Make a fresh watermelon cake that knocks the socks off anything you've ever seen. Chic, tasty, and easy, this watermelon fruit cake will get you eating fruit all summer.
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Making a Fresh Fruit Cake
I wanted to create my own, unique, chic and appetizing watermelon cake. You've seen all kinds of fresh fruit cakes around the last few years, I'm sure. Mine is simple, tasty and so beautiful it can be a summer centerpiece.
I don't cover my fresh fruit cakes with whipped cream.
There's no need to slather a beautiful slice of watermelon all over with whipped cream. I wanted my fresh fruit to shine, and be the star of this summer cake.
Made of nothing but fresh fruit and topped with some cream, nuts and coconut, a towering watermelon fruit cake is a healthy but impressive treat at any summer event.
Follow the recipe to make a cake with watermelon! You can make cakes from cantaloupe and honeydew as well.
Click HERE to see my Today Show segment on Watermelon Hacks for more summer fun! It's on my YouTube channel.
What Goes Into a Fresh Fruit Cake?
The name says it all! This watermelon cake really is a cake made of fruit.
In this case, the watermelon acts as the base of the cake. I decorated the cake with fresh berries and a quick homemade whipped cream.
This recipe would be wonderful in place of a traditional birthday cake, or for any spring or summer get together.
How to Make a Watermelon Cake
For my watermelon cake, I sliced a thick piece out of the center of a seedless watermelon and trimmed the rind off. Make sure to shape it into a perfect round by removing all the white rind.
Sliced strawberries make the perfect decor for the bottom of the cake. Lined up in a row, they compliment the color perfectly.
There's no need to do anything more! It's pure watermelon, ready to slice once topped with cream, some fresh raspberries and chopped pistachios for a little crunch.
I sweetened the cream with a bit of sugar. I always use fresh heavy cream and confectioners' sugar to make my whipped cream. It tastes so glorious.
Check out my Today Show segment on Watermelon Hacks!
Can I Prepare This Cake in Advance?
Definitely! Make the watermelon fruit cake ahead of time, then top with cream just before serving. Simply assemble and wrap in plastic wrap until ready.
Can I Make This a Fruit Layer Cake?
Yes, you can easily add layers to your fresh fruit cake. This would make it look even more like a watermelon birthday cake, or another special occasion cake.
Nothing says finesse like a tiered cake. Simply adding a tier instantly transforms a fine cake into a sophisticated one.
Cut a thick slice from the middle of the watermelon first and then use the end for the top layer.
Make a layered cantaloupe cake by following the recipe below.
Tips for Making This Recipe
- I decorated my watermelon fruit cake with fresh berries and whipped cream. You’re welcome to decorate it with other fresh fruits, if desired. Think: sliced grapes, mango, and so on.
- For an extra fun cake, use a yellow watermelon instead of a red one. The flavor is slightly different, but still supremely sweet and juicy.
- Because the cake is topped with whipped cream, I don’t recommend letting it sit out for too long. The cream will deflate over time.
More Watermelon Recipes and Hacks:
Fresh Fruit Cake With Watermelon, Honeydew or Cantaloupe
Ingredients
Watermelon Cake:
- 1 seedless watermelon
- ½ pint strawberries
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 pint raspberries
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
Honeydew Cake:
- 1 honeydew melon
- 1 kiwi
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1 cup green grapes
Canteloupe Cake:
- 1 large cantaloupe or 2 small
- 1 mango
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ pint blueberries
- Toasted shaved coconut
Instructions
Watermelon Cake:
- Cut a thick 3-inch slice from the center of the melon (to look like a big cake layer). Trim the rind from the slice. Place on a platter. Remove strawberry greens, then thinly slice the fruit. Overlap slices around the base of the watermelon. Whip the cream and sugar to stiff peaks. Spoon cream on top and sprinkle with raspberries and pistachios.
Honeydew Cake:
- Cut a 2½- to 3-inch-thick slice from the center of the melon. Discard seeds and trim rind, making the edges straight. Place piece on a platter. Peel kiwi, slice in half lengthwise and slice into thin half-moons. Layer kiwi along the bottom edge of the melon. Whip the cream and sugar to stiff peaks. Fill center of the melon with extra fruit and cream. Spread a thin layer of cream on the top. Slice grapes in half lengthwise and decorate the top in concentric circles.
Canteloupe Cake:
- If using a large melon, cut a 2½-inch slice from the center and use one of the ends for the smaller top piece. If using 2 small melons, cut thick slices from each melon for the cake. Discard seeds and trim rind, making the edges straight. Stack pieces on a platter. Peel mango and cut one side off the pit. Cut mango cheek into very thin slices and bend in half, layering them along the bottom edge of the cantaloupe. Whip cream and sugar to stiff peaks. Fill the center of the cantaloupe with extra diced fruit and cream. Pile blueberries on top and sprinkle with coconut.
Notes
Nutrition
Cake recipes for any occasion
About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
Recipe Tara Teaspoon. Photography Johnny Miller. Food Styling Christine Albano. Prop styling Elizabeth MacClennan. Originally published LHJ 06/14. Post updated May 2021.
Mary Bench says
Lovely! Summer delights!
Squeakypony says
I love this!!! I used it for corker on a diet for her birthday and everyone was raving about it. I made the watermelon cake.
Brittany Smart says
Such a great idea!! Gorgeous cakes so fun that they're just melons
Elaine Benoit says
All I can say is I never even heard of these cakes! How fun is this idea!!?? Not only are they beautiful, I bet they are delicious and refreshing!!
Aleta says
You have blown my mind. I have ever heard of a fresh fruit cake. Ever. This is the coolest idea! What an amazing light dessert for potlucks, showers or barbecues.
Tara says
Ohhh I like blowing minds! 😊
Tammy says
OMG these are so beautiful! I've never had a melon cake but what a genius idea for summer parties ^_^
Tara says
It’s one of my favorite summer recipes!
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says
So beautiful to see on a table and so refreshing and delicious to eat in the summer. We love all 3 of them!
Tara says
Ahh thanks! I agree
Eva says
This is soooo beautiful! I never thought of anything like this! Makes the big impression of a "real" cake when it's too hot to get the oven running to make sponge cake. Fantastic!
Tara says
Exactly!! I’m happy you like the ideas!!
Paula Montenegro says
I could live on watermelon and melons all summer long, so these fruit cakes are all that's right! Such a great idea and they look beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration.
Linda says
I just saw a 3-tiered cake using watermelon today and then I saw your post. Love the idea of using all different melons to create a fresh low cal dessert for a hot summer day. These would look beautiful on a BBQ buffet table for guests to enjoy.
Analida Braeger says
This is the most interesting cake Ive seen in my life ! You almost dont want to eat to it , its os pretty
Veronika's Kitchen says
Love it!!!! I saw something similar before but never paid attention.... I want to try it tonight as we just bought a huge watermelon!) less calories, yet soooo tasty!!!
Kathryn says
This is such a good idea! So light and refreshing and perfect for summer parties!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
Your melon cakes are absolutely GORGEOUS! And what a great idea for a show stopping cake when it's simply too warm to turn on the oven.
Danielle says
Ah, this melon cake is truly one of a kind! Delicious, healthy and so refreshing - just what we all need this summer.
Beatriz Drewek says
So thankful I found this! I live in the desert in Southern CA (is so hot you only want one s in desert as opposed to dessert-so good you always want more...never mind😊). It's the middle of November, 82° here, and my dairy free, gluten free, cancer-battling hubby's b'day. I made him one of these cakes and he loved it! Everyone did!
Where can I send you a picture of it?
Thank you for this great idea. Blessings.