The end-of-summer heat is hard to beat in Texas, but I’ve been cooling down with Creamy Cinnamon-Vanilla Watermelon Soup. This incredibly simple and refreshing cold soup is made with chunks of juicy, naturally sweet watermelon, creamy unsweetened Greek yogurt, a splash of vanilla extract and smattering of ground cinnamon.
It’s a heathy fruit dessert or wholesome snack anytime of the day (great to refuel after a workout thanks to hydration, protein and carbs). This cold fruit soup is also one of the frugal ways I like to use up my leftover watermelon when I buy one that is too huge to eat up in a few days.
This cold dessert soup recipe was inspired by my genius, light-bulb moment to sprinkle cinnamon on a bowl of watermelon balls a few years ago – check out the post on Four Ways to Season Watermelon That Will Blow Your Mind. The cinnamon watermelon and other watermelon seasoning ideas were so amazing, it’s a show I took on the road to San Diego at the Fit Foodie Festival.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFTS OF CREAMY WATERMELON CINNAMON VANILLA SOUP?
Fist, watermelon is a very hydrating fruit, comprised of 92-percent water. It also provides natural, no-added-sugar carbohydrates to fuel daily activities. Watermelon also known for some other nutrients that are important to my active lifestyle like vitamin C (for immunity), lycopene (for cardio-vascular health) and the amino acid, l-citrulline (for less muscle fatigue and soreness after workouts)!
The ”creamy” in creamy watermelon soup is achieved with unsweetened, plain Greek yogurt. I’m a big fan of Greek yogurt because it helps me achieve my daily calcium goal (18% DV in ¾ cup), is a great source of protein (around 17g per 3/4 cup), and is packed with probiotics, healthy bacteria that can help boost your immune system and decrease stomach issues.
Aslo, cinnamon, the spice that really takes the watermelon flavor to the next level also has great benefits. Cinnamon has antioxidents that can lessen inflammation, it is a prebiotic (the food that probiotics eat in your gut), and research has shown that it can lower blood sugar levels by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates in your digestive tract.
HOW TO MAKE CREAMY WATERMELON SOUP?
The process of making a cold fruit soup like this watermelon soup takes just a minute or two – chop up seedless watermelon, throw in the blender and blend – no need to strain out the pulp, I like to keep to benefit from the fiber and also to give the soup a little more substance. Then, just blend in Greek yogurt, cinnamon and vanilla and serve. That’s it!
You an make this summer watermelon soup any time of the year by storing chunks of cut up watermelon in the freezer. Either store it in chunks . . . or you can blend, freeze in ice cube trays or mini muffin tin to use later in recipes like this and drinks of all types. As I mentioned earlier, it’s what I do when I have too much watermelon to polish of before it goes bad. Having these bags of watermelon prepped in the freezer, gives me access to one of my favorite fruits for use year round in recipes like this creamy watermelon soup, smoothies, barbeque sauces, and more. Also, if you don’t have lots of freezer space or didn’t plan ahead, you can also purchase frozen chopped watermelon at the market – find it near the frozen veggies and fruit.
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Creamy Cinnamon-Vanilla Watermelon soup is a simple and refreshing snack, appetizer or healthy dessert featuring just four ingredients! A great way to use up all the watermelon if you have leftovers from a larger one (or have stored chunks in the freezer)! For more watermelon health benefits and recipes, please visit thefitfork.com
- 4 cups cold seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
- 1 cup unsweetened plain Greek yogurt I used 2%
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
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Place watermelon in blender, process until smooth. If using frozen watermelon, let it thaw a bit before blending. No need to strain pulp out of watermelon.
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Add Greek yogurt, cinnamon and vanilla. Process until incorporated.
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Serve cold, divide among four bowls. Approximate serving size is 10-ounces. Sprinkle with a little more cinnamon on top, if desired.
