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    Balkan Lunch Box > Recipes > Desserts > Watermelon Shaped Bites

    Watermelon Shaped Bites

    Published: Feb 13, 2018 · Modified: Mar 5, 2025 by Aida

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Adorable Watermelon Shaped Bites are no-bake treats that bring together ground walnuts, biscuits, and a hint of rum for a delightful, chewy texture. Vibrant and fun, these are a delicious dessert for any occasion. Shall we?

    Cookies on a plate, shot from above.
    Jump to:
    • Background
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Handling
    • Expert Tips
    • Thoughts?
    • Watermelon Shaped Bites
    • Recipe 💙

    Background

    Today's watermelon-shaped treats are a creative twist on traditional Balkan no-bake desserts. They combine nuts and biscuits (remember bajadera or oblatne?) for a soft, flavorful bite.

    Layering and shaping play a big role in this dessert as it's made to mimic the look of a real watermelon slice. They offer a delightful combination of chewiness and crunch, and are among the favorites for holidays and festivities.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Visually Stunning! Can we talk about how beautiful these are?
    • No-Bake & Easy! No need to turn on the oven!
    • Customizable! Switch up the nuts or food coloring for a different taste.

    Ingredients

    Here's all you need to make Watermelon-Shaped Bites:

    Red layer

    • Butter. Regular butter or lard. Avoid margarine.
    • Powdered Sugar. Confectioner's sugar. Avoid granulated sugar.
    • Ground Biscuits (Cookie Crumbs). Also known as digestive biscuits these are cookies like Graham Crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Plazma biscuits, or Petit Beurre ground to the consistency of flour.
    • Hard-Boiled Egg Yolks.
    • Rum or Vanilla Extract. Or a similar flavor enhancer like a liqueur.
    • Red Food Coloring.

    Green Layer

    • Ground Walnuts. Substitute with ground hazelnuts or almonds.
    • Powdered Sugar. Same as above.
    • Milk. Regular or almond milk.
    • Green Food Coloring.
    • Chocolate Sprinkles. A few, to create 'seeds.'

    Instructions

    The steps seem complicated, but if you follow our instructions you'll make the watermelon shaped no-bake Balkan dessert very easily.

    Two photographs, side by side of a bowl with ingredients being prepped.

    Step 1. Make the red layer by adding all ingredients, one by one, and mixing them.

    Dough being shaped.

    Step 2. Knead into dough. Cut into 10 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Freeze 15 min.

    Two photographs, side by side of a bowl with ingredients being prepped.

    Step 3. Make a green layer by adding all ingredients, one by one, and mixing them.

    Two photographs, side by side of dough being cut.

    Step 4. Knead into dough. Cut into 10 equal pieces. Flatten each piece.

    Two photographs side by side of balls being put together.

    Step 5. Envelop red pieces with green pieces. Freeze again.

    Two photographs side by side of cutting cookies.

    Step 6. Quarter each ball. Add chocolate sprinkles. Store.

    Handling

    • Serve with coffee or tea for the best taste.
    • Store them in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.

    Expert Tips

    • Use gloves! If you want to avoid green and red hands, use gloves when working with food coloring.
    • Chill between steps! This makes the assembly much easier.
    • A good knife! Using a sharp knife will save you a headache in this recipe.
    • Make Variations! A few drops of orange extract add a unique taste. Replace walnuts with hazelnuts. For a nut-free version, use finely ground sunflower seeds.
    Watermelon cookies on a plate.

    Thoughts?

    If you make today's watermelon-shaped bites and like them, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5-star) rating. This will help others find the recipe more easily!

    You can also leave a comment, I read EVERY one! Finally, if IG is more your thing, consider tagging us @balkanlunchbox.

    Prijatno, Dobar Tek, and Bon Appetit!

    Watermelon Shaped Bites

    Aida
    Refreshing and fun, these watermelon bites are a perfect summer snack, combining juicy watermelon with a tangy twist.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
    Servings 20
    Calories 185.5 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 pair of Laytex gloves to protect hands from food coloring

    Ingredients
     
     

    Red Layer

    • 2.8 ounces butter room temperature
    • 2.8 ounces confectioner's sugar
    • 5.3 ounces ground biscuit (cookie crumbs) Petit Beurre, Graham Crackers, Plazma or similar
    • 2 hard-boiled yolks
    • 1 tablespoon rum or vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon red food coloring strawberry or similar

    Green Layer

    • 5.2 ounces ground walnuts substitute with hazelnuts, almonds or pumpkin seeds
    • 5.2 ounces confectioner's sugar
    • 4-6 tablespoons milk
    • 1 tablespoon green food coloring mint or similar

    Topping

    • 1-2 tablespoons chocolate sprinkles

    Instructions
     

    Red Layer

    • In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to beat the butter until smooth. Add the egg yolks and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in the confectioner's sugar and blend well. Add the biscuit crumbs and mix until combined. Pour in the rum extract and stir to incorporate. Lastly, add the food coloring and mix with your hands until the dough is evenly tinted red.
    • Divide the mixture into ten equal portions and roll each into a small ball. Arrange them on a plate and place in the freezer while you prepare the green portion.

    Green Layer

    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground walnuts and confectioner's sugar, mixing well. Add the milk and stir to combine. Add the food coloring and knead the dough with your hands until it’s evenly green.
    • Divide the mixture into ten equal portions and flatten each into a thin, round disk.

    Assembling

    • Take one red ball and place it on a green disk. Gently roll it with your hands until the green covers the red, forming a small green ball. Repeat this process with the remaining nine.
    • Return to the freezer for 15 minutes.
    • Take out and cut each ball into quarters. Decorate with chocolate sprinkles. Leave covered outside at room temperature overnight. Transfer to a cookie jar or a box. Keep in a cool place.

    Handling

    • Serve with coffee or tea for the best taste.
      Store them in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.

    Video

    Watermelon Shaped Bites (Kolačići u Obliku Lubenice)

    Notes

    • Nutritional and Serving Size Information
    This amount of ingredients yields 40 pieces. The serving size is about 2 pieces. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2piecesCalories: 185.5kcalCarbohydrates: 26gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5.5gSodium: 25mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Recipe 💙

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      Hazelnut Chocolate Balls (Bombice od Lješnjaka/ Lešnika)
    • Dried cookies on a tray, above photo.
      Dried Fruit Cookies with Walnuts
    • Rapidly fast walnut bites (cookies).
      Walnut Cookies (Orašnice)
    • A hand holding a cookie and several in the background.
      Hazelnut Cookies (Lješnjašnice) [Four Ingredients]
    « Chicken Pie
    Veal Roast »


    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ellyn says

      February 01, 2023 at 1:11 am

      How long do the watermelon sweets keep? Do they need ro be stored in the fridge?

      Reply
      • Aida says

        February 01, 2023 at 7:07 am

        About 3-4 days. Keep them in a cookie jar, or Tupperware. No need for the fridge, dark, cool pantry is ok.

        Reply
    2. Mary Obradovich says

      February 12, 2024 at 6:35 pm

      Just curious as to what can be substituted for the yolks.

      Reply
      • Aida says

        February 13, 2024 at 7:14 am

        Perhaps soy lecithin? Let us know how they turn out.

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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