Watermelon Cakeis a colorful and healthy “cake” made with whipped cream! It won’t heat up your kitchen and looks amazing.

Watermelon Cake with Whipped Cream frosting on a white plate decorated with sprinkles and toasted coconut.

Watermelon plus fresh whipped cream frosting is delicious together! It doesn’t require any baking, looks amazing, and is a healthy and delicious dessert. Frosting a watermelon is the perfect dessert for the summer.

Healthy Rainbow PopsiclesandEasy Strawberry Frozen Yogurtare wonderful alongside a watermelon cake for a summery dessert bar. Or, if you are looking for a more traditional cake, I recommend makingLemon Chiffon Cake,Fresh Orange Cake with Orange Vanilla Bean IcingorFlourless Chocolate Cake.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s an easy way to make ano-bake cake.
Healthy and deliciousdessert.
Gluten-free.
Perfect for celebratingsummer birthdays or holidays.

Recipe Ingredients

Watermelon:Get a whole watermelon that’s small to medium sized.
Heavy cream:It must be heavy cream or heavy whipping cream – regular whipping cream will not work.
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Decorations:Sprinkles, toasted coconut, or fresh fruit would all be good options.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make a Watermelon Cake

Step #1.Cut the rind off the watermelon making sure that the top and bottom are flat and the sides rounded so it looks like a cake.

Step #2.Place the watermelon on your serving plate and lightly blot the outside with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture

Step #3.Make the frosting by whipping the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a stand mixer on high until peaks form (about 3 minutes).

Step #4.Cover the outside of the watermelon with the freshly whipped cream and decorate.

Recipe FAQs

How do I pick a good watermelon?

Look for a watermelon with a yellow spot, which is where it rested on the ground. When the watermelon is ripe this spot should be a nice, creamy yellow color.

What kind of whipped cream should I use for the frosting?

Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream is best for this frosting because it’s more stable. Regular whipping cream works better if you’re going to use the whipped cream right away (like for strawberry shortcake or to top a pie).

Are heavy cream and heavy whipping cream the same thing?

Yes. Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the same product but regular whipping is not. Regular whipping cream has a slightly lower fat content and won’t stick to the watermelon cake as well.

Can I make this watermelon cake ahead of time?

Yes! I made this and stuck it in the fridge and it held up very well overnight. It’s a good idea to protect it in the fridge with an airtight cake container and then it’s ready to travel easily, too.

Top view of a Watermelon Cake with Whipped Cream frosting on a white plate decorated with sprinkles and toasted coconut.

Expert Tips

To help the frosting stick to the watermelon cake,use paper towels to absorb the extra moisture before spreading on the frostingmade with heavy whipped cream.
Be sure tostore the watermelon cake in the refrigeratoruntil you’re ready to serve it because heat can cause the frosting to melt and slide off of the cake.
If youdon’t have a good stand mixer, I love thisKitchenAid stand mixer.