Mojitos are a refreshing rum-based drink made with lime and mint but you can make them even more refreshing and slightly sweet with the addition of watermelon! My slight twist of ingredients makes this a super quick Easy Watermelon Mojito!
EASY WATERMELON MOJITO
Mojitos are a staple South Florida drink. Technically, they originated in Cuba and because of the heavy Cuban influence in Florida, especially South Florida, they’ve become a regular drink on many restaurant menus. But making your own Mojito at home is SUPER easy! And my favorite part about mojitos is that they are totally customizable, like this watermelon mojito. Whether you have friends over who like different flavors, or you are just in the mood to switch it up, you can customize your mojito just as you please. Oooh! What about a fun and refreshing Mojito Bar for your next get together or party?! Just put different fruits in different bowls and each guest can select what they like, muddle, pour and enjoy! **making mental note for next BBQ**
WATERMELON MOJITO INGREDIENTS
- White Rum
- Sprite (or your preference of lemon-lime soda)
- Mint
- Limes
- Watermelon
- Ice
- Muddler
This is such a simple and easy drink recipe, you really only need a few ingredients and a few minutes. Traditionally, mojitos use a simple syrup and club soda. But I’ve never been a fan of club soda, it has a slight bitterness that I don’t like. So when I made my first mojito many, many years ago I just opted for Sprite instead. Since it’s already sweet, it replaces the simple syrup and makes this recipe super easy.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A WATERMELON MOJITO?
- Put your mint leaves and lime into a sturdy glass or cocktail shaker. I use about 6-8 mint leaves and 2 lime wedges.
- Muddle the lime and mint to release the juice and oils. If you’ve not used a muddler before, simply hold it in your hand and put the flat or toothed end onto your ingredients. Push down onto the lime and mint while simultaneously twisting your hand about a half turn. Lift up and repeat this motion multiple times until your ingredients are muddled and fragrant. Depending on the amount and freshness of your ingredients, I’d say about 10-20 twists.
- Add watermelon cubes & muddle some more. Depending on the size of your watermelon, 1-3 cubes will suffice. Muddle the watermelon until it’s all smooshed. You’re going to leave all the ingredients in your glass. If you prefer a smoother drink, you can simply blend your watermelon separately instead of muddling and then just add some of the watermelon puree into your glass. However, I’m keeping it simple in steps and dishes to washes 🙂
- Fill her up! Ice, Rum & Sprite. Fill your glass with ice, pour in your rum, and top it off with sprite.
- Stir, sip & imagine you’re relaxing on a beach. Don’t forget to garnish with a fresh lime wedge!
WHAT CAN YOU USE INSTEAD OF A MUDDLER?
The main step in making a mojito is muddling your mint leaves and lime to release the oils and better infuse your drink with those zesty, fresh flavors. I have this kind and it’s definitely worth it, but what if you don’t have a muddler? Below is a list of a couple other kitchen utensils you might have on hand that you can use instead:
- Wooden Spoon – you can easily use the handle of a wooden spoon, just make sure it’s clean and doesn’t have any strong odors from other ingredients.
- Mortar & Pestle – you’ll want to make sure they are free from strong smells, especially if you typically use your mortar & pestle to grind spices.
- Wooden Tamper – maybe you have a pickling or pastry tamper in your kitchen tool arsenal; that would be another great choice.
- French Rolling Pin – you may just need to muddle in a larger cup or bowl if the end of the rolling pin doesn’t fit into your glass.
- Utensil – in a pinch, you can use the back end of a regular metal utensil if it has a little bit of width to it. You won’t get as much oils released, but it’ll work if you don’t have any other options.
But next time you’re out at Target or browsing Amazon, just go ahead and get one. They’re typically under 10 bucks and after you’ve tried a watermelon mojito (or any mojito if you’ve never had one before) you’ll be making more soon enough!!
MAKING MOJITOS AHEAD OF TIME
You can easily do most of the mojito prep work ahead of time if you’re going to be serving a group. You have two options depending on what you have available and you can prep either option up to 3 days in advance.
PITCHER OF MOJITO
If you’d like to prep a whole pitcher of mojitos, you would simply increase your ingredients for the amount of servings you’ll approximately want. Depending on the size and shape of your pitcher, it may be easier to muddle your mint, lime, and watermelon in a bowl and then pour the mixture into the pitcher. You can then add your rum and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Once ready, fill your glass with ice, pour in your mojito mix, and then top with sprite.
NO PITCHER / NO SPACE
If you don’t have a pitcher, or you’re like me and your fridge is full, particularly the areas tall enough for a pitcher, then you can prep just the muddled ingredients (mint, lime, watermelon) and store in a bowl or container until you’re ready to use. This will still save you on the time and hassle of having to make individual glasses when you’re serving a crowd. Simply scoop a few spoons of your muddled mix, add ice, rum and top with sprite.
Watermelon Mojitos are a the perfect cocktail because they are refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. Using my substitution of Sprite makes them super easy and quick to make. They’re perfect to enjoy on a warm summer evening on the patio or to make for your next party or BBQ.