Spiked Watermelon Is the Refreshing Summer Treat You Need — Here's How to Do It

First things first: assemble your materials. You'll need a watermelon, 750 ml. of vodka, a sharp knife, and a chopstick or skewer. Seeded watermelons are ideal because the air pockets around the seeds allow more space for the vodka to infuse, but seedless is fine, too! Don't forget to wash the watermelon so that when you cut into it, the knife can't pass any bacteria from the outside of the watermelon into the flesh.

Find a good spot on the watermelon to balance it so that it can stand still without rolling over — a towel can help stabilize it. Next, cut a small hole in the top that's big enough for the neck of your vodka bottle. You'll want to cut several inches deep so the entire neck can fit.

Remove the piece of watermelon that you just cut out. I find that it helps to cut slightly inward. As you can see, my piece was slightly tapered toward the bottom, which made it a lot easier to pull out.

Use a long-handled spoon to scoop out the rest of the hole in order to make sure the bottle will fit. A vodka bottle with a long neck is the best choice for this project since you want it to balance and stay inside the watermelon.

This part is key to making this recipe a success. Use a chopstick or skewer to poke holes all around the watermelon and all the way out to the rind. This gives the vodka a clear path through the watermelon — otherwise, it'll just collect at the top.

You don't have to use a straw to do this (although watermelon juice is delicious and hydrating), but it's important to remove any extra water that emerges after you poke the holes. As you poke the holes, peer into the center hole and watch for any juice that comes up. Whenever you see liquid, either quickly grab your straw or just tip the watermelon on its side and let it drain into the sink. Since watermelons are already so saturated with water, the more water you remove, the more vodka they can hold.

You'll want to do this one over your kitchen sink! Set the watermelon on the counter, and turn it so the hole is facing over the sink at a right angle to the countertop. Tip the bottle of vodka on its side (you may want to pour a little out first, so that you don't waste any), and plug it into the hole. Then, tip both up toward each other until the vodka balances and is fully inside the watermelon.

This is the easy part — let the watermelon sit in the fridge, vodka intact, for 24 to 48 hours. I didn't notice a huge difference in the amount of vodka absorbed after 24 hours, so it's up to you. After it's done chilling, slice it open and serve immediately! The longer it sits, the more vodka you lose since it'll drip out. As you can see in this photo, those skewered holes make a big difference, so don't skip that step.

Enjoy your vodka-infused watermelon. With this boozy treat, you're sure to be the most popular person at your next party.