Easy Mixed Fruit Hwachae

Korean hwachae is the kind of drink that makes hot summer days feel a little more manageable. I first tried this fruit-filled beverage at a friend’s house years ago, and it’s been my go-to refreshment ever since. There’s something really nice about having chunks of fresh fruit floating in cold, sweet liquid – it’s like a drink and snack all in one.

Making hwachae at home is so much easier than you might think. I usually prep the fruit ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, so when the craving hits or friends stop by unexpectedly, I can throw it together in just a few minutes. My kids love helping me make it too – they’ve gotten pretty good at arranging the fruit pieces to make fun patterns in the bowl.

Whether you’re new to Korean drinks or just looking for something cool and refreshing, this hwachae recipe is perfect for beginners. It’s simple, straightforward, and lets you adjust the sweetness to your taste.

What Kind of Watermelon Should I Use?

For this refreshing Korean drink, you’ll want to start with a ripe, sweet watermelon that’s heavy for its size and has a creamy yellow spot where it sat on the ground. A seedless watermelon is your best bet since you won’t have to spend time picking out seeds, though a regular seeded watermelon works fine too if you don’t mind the extra prep. When choosing your watermelon, give it a tap – a ripe one should have a hollow sound. For the best results, make sure your watermelon is well-chilled before cutting it up, as warm watermelon can make your hwachae less refreshing and might water down the drink too quickly.

Options for Substitutions

This refreshing Korean drink is pretty adaptable and you can switch things up based on what you have:

• Watermelon: Since watermelon is the star here, try to keep it if you can. But if needed, you could use honeydew or cantaloupe as your base fruit – just know it’ll give a different flavor profile.
• Fresh fruit: Any fresh fruits work great here! Try peaches, plums, grapes, or whatever’s in season. Just avoid fruits that brown quickly like apples or bananas.
• Fruit cocktail: No canned fruit cocktail? Use any canned fruits you have – peaches, mandarin oranges, or mixed fruit will work just fine. Just remember to drain them well.
• Carbonated beverage: Any clear, lemon-lime soda works great. You could also use ginger ale or even sparkling water with a splash of honey or sugar for sweetness.
• Strawberry milk: Can’t find strawberry milk? Mix regular milk with 2-3 tablespoons of strawberry syrup, or blend fresh strawberries with milk. You could also use banana milk or plain milk with a fruit syrup of your choice.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making hwachae is timing – adding the carbonated beverage too early will result in flat, lifeless punch, so always add it just before serving to maintain those refreshing bubbles.

Temperature control is crucial – warm fruit can make your hwachae tepid and unappetizing, so make sure to chill all your fruits thoroughly beforehand, and consider freezing some watermelon chunks to use in place of regular ice cubes to prevent dilution.

One common mistake is overcrowding the punch bowl with too much fruit – aim for a balanced ratio of liquid to fruit, allowing about 2-3 inches of space at the top of your serving bowl to prevent overflow when adding the carbonated beverage.

For the best texture and taste, cut your watermelon and other fruits into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes), as pieces that are too large can be awkward to eat and won’t absorb the flavors of the drink as well.

What to Serve With Hwachae?

This refreshing Korean fruit punch is perfect for serving alongside light summer snacks and traditional Korean desserts. Since hwachae is sweet and fruity, it pairs really well with savory Korean street foods like hotteok (sweet filled pancakes) or bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries filled with red bean). You can also serve it with simple cookies or rice cakes to make a lovely afternoon tea spread. For summer parties, I like setting up a hwachae station with extra fruit on the side so guests can add more of their favorites to their drinks.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This refreshing hwachae is best enjoyed right after making it while the carbonation is still fizzy and the fruit is fresh. If you need to store it, keep the fruit mixture separate from the liquids in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Prep Ahead: Want to save some time? You can chop all your fruit and keep it in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a day before serving. Just wait to add the carbonated drink, strawberry milk, and ice until right before serving to keep everything fresh and bubbly.

Serve: When you’re ready to serve your hwachae, simply combine the fruit with the drinks and ice. Give it a gentle stir to mix everything together. Remember that this drink isn’t meant for long-term storage since the carbonation will go flat and the fruit might get mushy.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 4-6 g
• Carbohydrates: 140-160 g

Ingredients

• 4 cups diced seedless watermelon
• 1 1/2 cups assorted fresh fruit (melons, berries, etc.)
• 1 can (14 oz) drained mixed fruit cocktail
• 12 oz lemon-lime soda (such as 7up or sprite)
• 14 oz strawberry-flavored milk
• 1 cup ice cubes

Step 1: Combine the Fresh and Canned Fruits

• 4 cups diced seedless watermelon
• 1 1/2 cups assorted fresh fruit (melons, berries, etc.)
• 1 can (14 oz) drained mixed fruit cocktail

In a large bowl, place the diced seedless watermelon, assorted fresh fruit such as melons and berries, and the drained mixed fruit cocktail.

Stir everything together gently so the fruits are well combined and evenly distributed throughout the bowl.

Step 2: Add the Strawberry Milk and Ice

• 14 oz strawberry-flavored milk
• 1 cup ice cubes

Pour the strawberry-flavored milk over the mixed fruits in the bowl.

Add the ice cubes to help keep the salad chilled and refreshing.

Stir gently to coat all the fruit pieces with the milk.

Step 3: Finish with Lemon-Lime Soda and Serve

• 12 oz lemon-lime soda (such as 7Up or Sprite)

Finally, gently pour the lemon-lime soda over the fruit mixture.

Give everything a light stir so the soda combines with the strawberry milk and fruit, creating a fizzy, creamy punch.

Serve immediately for the best taste and texture—I like to serve this as soon as the soda is added so it stays extra bubbly and refreshing.