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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Summertime Favorites

    Summer Melon Dessert with Coconut Sauce

    Published: May 26, 2023 by Tara Teaspoon · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    summer melon dessert with coconut sauce pin image

    This easy summer melon dessert with coconut sauce, brings the juicy, sweet flavors of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew together with a creamy coconut sauce.


    Is there anything better than a refreshing melon on a hot summer day? I don’t think so either! This summer melon ball recipe is perfect if you want to know how to take things to the next level with fresh fruit dessert.

    Summer melon dessert in footed glass on yellow background
    Jump to:
    • Make Ahead Coconut Sauce
    • How to Make the Perfect Melon Balls:
    • How to Pick the Best Melons:
    • Melon Dessert Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Make Ahead Coconut Sauce

    If you want to know what to pair with coconut, you’ve come to the right place. This easy summer dessert recipe pairs perfectly with my sweet, creamy coconut sauce.

    Did I mention the coconut sauce can be made ahead of time? You can store it in your refrigerator for up to two days. To get you started, here is my favorite brand of coconut milk.

    Try this easy coconut sauce dessert recipe on ice cream too!

    I'll show you how to dress up fresh summer melon! Try this summer melon dessert with coconut sauce.

    How to Make the Perfect Melon Balls:

    Half the fun of this melon dessert recipe is the presentation. If you’ve ever tried to create melon balls, you might know that it’s hard to make a full ball and sometimes you end up with an odd ½ or ¾ ball shape.

    To make a perfect crisp ball, start by cutting your melon in half.

    I recommend using a metal melon baller as opposed to a plastic one because the balls tend to come out looking cleaner and prettier.

    Place the melon baller tool down into the melon with the entire half circle scoop. Make sure you press down firmly until the melon fills up the entire scoop.

    Simply twist a full 360º degrees to get a full round ball.

    Summer melon dessert with coconut sauce in footed glass, close crop

    This is the perfect easy summer dessert recipe. Not only is it sweet, refreshing and unique, but it's low fat! No heavy cream, loads of sugar or cake. Just a bit of unsweetened coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk in the coconut sauce recipe.

    This is the best dessert recipe that you need to make this summer! Why? Just a few simple ingredients packs in luscious, juicy flavor everyone will love.

    How to Pick the Best Melons:

    For a homemade summer melon dessert, you've got to pick the right melons! When it comes to picking honeydew and watermelon, surprisingly enough shiny rinds are not your friend. Here are some tips.

    • A good rule of thumb when choosing melons is the weight. It should feel relatively heavy compared to its size. When picking watermelons specifically, look for one with a big creamy, yellow belly which indicates that the melon is fully ripe.

    • In addition, when it comes to choosing both honeydew and watermelon, shiny rinds are not your friend. You want to find a dull looking melon as it indicates that it’s ripe and ready.

    • When a honeydew is ripe, it will have a pale yellow color and won’t be too green!

    • For the cantaloupe: smell the blossom-end of the melon to make sure it smells sweet. In addition, make sure there are no bruises and feel the melon to make sure it’s firm all the way around.

    Summer melon dessert with coconut sauce in footed glass with sauce on yellow background

    I hope you enjoy one of my favorite melon dessert recipes this summer, complete with a creamy coconut sauce!

    Melon Dessert Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does melon stay fresh after cutting?

    Be sure to store cut melon in the fridge in an airtight container. Cut melon and melon balls should stay fresh for three to four days in the fridge.

    What is an easy way to tell if a melon is ripe?

    With most melons, you can gently press on the blossom end (the end of the melon that is opposite the stem). When pressed near the blossom end, the melon should give slightly. The melon should also smell sweet and flavorful and have a good amount of weight to it when it is ripe.

    Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!

    Try some of my other delicious summer party dessert recipe ideas:

    No-bake Lemon Icebox Pie
    Coconut Key Lime Bars
    Pink Lemonade Cake
    Mini Ice Cream Pops
    Ice Cream Profiteroles

    📖 Recipe

    Summer melons and coconut sauce recipe image

    Summer Melon Dessert with Coconut Sauce

    Tara Teaspoon
    This Summer Melon Dessert with Coconut Sauce brings the juicy, sweet flavors of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew together with a creamy coconut drizzle.
    4.80 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup light, unsweetened coconut milk
    • ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 6 cups melon balls from about 8 pounds melon
    • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut, lightly toasted

    Instructions
     

    • In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking often, until thick, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool and add vanilla extract. Sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and chilled.
    • Divide melon among bowls; serve with sauce and shredded coconut.

    Notes

    You can make the coconut sauce up to two days ahead. Just refrigerate until ready to use. 
    Cantaloupe, charentais, honeydew, crenshaw, and watermelon are all delicious melon options with my sweet coconut cream. Try different varieties.
    Make melon balls ahead and store in a covered container in the fridge. Cut melon balls will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 101mgPotassium: 329mgFiber: 3gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 2.3mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 1.4mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Recipe Tara Teaspoon. Photography Yunhee Kim. Props Deborah Williams. Originally published in LHJ 08/10. Updated May 2023.

    Comments

      4.80 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    1. Bianca says

      July 16, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      One tool I have never thought of investing is in a melon baller. The aesthetics alone in this dessert is enough to persuade me.

      Reply
    2. Kamree says

      July 16, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      Fresh fruit is one of my favorite things about summer! And these perfect melon balls and coconut sauce are literally making my mouth water! it looks fresh and delicious and I will definitely be trying the recipe out sometime this week! xo - Kam

      Reply
    3. Kelly Anthony says

      July 16, 2018 at 4:22 pm

      I have a recipe similar to this with lime and mint, and I ADORE this variation! So summery and perfect. Looks amazing, Tara!

      Reply
    4. Jeanette says

      July 16, 2018 at 4:54 pm

      Such a beautiful fruit dessert. So cute with the round shapes 🙂

      Reply
    5. Linda says

      July 16, 2018 at 5:07 pm

      I have an assortment of melons on my counter... now i know what to do with them!

      Reply
    6. Mary Bench says

      July 16, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      Well, this beautifully says SUMMER!

      Reply
    7. Chrissy says

      July 16, 2018 at 6:28 pm

      Ooooh the coconut sauce just takes the melon to another level! I love this as a refreshing summer dessert.

      Reply
    8. Heidy says

      July 16, 2018 at 9:50 pm

      This looks amazing, I love melons and coconut so your recipe is a must try!!!

      Reply
    9. Ashley Spang - GrowingSpangs says

      July 17, 2018 at 10:53 am

      You know, I asked for the tool to make these fruit balls for my wedding...five years ago. Still have yet to use it! I'll have to save this recipe, it looks so refreshing for summer, and so fun besides!

      Reply
    10. Melanie williams says

      July 17, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      I love the look of this. I love melon, so well up for this as a dessert. Like that the melon is in cute ball shapes too x

      Reply
    11. Grace says

      July 17, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      I'm not usually a huge melon person but this looks really colorful and yummy!

      Reply
    12. Brittany Smart says

      July 19, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      I love making fruit the heart of all my summer treats! So much lighter and it makes me feel like I'm being healthier without missing any of the sugar haha

      Reply
    13. Krystle Nozar says

      July 21, 2023 at 10:36 am

      You gave me a reason to use my melon baller. This recipe sounds absolutely amazing and can't wait to get in my kitchen to make this recipe...

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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