Watermelon Carving: A Three-Tiered Cake

The kind folks at Faye Clack and the National Watermelon Board recently invited me to participate in a watermelon carving competition.  I'm going to be honest and just come out and say that carving pumpkins are a bit challenging for me, never mind watermelons. I usually leave our spooky jack o' lantern etchings in the hands of Rob and the boys, and while I have no problem coming up with ideas for what they can carve, I don't usually do a great job of it myself.

For this competition I knew I wanted to come up with something that would make a great addition to a party - no surprise, I'm sure - but would also be easy enough for a person with little carving skills (like me!) to execute. Immediately I settled on the idea of making a cake, and with three simple cuts crosswise along the melon I was on my way.

I didn't initially set out to make a tiered cake, but I started thinking of birthday parties and baby showers, and before I knew it I had three watermelon rounds stacked on top of each other, each tier slightly smaller than the previous one. The melon baller provided to me was the perfect way to make some floral embellishments, and I only needed a piece of green ribbon, a few toothpicks and some silver dragees to finish the look.

I love the idea of serving a non-traditional cake are a party, and a wedge of watermelon would be so fun, don't you think? Winners of the contest will be announced next week, and if you're interested in seeing other fantastic creations be sure to visit the National Watermelon Promotion Board website.

3-Tiered Watermelon Cake

• 1 small watermelon
• 1 bottle small silver dragees
• Toothpicks
• Green ribbon

Remove both ends from the watermelon (about 2-3 inches), then slice the body of the melon into three equal parts.

Place one part on a cake stand to act as the bottom tier of the cake. Set aside.

Using two small bowls (one smaller than the other) trace the outline of each bowl on the surface of the two remaining pieces of watermelon, and cut out the circles.  Place the largest circle on top of the bottom tier of the cake, and add the smallest tier to the top of that one.

Using a melon baller, scoop eight small rounds of watermelon from the two ends that were cut off.  Slide five 0f the pieces onto individual toothpicks and, using the green ribbon, tie a bow around the middle of each skewer.

Place four watermelon flowers into the top tier of the cake and one on the side of the bottom tier.  Press the remaining three balls into a flower shape at the base of the bottom tier of the cake, and secure with toothpicks.

Place silver dragees side by side around the base of each tier of the cake, to form a pearl chain around the perimeter of the cake.

 

Comments

[Paula]

This is so original and so cute! Good luck with the competition!

[Jan Scott]

Thanks, Paula.  It was a challenge, for sure.

[free lance writing jobs]

The best idea for the summer!)

[Fawn]

I love this!!! I think I would use a couple of cheap strands of pearls instead of the dragees and avoid the refined sugar altogether. :) (That's what I initially thought they were, anyway!) What a great idea. Thanks for sharing it!

[Mari]

Jan, I just saw this a few days ago,it's a great idea. It is a must do this summer for me. I shared it in facebook today and my followers loved it!

[Jan Scott]

So glad you liked it!  Thanks for sharing with your readers :)

[Jan Scott]

Great idea!  I should have thought of that.

[Liba Pressner]

I love this cake idea, made it for b-day party, big hit. I wished I used a platter instead of cake stand, Watermelon was leaking all over the table cloth. Easy to make.
Thanks for sharing