Indulge in the refreshing goodness of a Watermelon Fruit Basket Cake, a delightful dessert that combines the vibrant flavors of summer fruits and the sweetness of watermelon. This unique cake features a hollowed-out watermelon filled with a medley of fresh fruits, providing a visually stunning and taste-tempting centerpiece for any gathering. The accompanying recipes offer variations on this delightful treat, including a Watermelon Fruit Salad Cake with a honey-lime dressing, a Watermelon Fruit Tart with a flaky crust, and a Watermelon Sorbet Cake that blends the flavors of watermelon and tangy sorbet. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring that bakers of all skill levels can create this impressive dessert.
Let's cook with our recipes!
WATERMELON FRUIT BASKET CAKE
Everyone will want a serving of this fruit salad: It's sitting in a bowl of cake! To make the faux watermelon, we dyed cake batter pinkish red and added chocolate chips to look like seeds. We baked it in a bowl to get the right shape, then we painted the icing with green and yellow food coloring to look like the rind.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 3h10m
Yield 12 to 14 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Coat a 4-quart ovenproof bowl with cooking spray. Prepare the cake mixes as directed; fold in 2 teaspoons red food coloring and the chocolate chips.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared bowl; bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
- Put the cake flat-side down on a small cardboard circle. Trim 2 opposite sides with a serrated knife to make an oval shape.
- Cover the sides of the cake with a thick layer of frosting; cover the top with a thin layer (this will be the bottom of the cake). Reserve about 1/2 cup frosting for the inside of the cake. Freeze until the frosting is firm, at least 20 minutes.
- Gently pat the sides of the cake with a smooth paper towel to even out any bumps in the frosting.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring with a drop of green food coloring and a splash of lemon juice in a small bowl. Paint the yellow-green food coloring all over the side of the cake with a pastry brush.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon green food coloring with a splash of lemon juice in another bowl. Paint green stripes on the cake, then blend the edges of the stripes with the tip of the pastry brush.
- Put another small cardboard circle on the cake and flip it over. Carve out the center of the cake, about 1 inch deep, leaving a 1-inch border. Cover the center with frosting, leaving the border unfrosted. Freeze the cake 20 minutes.
- Use a paring knife to make zigzag cuts around the rim of the cake. Mound the fruit in the center, covering the frosting completely.
WATERMELON CAKE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 4h45m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch cake pans and a 2-quart (8-inch) metal bowl with cooking spray and coat with flour, tapping out the excess. Line the bottoms of the cake pans with circles of parchment.
- Toss the chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of the flour in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, the remaining flour and 2 cups cold water. Beat on low speed just to combine, then increase the speed to high and beat until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add red food coloring to deepen the shade from light to dark pink (15 to 20 drops). Stir the flour-coated chocolate chips into the batter. Pour half of the batter into the bowl and divide the remaining batter between the 2 cake pans.
- Bake all 3 cakes until the cake rounds (not the bowl) are risen and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes. Remove the cake rounds to a cooling rack, reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F and continue to bake the cake in the bowl until it is risen and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes more. Cool the bowl cake on a rack, then unmold all three cakes and remove the parchment from the rounds.
- With a serrated knife, cut the domed tops from all 3 cakes to flatten them, and dust off any excess crumbs.
- Remove a heaping 1/4 cup of the frosting to a small bowl and stir in enough red food coloring to approximately match the color of the inside of the cake. Place 1 cake round, cut-side up, on a serving plate. Spread a very thin layer of red frosting on the layer. You do not want the layer to be visible when you cut the cake, it is just to glue the layers together. Top with the second cake round, cut-side down. Spread with another very thin layer of red frosting. Top with the domed cake.
- Frost the entire cake with a layer of white frosting about 1/4 inch thick to make the watermelon "rind." Let the frosting dry and harden in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes
- Meanwhile, put the remaining frosting in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and add green food coloring, about 15 drops to start, to make a medium-pale green color several shades lighter than your fruit candy.
- Smooth the green frosting over the white layer, taking care not to combine the two colors. Drape the green fruit candy over the cake, cutting to fit as necessary, starting in the center like spokes in a wheel to make the lines on the watermelon. Top with the black or brown licorice candy as a stem.
WATERMELON CAKE
Steps:
- For the frosting: With an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until the cream reaches stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- For the cake: Cut off the ends of the watermelon, leaving the middle section; remove the rind. Pat the outside of the watermelon dry with paper towels. Set the "cake" on a serving plate.
- Cover the watermelon cake with the frosting. Press the almonds into the sides of the cake. Top with the strawberry slices. Cut into 6 to 8 wedges and serve immediately.
WATERMELON BASKET
To make a watermelon basket, start by cutting the watermelon into shape. Then, fill it with melon balls to serve with a creamy dip. -Christine Johnson, Ricetown, Kentucky
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 30m
Yield 32 servings (about 1-1/3 cups dip).
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cut a thin slice from the bottom of watermelon with a sharp knife so it sits flat. Mark horizontal cutting line 2 in. above center and around the melon. , For handle, score a 1-1/2-in.-wide strip across the top of melon, connecting both sides to the horizontal line. With a long sharp knife, cut all the way through the rind above the cutting line in a zigzag pattern., Carefully lift off the side pieces. Remove fruit from both sections and cut into balls. Refrigerate the basket., In a large bowl, combine watermelon and honeydew balls. In another bowl, whisk cranberry juice, corn syrup and lime juice until blended; pour over melon balls. Cover and chill for 3 hours., Drain; spoon melon into watermelon basket. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in sugar, lemon juice and cardamom; serve with melon.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 127 calories, Fat 3g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 41mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
WATERMELON BASKET
For a dessert you can serve in "fruitful" bowls, fill hollowed-out watermelon halves with slices of papaya, honeydew, and cantaloupe, as well as balls of the watermelon -- all sprinkled with lime zest. Choose from a trio of toppings: Berry sauce with lime and ginger adds flavorful color, coconut brittle lends richness, and pink Hawaiian sea salt supplies savory contrast.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Lunch Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Trim ends off watermelon, then cut watermelon in half at an angle. Remove flesh from each half with a melon baller; set aside. Scrape out any excess flesh with a spoon for a clean, smooth interior.
- Stand watermelon baskets upright on trimmed ends. Fill bottom third of each basket with about 40 watermelon balls. Place assorted melon and papaya slices on top of watermelon balls against the back of the basket, evenly dividing fruit between baskets. Fill in front with remaining watermelon balls. Sprinkle with lime zest. Serve with sea salt, sauce, and brittle as accompaniments.
MINTED WATERMELON BASKET
An eye-catching centerpiece for any brunch, this four-fruit salad features the delicate flavor of mint.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Side Dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Using long sharp knife, cut a thin slice from end of watermelon, being careful not to cut into flesh of watermelon. Stand watermelon on cut end. Using a washable marker, mark handle at top of basket by drawing 2 parallel lines that are 2 1/2 inches apart, starting at top of watermelon and drawing lines about 6 inches down each side.
- Using a sharp knife, cut out a wedge-shaped piece of watermelon from each side, leaving the handle intact. Using a large spoon, gently scoop out watermelon flesh, leaving about 4 inches of flesh at bottom of watermelon.
- With a small knife or garnishing tool, make "V" or scallop cuts about 2 inches apart on cut sides and handle of watermelon basket.
- Cut watermelon into 1-inch chunks or use melon ball tool to make balls of watermelon. Measure 3 cups of watermelon and place in large bowl. Refrigerate remaining watermelon for another use.
- Add grapes and cantaloupe to watermelon in bowl. Gently mix in 1/4 cup mint, the lemon juice and sugar. Refrigerate fruit mixture and watermelon basket separately until ready to use. Just before serving, fill watermelon basket with fruit mixture. Garnish with strawberries and additional mint leaves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 45, Carbohydrate 10 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 5 mg, Sugar 9 g, TransFat 0 g
Tips:
- Choose a ripe watermelon: Look for a watermelon that is deep green in color and has a yellow spot on its underside. The rind should be firm and free of blemishes.
- Chill the watermelon before carving: This will make it easier to cut and will help prevent the fruit from becoming too soft.
- Use a sharp knife: A dull knife will make it difficult to cut the watermelon and may cause the fruit to become ragged.
- Cut the watermelon into even-sized pieces: This will make it easier to arrange the fruit in the basket.
- Be creative with your decorations: You can use berries, melon balls, mint leaves, or other fruits to decorate the basket.
- Serve the watermelon cake chilled: This will keep the fruit fresh and refreshing.
Conclusion:
A watermelon fruit basket cake is a delicious and refreshing summer treat that is perfect for parties or gatherings. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a little creativity, you can create a beautiful and impressive watermelon cake that will be sure to wow your guests.
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