Description
This easy watermelon cake recipe is a fun, colorful summer dessert made with white cake mix, watermelon gelatin, and vanilla or cream cheese frosting. With its bright pink center, green frosting rind, and chocolate chip seeds, it’s the perfect treat for birthdays, BBQs, and pool parties.
Ingredients
1 package white cake mix (regular size)
1 package (3 ounces) watermelon gelatin
1–1/4 cups water
2 eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
2–1/2 cups vanilla or cream cheese frosting, divided
Red gel food coloring
Green gel food coloring
2 tablespoons white frosting (reserved)
Chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, watermelon gelatin, water, eggs, and oil.
3. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium for 2 minutes until smooth.
4. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
7. Divide frosting: tint 1-1/4 cups red and the rest green. Reserve 2 tablespoons white frosting.
8. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread with 1/2 cup red frosting.
9. Top with second layer and spread remaining red frosting on top, leaving room at the edge.
10. Frost cake sides and outer edge with green frosting to mimic watermelon rind.
11. Use piping bag with white frosting to outline between red and green sections.
12. Insert chocolate chips upside down into red frosting to resemble seeds.
Notes
For stronger watermelon flavor, use flavored gelatin instead of extracts.
If watermelon gelatin isn’t available, strawberry gelatin is a good alternative.
Use gel-based food coloring for brighter, more stable colors.
This cake can be made one day in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 472
- Sugar: 56g
- Sodium: 445mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 79g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 31mg