This fresh Watermelon Cake is the perfect summertime dessert! It’s light, refreshing, and is delightful on a hot day. Made with just a handful of ingredients, you don’t even have to turn on the oven to prepare this cake!
There are a lot of things I truly love about summer (you know, like ice cream, burgers, butter-soaked corn, beer), but the best thing by far is watermelon. While watermelon is fantastic just sliced up and slurped up, it’s irresistible in this vegan watermelon cake. It’s a perfect dessert to please a crowd because it’s light enough that you can enjoy after a huge BBQ dinner, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and OMG so good.
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
I make this watermelon cake at least once a month in the summer months and here is why you should as well!
- It’s great for summer evenings or holidays such as the 4th of July, Canada Day, and labour day.
- It comes together quickly.
- You can decorate it however you please.
- It doesn’t require planning ahead. There’s no need to bake, chill, etc.
Key Ingredients
Watermelon — Watermelon is low in calories and packed with antioxidants like lycopene which research has linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers.
Coconut yogurt — This is what we “frost” the cake with. The coconut flavour pairs really well with the watermelon as well.
Shredded coconut — Again, this is used to frost the cake as it’s mixed into the coconut yogurt. It also adds to the coconut flavouring!
Toppings — I decorate and top the watermelon cake with an assortment of fresh fruits and sliced almonds. Feel free to change it around!
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Cut off the ends of the watermelon and sit it up straight. Cut the watermelon edges off to yield a straight up and down side all around. Then go around the sides you just removed and round off the edges so it looks a bit more circular.
Step 2: Pat the watermelon a bit dry with a paper towel or a dishtowel. Set onto serving platter or cake stand on top of newspaper.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix together the equal parts yogurt and coconut.
Step 4: Add a very thin layer on the top and sides of the watermelon. It may seem like more is better, but it will actually make it harder to decorate.
Decorate the top of the watermelon cake with the berries and sliced almonds.
Expert Tips
Feel free to skip the fruit and coat with some sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or coconut whipped cream! Feel free to change things around.
An offset spatula makes frosting the watermelon cake much easier.
Can’t finish a whole watermelon? Cut it in half and wrap the other half with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. Frost and serve just half of the watermelon.
Recipe FAQs
A watermelon should feel heavy for its size. When you knock on it, there should be a deep sound if ripe. If it sounds hollow, it’s overripe. If the melon is very shiny, it is likely underripe as well.
Simply store the leftover watermelon cake in an airtight container or covered in the fridge. Enjoy it as soon as possible.
Simply skip the almonds if you have a nut allergy.
Sprinkling the coconut onto the sides can be difficult, so I suggest you place a newspaper down and gently toss the coconut onto the sides. I also found that you can blow it on and it works A-MAZ-ING, but I maybe wouldn’t tell anyone you did that LOL
More Recipes You Might Like
Want more vegan friendly recipes like this watermelon cake? Try these reader favourites:
- VEGETABLE SPRING ROLLS WITH CASHEW DIPPING SAUCE (VEGAN!)
- VEGAN CAULIFLOWER WINGS WITH “HONEY” GARLIC SAUCE
- PROTEIN OATS WITH TOFU (VEGAN)
- VEGAN BUTTER “CHICKEN” WITH TOFU (GLUTEN FREE)
Have you tried making a vegan watermelon cake? Leave me a comment below with some of your favourite ideas!
Watermelon Cake (Vegan Summer Dessert!)
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 large watermelon
- 1/2 cup dairy-free coconut yogurt unsweetened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
Decorations
- 1 small banana very thinly sliced
- 6 strawberries halved
- 1/3 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/4 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
- 2 tbsp thinly sliced almonds
Instructions
- Cut off the ends of the watermelon and sit it up straight. Cut the watermelon edges off to yield a straight up and down side all around. Then go around the sides you just removed and round off the edges so it looks a bit more circular.
- Pat the watermelon a bit dry with paper towel or a dish towel. Set onto serving platter on top of newspaper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the equal parts yogurt and coconut. Add a very thin layer on the top and sides of the watermelon. It may seem like more is better, but it will actually make it harder to decorate.
- Decorate the top of the cake with the berries. I added a ring of blueberries around the edge, strawberries on top, raspberries peeking between the strawberries and lots of blueberries in the middle.
- Lightly toss coconut in between any empty places on the top and all along the sides of the “cake”.
- Add a row of alternating blueberries and raspberries along the bottom, then an overlapping ring of thin banana slices. Finish with thinly sliced almonds scattered throughout the sides of the cake.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy crisp and cold.
Notes
- Feel free to skip the fruit and coat with some sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or coconut whipped cream! Feel free to change things around.
- An offset spatula makes frosting the watermelon cake much easier.
- Can’t finish a whole watermelon? Cut it in half and wrap the other half with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. Frost and serve just half of the watermelon.
Nutrition
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Zohurul says
Very helpful post. Thank you
peggy coniff says
Great video! Great Idea!!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks!
Leslie says
What a fun and festive cake for any patriotic party! And just in time for all the 4th festivities! So beautiful!
Abbey Sharp says
yes! Thank you 🙂