This watermelon cake has layers of red cake with chocolate chips, frosted with sweet green and red buttercream for a delightful cake that looks like watermelon!
Preparation Time
45 mins
Cooking Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Calories
938 Calories
Recipe Instructions
Step 1
Divide batter evenly among prepared cake pans.
Step 2
Beat butter at medium speed with a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, until creamy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended and stopping to scrape down sides of bowl after each addition.
Step 3
Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating at low speed until just blended after each addition.
Step 4
Beat in vanilla and red food coloring gel until blended. Toss chocolate chips with remaining 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl. Gently fold into batter.
Step 5
Bake in the preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28 to 32 minutes.
Step 6
Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and cool completely on wire rack about 1 hour.
Step 7
Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 6 tablespoons cream, beating on low speed, until completely incorporated and smooth, about 2 minutes. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 8
Remove 1/3 cup of the frosting to a small bowl. Remove 2 cups of the frosting to a medium bowl; stir in enough red food coloring until desired shade of red. Tint remaining frosting with green food coloring gel until desired shade of green.
Step 9
Frost sides of cake with green frosting. Place reserved 1/3 cup plain frosting into a piping bag or zip-lock bag with a 1/4-inch hole cut in the corner.
Step 10
Pipe plain frosting around top edge of cake, filling in the 1/4-inch border.
Step 11
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat three 8-inch round cake pans with baking spray; set aside.
Step 12
To make the cake: Whisk together 2 ½ cups flour, watermelon gelatin, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
Step 13
To make the frosting: Beat butter and salt with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes; beat in vanilla.
Step 14
To assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter or cake stand. Spread top with 2/3 cup red frosting. Top with a second cake layer; spread top with 2/3 cup red frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; spread top with remaining red frosting, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edge.
Step 15
Sprinkle top with miniature chocolate chips to resemble watermelon seeds.
Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
6 cups powdered sugar
nonstick baking spray
3 tablespoons watermelon-flavored gelatin mix (such as Jell-O®)
1 teaspoon red gel food coloring
red food coloring gel
green food coloring gel
miniature semisweet chocolate chips for decoration
