gelatin

The vegetarian swap for gelatin is agar, and you need 1/3rd of the amount of agar that you would gelatin. This comes out to 2.6 TBSP of agar in place of gelatin. 

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Watermelon Jello Slices {alcohol free}

  • Author: Michelle
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Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 small watermelon
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup gelatin

Instructions

  1. Wash the watermelon well and slice it in half. Save half of the watermelon for regular snacking! For the other half, use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out all of the watermelon from the rind, transferring the watermelon fruit to a bowl. Scoop the rind clean, leaving the rind intact. You should have half of a rind that will act as a bowl!
  2. Add all of the watermelon a food processor or blender. Blend on high until liquid. Add the berries and lemon juice and blend again until liquid.
  3. Set a fine mesh strainer over a medium/large pot and slowly pour the liquid over the strainer, stirring the strain out any seeds or solid pulp. Save the pulp to add to a smoothie if desired! Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice mixture and lightly mix. Allow to harden for 2 minutes.
  4. Transfer the pot to the stove and heat over low heat for 3-4 minutes or until fully liquid.
  5. Place the halved watermelon rind inside a bowl to keep it stable. Carefully pour the liquid into the rind and transfer to the fridge. Allow to set over 5-6 hours, or overnight to fully harden.
  6. Once hardened, remove from the fridge and place on a cutting board. Slice the watermelon rind into pieces for snacking and serve chilled! Enjoy the jello and discard the rind.