Turn a basic sugar cookie recipe into adorable Watermelon Cookies. They are easy to make, delicious and so pretty.

Watermelon cookies on a plate.
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These watermelon shaped cookies are so fun to make. It is the perfect cookie recipe for a summer party. These cookies look just like watermelon slices, and they are really easy to make.

I also make Watermelon Cupcakes for an Easy Summer Dessert.

Why We Love This Recipe

I think you will be pleasantly surprised how simple the cookies are to make. The step-by-step instructions make it easy to create these darling cookies from scratch.

They taste great and look so pretty.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Watermelon cookies - flour, butter, vanilla, food coloring, chocolate chips.
  • All Purpose Flour. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup to accurately measure the flour.
  • Butter. Softened at room temperature. It is best to use unsalted butter and then you can add salt to control the flavor in the recipe.
  • Vanilla Extract. Always use pure vanilla extract. You can also try watermelon flavoring but I love the classic taste of vanilla.
  • Red or Pink Food Coloring. You can use the one you prefer.
  • Green Food Coloring. Gel food coloring is suggested.
  • Mini Chocolate Chips. The miniature size is perfect for the cookies.

Find the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.

How to Make Watermelon Cookies

  • Step 1. Combine the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Mixing bowl with butter and sugar.

Step 2. Mix together the butter and sugar using a separate bowl. You can use an electric mixer. Choose between a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed.  Then add in the egg and vanilla and blend until combined.

Flour added to wet ingredients.

Step 3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Do not over mix the sugar cookie dough.

Mixing bowl with dough.

Step 4. Divide the dough. Then for 1 bowl, divide that dough in half again. Add pink or red food coloring. In the largest bowl of the dough, add the pink or red food coloring until it’s the color that you prefer.

Dough rolled into a log.

Step 5. Roll the dough into a log and roll in plastic wrap. You can use a lightly floured surface if needed.

Dough rolled into log.

Step 6. Add green food coloring. To one of the smaller bowls of dough, add the green food coloring until the dough is the color that you prefer. Wrap the green dough in plastic wrap and the plain white dough in plastic wrap as well.  Refrigerate all the dough for at least 1 hour. 

Cookies sliced and cut.

Step 7. Cut the log into slices to make the cookies. Then cut these circles in half and place each watermelon slice cookie on an ungreased cookie sheet lined.

Chocolate chips arranged on cookies.

Step 8. Top with chocolate chips so it looks like watermelon seeds. 

Cookies baked and cooling.

Step 9. Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes or until the cookies are set.  Let the cookies sit for 5 minutes and then move the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.  

Pro Tips

  • Do not skip chilling the dough.  This makes the dough so much easier to work with and to cut to make the cookies.  
  • You can also use sesame seeds to look like the watermelon seeds instead of the chocolate chips if you prefer. Chocolate sprinkles would also work in this recipe.
  • Royal Icing can be used to decorate the cookies if you do not want to color the dough.
  • Softened butter is a must. It is easier to mix, and the cookie dough will have a smoother texture.

FAQs

How to know when Watermelon cookies are done?

The cookies should start to get slightly puffy but not browned. They will continue to cook on the baking sheet once removed. It is important that you do not overbake the cookies.

Can I make this cookie dough in advance?

Yes, the log of cookie dough can easily be prepared in advance. Wrap in plastic wrap and waxed paper. Then store in the refrigerator up to a week.

You can also freeze the dough up to 2 to 3 months. Make sure the cookie dough is wrapped tightly and stored inside an airtight container.

When baking cookies that are frozen, additional cooking time may be needed.

How to store watermelon shaped sugar cookies?

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.  I keep a piece of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them soft. 

Watermelon cookies on a plate.

More Easy Cookies For Kids

Make this fun and festive Watermelon Sugar Cookies. Then please leave a comment and star rating.

Watermelon Cookies

4.86 from 7 votes
Turn a basic sugar cookie recipe into adorable Watermelon Cookies. They are easy to make, delicious and so pretty.
Prep Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 175

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.Then in a separate mixing bowl, blend together the softened butter with the sugar until smooth (use a hand held or stand up mixer for this).  Then add in the egg and vanilla and blend until combined.
  • Then gradually hand stir in the flour mixture until just combined.  Do not over mix.
  • Divide the dough evenly into 2 separate bowls. Then for 1 bowl, divide that dough in half again. In the largest bowl of the dough, add the pink or red food coloring until it’s the color that you prefer.  I love making these a vibrant pink color.
  • Roll the red/pink dough into a 4 inch log and roll in plastic wrap.
  • To one of the smaller bowls of dough, add the green food coloring until the dough is the color that you prefer. Wrap the green dough in plastic wrap and the plain dough in plastic wrap as well.  Refrigerate all the dough for at least 1 hour.
  • After all the dough is chilled, remove from the refrigerator and take off all the plastic wrap. On a lightly flour surface, roll out the plain dough to a rectangle that is approximately 5”X8.5”, place the red dough log on the center and wrap the plain dough around it. Repeat this process with the green dough but make the rectangle slightly bigger so that it can wrap around the entire log. Then cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or overnight).
  • Remove the log from the refrigerator, unwrap and cut the log into ¼ inch thick slices to make the cookies. Then cut these circles in half and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet lined with parchment paper approximately 2 inches a part.
  • Then gently place the mini chocolate chips in the pink/red portions of the cookies to look like watermelon seeds.
  • Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies are set. Remove from the oven.
  • Remove from the oven.  Let the cookies sit on their baking sheet for 5 minutes and then move the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.  

Recipe Notes

*Do not skip the chilling of the dough.  This makes the dough so much easier to work with and to cut to make the cookies.  
*Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.  I keep a piece of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them soft. 
*You can also use sesame seeds to look like the watermelon seeds instead of the chocolate chips if you prefer. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 175kcal, Carbohydrates 22g, Protein 2g, Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 34mg, Sodium 200mg, Potassium 25mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 10g, Vitamin A 262IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 29mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.86 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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