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Snacks & sweets · Korean home cooking

Easy watermelon fruit punch (hwachae)

A 15-minute Korean fruit punch using watermelon, another fruit and a simple chilled base. Clear dairy-free and less-sweet alternatives use the same easy cup measurements.

15 min4 servings6 stepsDifficulty: Easy
Easy watermelon fruit punch (hwachae)

AI-generated cooking illustrations. Follow the written quantities and instructions.

01 / Before you start

Ingredients

4 servings

Get your ingredients ready
Get your ingredients ready

Everyday kitchen measurements

For 4 servings. Use a small 180 ml paper cup, a level eating spoon (about 15 ml) and a small teaspoon (about 5 ml).

How to fill the cup and spoons

Use the same cup and spoons throughout. Their sizes vary, so these amounts are approximate. Spoon flour in loosely and level the top without pressing. Measure vegetables after chopping, without packing them down. The amounts in g/ml are the original reference quantities. For part of a pack, use the specified pack weight and divide the contents evenly.

King Arthur Baking

Essential, optional and substitute ingredients

Keep essential ingredients. For a replacement, use its listed amount and cooking changes instead of that ingredient’s original amount. Skip optional ingredients and their preparation if omitted. Photos show the original recipe.

  • Substitute available

    If Watermelon flesh, diced and deseeded is unavailable

    Use instead
    Ripe melon flesh, diced
    Substitute quantity
    3 paper cupsReference quantity: 420 g

    Use the same amount and remove all seeds and rind. The result is melon hwachae with a different fruit flavour.

  • Substitute available

    If Strawberries is unavailable

    Use instead
    Drained canned peaches, diced
    Substitute quantity
    1 paper cupReference quantity: 150 g

    Use fruit packed in juice and drain it. The punch may be sweeter, so omit the optional sugar at first.

  • Substitute available

    If Pasteurized plain milk, chilled is unavailable

    Use instead
    Chilled drinking water
    Substitute quantity
    2 paper cupsReference quantity: 360 ml

    Use at the same stage for a clear, dairy-free fruit punch. It will taste lighter; check other ingredients if avoiding milk.

  • Substitute available

    If Lemon-lime soda, chilled is unavailable

    Use instead
    Chilled sparkling water
    Substitute quantity
    1 paper cupReference quantity: 180 ml

    Add at the same final stage. This is less sweet; taste before adding any of the optional sugar. For no fizz, use the same amount of cold drinking water.

  • Optional

    May be omitted; the fruit and soda are already sweet. If used, dissolve it in the milk or water before adding the fruit.

  • Optional

    May be omitted if all ingredients are already cold. Use only ice made from safe drinking water.

Tap each ingredient as you prepare it. Check product labels for egg, soy, sesame, wheat, fish or shellfish where relevant.

02 / You’re ready to cook

Step-by-step cooking

  1. Step 1

    Step 1: Wash your hands and rinse the whole watermelon rind and strawberries under running water before cutting. Use a clean board and knife. If using canned peaches instead, drain them well.

    Wash your hands and rinse the whole watermelon rind and strawberries under running water before cutting. Use a clean board and knife. If using canned peaches instead, drain them well.

  2. Step 2

    Step 2: Remove the watermelon rind and hard black seeds. Cut the flesh into small bite-size cubes and loosely fill 3 paper cups. Hull and halve the strawberries, using 1 paper cup; cut large pieces smaller for children.

    Remove the watermelon rind and hard black seeds. Cut the flesh into small bite-size cubes and loosely fill 3 paper cups. Hull and halve the strawberries, using 1 paper cup; cut large pieces smaller for children.

  3. Step 3

    Step 3: Pour 2 paper cups of chilled pasteurized milk into a large serving bowl. Use the same amount of cold drinking water for the dairy-free version. Taste the fruit; if extra sweetness is wanted, stir up to 1 level eating spoon of sugar into the liquid until dissolved.

    Pour 2 paper cups of chilled pasteurized milk into a large serving bowl. Use the same amount of cold drinking water for the dairy-free version. Taste the fruit; if extra sweetness is wanted, stir up to 1 level eating spoon of sugar into the liquid until dissolved.

  4. Step 4

    Step 4: Add the watermelon and strawberries to the bowl. Fold gently with a clean spoon so the fruit stays in pieces rather than becoming a puree. Keep cold if you are not serving immediately.

    Add the watermelon and strawberries to the bowl. Fold gently with a clean spoon so the fruit stays in pieces rather than becoming a puree. Keep cold if you are not serving immediately.

  5. Step 5

    Step 5: Just before serving, slowly add 1 paper cup of chilled lemon-lime soda or the same amount of sparkling water. Stir once or twice gently to keep some bubbles. Add the optional half paper cup of ice only if needed.

    Just before serving, slowly add 1 paper cup of chilled lemon-lime soda or the same amount of sparkling water. Stir once or twice gently to keep some bubbles. Add the optional half paper cup of ice only if needed.

  6. Step 6

    Step 6: Ladle fruit and liquid into four small bowls and serve immediately with spoons. A little separation can occur when milk meets fruit and soda; stir gently and enjoy right away. Refrigerate leftovers promptly rather than leaving the serving bowl at room temperature.

    Ladle fruit and liquid into four small bowls and serve immediately with spoons. A little separation can occur when milk meets fruit and soda; stir gently and enjoy right away. Refrigerate leftovers promptly rather than leaving the serving bowl at room temperature.

03 / Enjoy your meal

Finished dish

Finished dish: Easy watermelon fruit punch (hwachae)
Easy watermelon fruit punch (hwachae)
Helpful tips

The milk-and-soda version is a modern home style. For a clearer fruit punch, use the listed water alternative instead of milk. Replace strawberries with an equal cup of diced fruit you already have, such as pear, melon or drained canned peach; amounts vary by fruit. Remove hard seeds, stones and rind, and cut pieces to a safe size for each child. Best eaten immediately. Refrigerate at 4°C or below within 2 hours (1 hour above 32°C) and use within 24 hours. Do not freeze and refreeze the serving bowl.

Enjoy every bite

How to enjoy it

Serve in small bowls with spoons so people can enjoy both fruit and liquid. For young children use smaller soft fruit pieces and leave out hard ice cubes.

Serve it with