31 Aug OMG! It’s A Watermelon Cake

We’re so in love with this cake…it’s super cute, creative and perfect for a summer party – and there’s no post-cake sugar high! And yeah, the fact that you don’t actually need to cook to make it is pretty spectacular. Perfect for those 40 degree days. 

Makes: one cake (size depends on diameter of watermelon)

Ingredients
1 whole 5kg seedless ripe watermelon (see Note)
1 quantity Dairy-free sweet coconut cream
To crown
About 250g strawberries
2–3 figs, halved
Handful of raspberries
A few pomegranate seeds
Jasmine vine

Method

Place the watermelon on a large chopping board. (This is going to get a little messy!). Make sure your board is secure by placing a damp cloth underneath it to prevent it slipping while cutting. Slice the top and bottom off the melon to create a flat top and base.

With the melon standing on one end, remove the rind, including the hard white flesh. (I find it easiest to cut into the melon on the white edge where the rind meets the pink fruit and cut out the circle that will be the ‘cake’.) If your cutting is a little irregular, just trim the watermelon cake to achieve a uniform, cylindrical shape or as close as you can manage. Alternatively, you may like to cut the rind off in sections and trim to achieve the same cylindrical appearance. Pat the cake dry with paper towel, place it on a cake stand or serving plate and set aside.

Prepare the coconut cream. This can be used as a topping or, you can do as I do, and serve it on the side so guests can dollop as much as they desire on their fresh fruit. If using it as a topping, just smooth it over the surface of the melon, but do make sure you pat the watermelon dry first, so the cream doesn‘t slide off.

Cut some of the strawberries in half lengthways. I love to keep the leaves attached for visual appeal – a little extra greenery looks so fresh. Pile on a few whole strawberries to make a sturdy layer. Now add the fig halves – they look best face-up and on a slight angle. Fill any gaps with strawberry halves, raspberries and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving you could scatter on a few jasmine blooms if you like, but I love the trailing nature of this plant, so just a little around the base of the cake also adds a pretty touch.

This recipe features in and is from Naked Cakes by Lyndel Miller and is published by Murdoch Books, $49.99, available now in all good bookstores and online.