Watermelon Mojito Cocktail Recipe

Watermelon may not be the first fruit you think of when mixing up fresh and minty tropical mojitos, but the beautifully red fruit offers the perfect sweet twist to the slightly tangy cocktail. "I'm a big fan of mojitos in general — [they're] one of my favorite drinks," says recipe developer Jessica Morone of Jess Loves Baking. "Making this more of a watermelon-forward drink makes it even more refreshing and delicious to me. It's the perfect summer drink!"

And really, Morone says that because the drink is so refreshing, it pairs with just about any snack or meal. "I think mojitos go with everything. But they are especially good with any kind of spicy food, snacks like chips and salsa, and also any kind of seafood." This recipe is also designed to serve a crowd. With just 10 minutes of prep time, you'll have a pitcher of drinks you can pour out for yourself and five other guests. That means the next time you have friends over for a barbecue, all you need to keep everyone hydrated and satisfied as you finish grilling the burgers and brats is a pitcher or two of these watermelon mojitos.

The ingredients for watermelon mojitos are basically the same as for standard mojitos, but with watermelon added. You'll need a seedless watermelon (you don't want to spend time removing seeds), fresh mint leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, and light rum. 

And as to whether it's best to go with fresh or pre-juiced lime juice? It's really up to you. "Fresh lime juice is more flavorful, so you should use fresh limes, if possible," advises Morone. "But you can also use bottled lime juice if you want to." 

The high water content in watermelon makes its puree perfect for mixing into drinks. SImply cut the watermelon into chunks, then blend them until they're smooth. The result will still have some pulp in it, so if you're particular about having pulp-free beverages, you can pour the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to separate the juice from the pulp. You'll end up with about 3 cups of watermelon juice. And if you're wondering, Morone says there's no need to chill the watermelon before cutting and blending it, although cold watermelon will help you achieve a colder beverage. 

The rest of the recipe really comes down to mixing up the ingredients. Start by putting the mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher filled with ice. Stir to combine, and consider using a muddler to help break up the mint leaves a bit, helping release their flavor. Then add the rum and watermelon juice on top and stir again to combine. 

Your cocktails are now ready to be served! Simply pour the drinks into six glasses, and if desired, garnish them with slices of lime, sprigs of mint, and additional watermelon chunks. 

Just keep in mind it's best not to prepare these drinks too far ahead of when you plan to serve them. "You want to make this within a few hours of serving it. Eventually, the watermelon will separate from the other ingredients if you let it sit too long. You can make it a few hours early and refrigerate it until you are ready to serve," Morone says.