Hwachae Recipe

This refreshing Korean watermelon punch, called subak hwachae, is so fun to make and full of tasty ingredients! It's a delicious, hydrating treat full of high-water-content fruit.

Hwachae is both a drink and a dessert! The combination of fresh watermelon, juicy fruit, flavored milk, and a fizzy drink is unusual and compelling, perfect on a hot summer day.

If you love viral recipes like this one, check out some of our other Korean recipes that have are popular - strawberry milk, California roll cucumbers, or cucumber kimchi.

Hwachae Ingredients & Substitutions

Here's what you'll need to make this traditional Korean punch.

• Fresh watermelon (try to use a seedless watermelon) - I highly recommend hollowing out your watermelon and serving the punch in it if you can. It's a really pretty way to serve it if you're making it for a group. Feel free to cube the watermelon or get fancy with a melon baller and make watermelon balls.
• Fresh berries or other fresh fruit (bananas, melon, etc.) - you can use your favorite fruit like strawberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, dragonfruit, cantaloupe, or kiwi.
• Can of Fruit Cocktail - this is optional, but I like that it recreates the chewiness of fruit jelly. You could also add a popping boba instead of a fruit cocktail.
• Strawberry Milk (or other flavored milk like banana) - choose your favorite creamy flavored milk of choice.
• Carbonated Drink - I used sugar-free 7Up, but you can use Sprite, Lemon Lime Lacroix, ginger ale, or any sparkling lemon juice.
• Ice - you'll add several ice cubes to keep the punch chilled.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place the chopped watermelon, different fruits of your choice, and drained fruit cocktail in a large bowl. Stir to combine.

2. Step 2: Pour the strawberry milk over the fruit. Add the ice and stir to combine. Pour in the soft drink.

3. Step 3: Stir gently to combine and serve immediately.

Hwachae Recipe

This Korean watermelon punch is a refreshing and fruity drink and dessert!

5 from 47 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Emily Wilson

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Ingredients

• 4 cups chopped fresh watermelon
• 1 ½ cups fresh fruit berries, melon, etc
• 1 can (14 ounces) fruit cocktail drained
• 12 ounces carbonated beverage Sprite, 7Up, etc
• 14 ounces strawberry milk
• 1 cup ice cubes

Instructions

• Place the chopped watermelon, additional fruit, and drained fruit cocktail in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
• Pour the strawberry milk over the fruit. Add the ice and stir to combine. Finally, pour in the carbonated drink and stir gently to combine.
• Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Tips - Keep everything chilled before using it - everything should be cold when added together.

Recommended Tools - Use a large, sharp knife to cut the watermelon and a small knife to chop strawberries or other fruit.

Storage - This recipe is best served fresh because of the carbonation, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for one day if necessary. Add an additional fizzy drink if you'd like it to be bubbly again!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 1500IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 1mg