3 Watermelon-Inspired Treats to Try This Summer

Happy June! This month marks the beginning of the sunny summer season, bringing pool days, warm weather and an all-you-can-eat watermelon harvest. There’s nothing better than a fat, juicy slice of the red fruit on a hot day … well, almost nothing! Beat the heat with these watermelon-inspired baked treats at your next summer party!

Watermelon Cake Balls

Just when you thought cake balls couldn’t get any cuter! Follow this recipe to make the most adorable dessert your guests have seen. Don’t let their appearance fool you, though — these fruity treats are actually strawberry flavored.

Ingredients
1 box of strawberry cake mix (bake as package instructs, but add an extra egg and replace the oil with an equal amount of melted butter)
1 cup of mini chocolate chips
1 package of green candy melts
1 teaspoon cooking oil
1 can of strawberry frosting
wax paper

Directions

1. Bake the strawberry cake mix according to package directions, except add an extra egg and replace the oil with an equal amount of melted butter.
2. After the cake has completely cooled, crumble it into itty-bitty pieces in a large bowl.
3. Thoroughly stir frosting into the crumbled cake bits until it reaches a consistency that can easily be rolled into balls.
4. Add the chocolate chips.
5. Roll cake mixture into small, one inch balls. Place them one inch apart on a wax-paper-lined baking sheet to freeze for up to one hour.
6. After you remove the cake balls from the freezer, place the green melts and oil in the microwave for 15 seconds. Stir until smooth. Repeat until all the green candy melts are completely melted.
7. Dip each cake ball into the smooth melted candy. Use a toothpick and be sure to evenly coat each cake ball.
8. Place dipped cake balls into the refrigerator to harden.
9. Once the cake balls have hardened, serve and wait (not very long) for your guests to devour them. Grab one before they’re gone!

Watermelon Cupcakes

Serve these grab-and-go cupcakes at your next event! These sweets are perfect for a kid’s party—they’ll love the cute colors and fruity flavor!

Ingredients
1 package of white cake mix (including ingredients listed on cake mix package)
light green food coloring
2 sticks of butter, unsalted at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3-4 cups powdered sugar
3/4 tsp of powdered watermelon Kool-Aid mix
little bit of red food coloring to give the buttercream a pinkish color
mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix the white cake mix and ingredients according to package directions. Gradually add in the green food coloring; remember, a little goes a long way!
2. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners, filling each 1/2 full. We suggest using green cupcake liners to show the green color of the watermelon.
3. Follow package baking instructions.
4. While the cupcakes are in the oven, you may prepare the buttercream frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and vegetable shortening with an electric mixer until smooth.
5. Add in 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix by hand with a spatula.
6. Using an electric mixer again, add in the watermelon Kool-Aid powder and a small amount of red food coloring (to give the frosting a pinkish color).
7. Once the cupcakes have cooled, use a 1M Wilton Decorating Tip to stack the buttercream onto the cupcakes in a swirling motion.
8. Finally, add mini chocolate chips on top of the frosting as “seeds”.
9. Enjoy!

Watermelon Cake

Put a fruity spin on this classic dessert. When cut, this perfectly moist two-layer cake looks like actual watermelon slices!

Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
1 (3 oz.) box of watermelon Jell-O powder (reserve 2 teaspoons for frosting)
1/2 cup watermelon puree (reserve 2 teaspoons for frosting)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
red food coloring
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
5 cups confectioners' sugar
green food coloring

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line the bottom of two eight-inch round pans with wax paper and spray the sides with cooking oil.
3. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and Jell-O. Add water and oil; mix on medium speed.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.
5. Add watermelon puree and beat until blended.
6. Add red food coloring, a little at a time, until you reach desired color.
7. Pour into pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.
8. While the cake is baking, beat cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl.
9. Beat in watermelon puree.
10. Gradually add sugar and Jell-O, beating until smooth.
11. Color 1/3 of the frosting green, color the remaining 2/3 the same color as the cake.
12. Spread the pink frosting in between the layers and on top of the cake, and press mini chocolate chips on top for seeds. Spread the green frosting around the edges.
13. Serve and watch the slices disappear!