Watermelon candy is a delicious natural candy recipe with incredible concentrated flavor! Brightly vibrant with surprising flavor, these are the hit of summer!
recipe originally published October 26, 2011
Watermelon Candy
Watermelons always make me think of Grandpa Z. We shared a mutual love of watermelon, and I have many memories of enjoying it with him. I have photos of Grandpa Z sitting on the kitchen floor, holding our dachshund Hansel, with a huge watermelon in front of him.
We called grandpas mom - my great grandma - Watermelon Grandma. We had watermelon eating contests - to see who could "clean" their piece the fastest. We looked for the largest watermelons always, and often used the dachshund as a reference measure.
Dehydrator Recipe
I have been wanting to dehydrate watermelon for years. I tried it in the oven once, it really didn't work. Now that I have my dehydrator, I picked up a watermelon, and I made my first natural candy!
This tastes amazing - natural watermelon flavor intensified! Chewy and pliable like it should be, it is easy to bite and mmm, too easy to eat the entire tray (uh oh - I'm sensing a theme).
Do you share the love of watermelon? What should I dehydrate next (wrings hands)?
Did you make this recipe?
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Watermelon Candy
A delicious natural “candy” with incredible concentrated flavor! Brightly vibrant with surprising flavor, these are the hit of summer!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ fresh watermelon
Instructions
- Carefully cut rind from watermelon.
- Slice watermelon into uniform strips, about 6 inches long, almost 2 inches wide, ½ inch thick.
- Arrange in single layer on dehydrator sheets.
- Set dehydrator to 125 °F.
- Place dehydrator sheets inside dehydrator, close and set timer for 6-8 hours. Check after several hours.
Notes
vegan, gluten free, whole foods, dehydrator recipe
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
5 stripsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 21Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 0g
nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
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Christina says
I am jealous of everyone who has a dehydrator lol. I've been dying to get one!!! I have one on my wedding registry but I have a feeling nobody is going to know what it is and won't buy it. I'll have to splurge some day soon.
And hello!!! Watermelon strips! I die.
spabettie says
Christina I just got mine, and LOVE it. I have wanted one for years. 😀 these watermelon strips are what I have been thinking of for SO long... they are SO good. Mmm... so sad it's the end of watermelon season! I will definitely have something to look forward to next year!
I hope someone DOES know what it is, and gets it for you!! there should be a priority listing on those things, you know? what you REALLY want to eh, I guess I'll use this... 😉
Christina says
I'll remember to update my registry with words like REALLY and eh under the notes section hahaha!
spabettie says
YES! 😀
Laura @bitemevegan says
Wow, it never occured to me to try dehydrating watermelon--great idea, and beautiful presentation!
spabettie says
thank you, Laura! it turned out exactly how I've been imagining it would... I want to go out today and see if there's any more watermelons left in the store...
katie says
omg how awesome! My husband loves watermelon ; ) I do too!
I say these would be good halloween give outs ! ha!
spabettie says
he would love these then... the flavors are concentrated and so intense! it's like candy, really. 😀 and yes, in theory they would be great for Halloween... but I'm not sharing! 😉
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I am so envious of your dehydrator now 😀 Never thought anything would have left, after dehydrating watermelons since it's water content is quite high. Mmm.. what about dehydrating pumpkins for a change? 😉
spabettie says
I know! I had an ideal outcome in my mind, how they would look and be flavored... if you cut them thick enough, but not TOO thick that they take days to finish, they are GOOD! hmmm... pumpkin... you've got me thinking!
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
Ok, for maybe the second time every I knew where the quote was from 😉 I really am not a melon fan at all. I've tried, just don't like it. Though, I used to like the watermelon Jolly Ranchers LOL
spabettie says
YAY, you got one! when Jason and I were first dating we'd end our emails with VERY obscure movie quotes for the other to guess... I'm pretty sure I started it, it's just kinda my thing. glad you got one! especially since you don't like the watermelon 😉
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Fantastic idea, I've never seen dried watermelon anywhere!
spabettie says
thanks, Alayna - it's really good, I want to make more immediately!
Felicia (Natural + Balanced) says
I didn't think you could dehydrate watermelon!! Awesome. I definitely need to try it next summer!
spabettie says
it was really a gamble, you know? I had an idea of what I wanted it to look and taste like... and it did!! crazy, right? and I figured the dehydrator would be a big sticky mess inside, with all the WATER in the melon... it wasn't... at all! I can't wait for next summer and lots of watermelon!!
Lacey says
This is a great idea for a way to not waste a giant watermelon when only one or two people are in your household. I neeeeeeeeeeeeed a dehydrator.
spabettie says
exactly, Lacey! I like the way you think. I just got my dehydrator and am LOVING it!!
Caitlin@The Vegan Chickpea says
wow- i would have never thought that watermelon would dehydrate so beautifully! they must taste amazing....
spabettie says
I know, I was really happy with the result. and it DOES taste amazing!
Laura says
Oh so so jealous!! Those would be the perfect snacks for school!!!! Enjoy them!!! I have to stop typing to wipe the drool off of my mouth they look so good!!!!
spabettie says
thanks, Laura - I am enjoying... I was really excited as I was watching them... they turned out exactly as I hoped - it texture and taste!