Watermelon Pizza Recipe – A Healthy Fruit Dessert

Watermelon Pizza is not only a healthy dessert, it is just plain fun! Coconut whipped cream & a touch of mint elevate this dairy-free dessert, making it delicious for kids and adults alike.

As soon as we added watermelon pizza to the meal plans, it became an instant Prep Dish classic. I mean, this recipe is just plain fun – look at it!

It's also delicious, lightly sweet, and the perfect light dessert for summer. Get your kids involved with this one. Slice the watermelon and invite your little sous chefs to help spread on the coconut whipped cream and add the toppings. Build your own watermelon pizzas would be super fun for a kid's summer birthday party!

I hope this one becomes a family favorite!

 

What's the nutrition like for watermelon pizza?

Nutrition may not be your main focus when it comes to dessert, and that's okay! Everyone should get to indulge in the foods that make them happiest from time to time, regardless of nutrition.

But, it is kind of fun to relish all of the vitamins and nutrients packed into a healthy fruit-based dessert like this one. It really is the best of both worlds!

Here are a few of the nutritional highlights:

Watermelon (Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Magnesium, Potassium, Antioxidants)

In addition to being super hydrating, watermelon contains plant compounds like lycopene that may help reduce the risk for certain cancers and heart disease. Eating watermelon may also help reduce inflammation and support eye health.

Strawberries (Vitamin C, Manganese, Folate, Antioxidants)

Full of a plant compound called anthocyanins, strawberries may help prevent heart disease. They're also beneficial in regulating blood sugar and reducing inflammation.

Blueberries (Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Manganese, Antioxidants)

Arguably one of the healthiest foods in the world, blueberries have a particularly high antioxidant content. This makes them great for helping reduce the risk of diseases like cancer. Like strawberries, they're also high in anthocyanins. Eating blueberries regularly may also help reduce blood pressure. Pro tip – wild blueberries are even higher in some antioxidants!

Coconut Milk (Manganese, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Selenium, Potassium, Vitamin C, Folate)

Made of the white flesh of coconuts mixed with water, coconut milk may help reduce inflammation, fight bacteria and viruses and fight stomach ulcers.

Mint (Vitamin A, Iron, Manganese )

Mint is a delicious way to add a little nutrient boost to your meals. Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, it's best absorbed when consumed with fat – for instance, the coconut whipped cream in this recipe! Moreover, mint can help with IBS and indigestion.

How to Make Coconut Milk Whipped Cream – Tips for Success

If you haven't made coconut whipped cream before, it's a game-changer for dairy-free desserts. Even if you do eat dairy, the subtle coconut flavor is pretty delicious.

It can be a bit finicky though. But don't worry, I did quite a bit of experimenting to figure out the best method for making coconut whipped cream to make sure yours turns out great. Hey, someone had to do it…..

I go through all the details of how to make coconut whipped cream with both a hand mixer and an iSi whipped cream dispenser here. If you're more visual, you can also watch my short how-to video here!

If you're in a hurry and need dessert NOW though, here are the most important tips to remember:

• Buy full fat – DON'T buy light coconut milk. You need all of that fat to get creamy coconut milk whipped cream.
• Chill the coconut milk – Place the can in the fridge for 24-48 hours. This allows you to easily scoop out the cream, which is the only part you want for this recipe. Save the remaining coconut water though – it is so good in smoothies!
• Brand matters – I tried a lot of brands and I found that 365 Organic Coconut Milk, Native Forest and Thai Kitchen work best for making coconut whipped cream.

What are some other healthy desserts with no added sugar?

Omit the optional maple syrup in the coconut whipped cream to make this a totally sugar-free dessert.

I do sometimes use honey or maple to sweeten a dessert but I also love the challenge of coming up with an all-fruit dessert. Here are a few of my favorite creations:

Chunky Monkey “Nice” Cream: Bananas provide all of the sweetness for this dairy-free frozen dessert. Once you get the basic recipe down, there are SO many possibilities for toppings!

Paleo Cherry Cobbler: If you have a bit more time on your hands, this date and cherry-sweetened cobbler is delicious! It's also totally gluten free and paleo.

Cherry Pecan Baked Pears: Once again, dried fruit provides the perfect amount of sweetness for this simple dessert.

Cherry Mousse: If you leave out the maple syrup from the whipped cream in this recipe, it's totally fruit-sweetened!

For more ideas, check out my Meal Prep Monday podcast episodes on Winter Fruit Desserts and Summer Fruit Desserts.

Is watermelon pizza a good prep-ahead dessert?

Yes indeed! A little quick meal prep makes watermelon pizza easy enough to whip up on a weekday.

First, wash and slice your watermelon. (I have a helpful video on how to chop watermelon. It focuses on chopping into cubes but watch the beginning to see how to slice off the ends. You always want to get a flat surface on the melon as soon as you can to make slicing safe!)

Then wash and tear your mint and wash your berries. If you're going to make the watermelon pizza within the next day or two, go ahead and slice your strawberries. If not, wait until the day-of. Strawberries stay fresh longer if you leave their tops on.

You can make the whipped cream the day before if you like, but it is best freshly made. If you do make it ahead, make sure to give it a good stir before you serve to incorporate any liquid that's separated.

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