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    Home » Seasons » Summer

    Hwachae (Korean Fruit Bowl)

    Published: Feb 4, 2025 by Dorothy Bigelow · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    A ladleful of fruit punch featuring berries, watermelon, and dragonfruit.
    A punch bowl filled with a whole fruit punch.

    Hwachae is a popular Korean watermelon punch perfect for hot Summer days!

    Featuring seasonal fruits like fresh watermelon and berries, this Korean fruit bowl is as refreshing as it is beautiful.

    A punch bowl with a ladle showing a scoop of fruit punch.

    It's 3AM, and you wake up severely dehydrated – what's the first thing you reach for? Hwachae! (Just a little TikTok joke for those who are in the know).

    If you're not on TikTok, you might not have heard about this popular Korean watermelon punch known as hwachae. It's a refreshing and fruit-packed dessert/beverage that is seriously delicious.

    Featuring various fruits, coconut jelly (don't worry – there are alternatives if you can't find it), milk, and a carbonated drink, this Korean fruit bowl is not an exact copy for traditional versions of Korean hwachae, but is a Westernized adaptation of the original.

    We just know you're going to love it as much as we have. It's the perfect light and fruity dessert and lasts for days in the fridge!

    Why You'll Love It:

    • Light and refreshing. Whether you need to beat the Summer heat or you just want something lighter, hwachae is a great way to finish off your meal with something sweet.
    • Great for potlucks. Want to bring something that will have everyone talking? This is definitely a conversation starter!
    • Easy to customize. You can use whichever fruit you have available to you, and play around with different ingredients.
    • A fruity dessert. This Korean fruit bowl is packed with fiber and micro-nutrients. It's great any night of the week!

    Ingredients

    Filled with vibrant fruits and perfectly sweet watermelon, this viral recipe is sure to become a Summer drink favorite.

    The ingredients needed to make hwachae, including berries, dragonfruit, strawberry milk, and watermelon.
    • Watermelon: For a single batch you will need 3 cups of watermelon, equal to about half of a mini or baby watermelon. I like to cube it because it's easier, but you can use a melon baller if you want to!
    • Fruit: You can use whatever juicy fruits you desire, but I recommend a mix of sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
    • Dragon fruit (optional): I love to add cubed dragon fruit when I can find one. It adds visual interest and makes your hwachae all the more beautiful.
    • Strawberry milk (or regular milk): Some brands of strawberry milk taste better than others – use one that you like the taste of! If you want to go the extra mile, you can make homemade strawberry milk.
    • Lemon-lime soda: AKA Sprite, 7-up, or another fizzy beverage. In traditional Korean fruit punch you will find Chilseong cider; Sprite is a decent dupe for the original, but if you're close to an Asian grocery store you may consider picking up a few bottles.
    • Coconut jelly: The type that I used is made by Nata de Coco and comes in packs of 6 with 3 different flavors. I recommend using one of each flavor. If you can't find them, you can use canned fruit cocktail or homemade jelly instead.
    • Sweetened condensed milk: This enhances the natural sweetness of the fruit – all you need is ⅓ cup.

    How to Make Hwachae

    Also known as Korean fruit bowl or Korean watermelon punch, Hwachae is a refreshing and delicious dessert/beverage that is sure to be a hit at Summer parties.

    Adding fruit to a large bowl, then pouring in sweetened condensed milk, strawberry milk, and sprite.
    1. Add 3 cups of cubed watermelon to a large bowl.
    2. To the watermelon, add 1 cup of sliced strawberries, ¾ cup of raspberries, ¾ cup of blueberries, ½ cup of blackberries, and 1 cubed (and peeled) dragonfruit.
    3. Cube 3 containers of coconut jelly (or an alternative) and add it to the bowl. Stir gently to combine.
    4. Drizzle on ⅓ cup of sweetened condensed milk.
    5. Pour in approximately 1 ½ cups of strawberry milk (or plain milk). Stir to dissolve the sweetened condensed milk into the liquid.
    6. Finally, add 1 ½ cups of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-up) or Korean chilsung cider.

    Stir and Serve

    A large bowl of fruit punch in a milky liquid.

    Storing Leftover Hwachae

    Leftover hwachae keeps surprisingly well! I've made this recipe many times, and it stores reliably well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The punch will become watered down from the melting ice, but the watermelon stays crisp and the fruit keeps its shape. Most importantly – it still tastes delicious!

    That being said, if you're preparing it for guests, it's best to make it fresh.

    Can I make it ahead of time?

    If you want to make your fruit bowl ahead of time, it's best to prepare it in steps and assemble it at the last minute. Here's what I recommend:

    1. Prepare all of the fruit and place it in a serving bowl. Wrap it tightly and store in the refrigerator.
    2. Chill all of the ingredients (milk, Sprite, sweetened condensed milk, and jelly).
    3. When it's about 10-20 minutes before the desired serving time, add the remaining ingredients to the prepared fruit.
    4. Stir, add ice, serve, and enjoy!

    Top tip: The fizziness doesn't last very long. If you like the fizzy element of hwachae, leave the soda out just until you're ready to serve.

    A ladle full of berry and watermelon punch.

    Substitutions

    • Different fruits: Feel free to use your favorite fruits, or whatever you can find in season. Grapes, bananas, and other types of melons all work well. 
    • Without coconut jelly: Try using canned fruit (including fruit juices if desired) like peaches, pears, or fruit cocktail. Homemade jelly is a great option if you have the time – try adding some coconut milk to it.
    • Dairy-free: Swap the strawberry milk for your favorite dairy-free milk (I like canned coconut milk); trade the sweetened condensed milk for sugar OR sweetened condensed coconut milk (you can find this in the natural foods section of your grocery store).

    Easy swaps

    • Sugar-free soda: You can trade the lemon-lime soda for your favorite sugar-free kind – or club soda.
    • Higher protein: Swap the strawberry milk for your favorite pre-mixed protein shake (we like Fairlife vanilla).
    A ladleful of watermelon and berry punch coming from a punch bowl.

    Expert Tips

    • Pre-chill the ingredients. If you have time, be sure to chill the soda, pudding, and even sweetened condensed milk in advance. This helps to raise the initial temperature of your hwachae, which slows the melting of the ice. Chill your cubed fruits for bonus points!
    • Bite-size pieces. When cubing your watermelon and dragonfruit, try to think "bite-sized" – I like to aim for about ½-3/4" on all sides.
    • Play around with fruit. Traditional watermelon punch uses only watermelon, while other fruits are added occasionally for flavor. Feel free to try different types of fruits (just don't use kiwi or pineapple - they can react with the milk and taste very bitter).
    • Garnish – if you want to. I think the mix of fresh fruits is beautiful enough as it is, but if you want to make it extra special try garnishing it with edible flowers, fresh mint, or watermelon flesh cut into cute shapes.
    A ladle filled with fruit and milk.

    More Viral TikTok recipes:

    • Baked feta pasta
    • Jennifer Aniston salad
    • Parmesan crusted potatoes
    • Cheese-wrapped pickles

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    If you loved this hwachae recipe, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.

    A bowl of fruit and milky liquid, with a ladle taking a portion from the middle.

    Hwachae (Korean Watermelon Punch)

    This hwachae recipe is the perfect drink/dessert for hot Summer days. Also known as Korean watermelon punch, this fruit bowl is always a hit!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Beverages
    Cuisine: Korean
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 215kcal
    Author: Dorothy Bigelow

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups cubed watermelon about ½-¾”
    • 1 dragonfruit cubed (about ½-¾”) (optional)
    • 1 cup sliced strawberries
    • ¾ cup raspberries
    • ¾ cup blueberries
    • ½ cup blackberries or more blueberries (and/or raspberries)
    • 1 ½ cups cubed coconut jelly about 3 containers; one of each flavor (or canned fruit**)
    • ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
    • 1 ½ cups sprite or lemon-lime soda*
    • 1 ½ cups strawberry milk about 1 bottle (or regular milk)
    • 8 ice cubes about 1 ½-2 cups (optional)

    Instructions

    • Prepare the fruit. Wash all of the fruit, and pat dry with a clean towel. Cube (and remove the peel) from the watermelon and dragonfruit (if using). Slice the strawberries, but leave the other berries whole.
    • Add to a bowl. Transfer the prepared fruit to a very large bowl (or punch bowl). Add in the coconut jelly and stir gently to evenly distribute all of the ingredients.
    • Add the liquids. Drizzle in the sweetened condensed milk, then pour in the strawberry milk and stir gently to help the sweetened condensed milk dissolve.
    • Pour in the soda. Finally, slowly pour in the soda and stir gently. It will foam up slightly, so just be sure your bowl is large enough to handle the rising liquid level.
    • Finish with ice. If desired, add ice to the bowl before serving. I recommend 8 regular-sized cubes (about 1 ½-2 cups). Serve immediately by ladling into bowls, or chill until needed.
    Did you try this recipe?Tag me at @dashfordinner and share your photos!

    Notes

    *Lemon-lime soda: Traditional Hwachae uses a Korean cider that is known as Chilseong cider. Lemon-lime sodas like Sprite or 7-up are a great swap and have a similar flavor. Ginger ale may be used, but it has a more distinct taste and isn't highly recommended. 
    **What can I use instead of coconut jelly? Coconut jelly is easy to find at Asian grocers, or in the “International” aisles of your local Supermarket. They come in 3 flavors and are sold in packs of 6. If you can’t find it (or prefer not to use it), you can leave it out completely, substitute it for homemade jelly, OR canned fruit (pears, grapes, fruit cocktail, etc).
    Dairy-free: Swap the sweetened condensed milk for sweetened condensed coconut milk, and use your favorite sweetened non-dairy milk in place of the strawberry milk.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 583IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 1mg

    Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dorothy Bigelow

      February 10, 2025 at 9:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect refreshing beverage AND dessert. It's a great way to end your meal, and still get lots of fruit and fiber!

      Reply

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