While I'm still in full summer mode and not quite ready to think about Halloween decor ideas, I've started to notice a new trend taking hold: 'summerween'. It seems that combining the joys of summer with a touch of pre-Halloween cheer provides plenty of hosting potential – and I've decided to embrace it by trying out the trend for making a watermelon jack o'lantern before the pumpkins hit the farm stands.
After some experimentation, it turns out that watermelons really are top-notch pumpkin equivalents: you can carve them just like a regular jack o'lantern. And the flesh doesn't have to go to waste either, as you can whizz it up in one of the best blenders to make Martha Stewart's watermelon punch for a spooky summery celebration.
Watermelon is, of course, a seasonal staple, whether you use it in your favorite summer salad recipes or serve it as a lighter dessert for a summer barbecue. I always have a few watermelons on hand – but as I was scooping out the fruit to make my punch I felt the sudden urge to see what the watermelon jack o'lantern trend is all about. Here's how to try it.
How to make a watermelon jack o'lantern
After slicing off the top of the melon and levelling out the base so it sits flat, you'll still need to scoop out the inside, which you can save for later (check out our tips on how to store watermelon).
When you've removed the fruit, you can get to work marking out a jack o'lantern face on the outside of the watermelon. (I used a toothpick to mark out a rough outline first). I then carved out each section using a medium kitchen knife.
Make sure you've removed as much flesh as you can, especially at the very bottom of the watermelon. Once it's hollowed out, you can carefully place a tealight at the base, just like you would with a pumpkin.
Make a watermelon fruit salad jack o'lantern
For a fun summer hosting idea, why not cube or ball your watermelon flesh and add it to a fresh fruit salad with pineapple and berries. Then fill your hollowed-out watermelon so that the fruit tumbles out of the carved mouth. It's a summery take on the trend for filling carved pumpkins with candy for trick or treating and makes for an avant-garde summer table centerpiece.
Alternatively, if you want to save some time, there's no need to hollow the watermelon in full before you carve your spooky face. Of course, you won't be able to light the melon from the inside, but the contrast of the vibrant red flesh still looks really effective for summer displays or as a fun addition to a tropical summer garden party theme.
Shop watermelon jack o'lantern essentials
What better way to cut your jack-o-melon than with this colorful melon-cutting knife? I love the matching protective sleeve.
I've been using these to mark out the design on my watermelons, then as picks for my fruit salad afterwards. Plus, you'll use them right through to the end of October.
You'll need a few tealights if you want to create a traditional jack-o-lantern look, and these LED versions are my favorite: they create a realistic flickering glow without any accompanying safety hazards.
Wondering what to do with your leftover watermelon flesh? Whenever I'm making fruit salad, I like to elevate it with a few simple ingredients. Martha Stewart's watermelon dressing is my current obsession, but this watermelon tuna recipe is a brilliant savory dish to try.
