GOOD THiNGS | Best Ever {Fresh} FRUiT Cake

For most people…

"Fruit Cake" typically warrants wrinkled noses and groans during the Christmas/Winter Holidays at it's very mention.

Thankfully...this isn't the season for "fruit cake"! 

And... as you can see from the image below...

there's no need for wrinkled noses and groans because...

what I'm sharing with you today isn't your traditional "Fruit" Cake…

Fresh "Fruit Cake"

Made completely of fresh fruit...

this cake is sure to turn heads while still tending carefully to the heart health of those we love.

Click the "Read More" link below to get the rest of the details on the most delicious and nutritious fruit cake ever!

This cake first came to life when my daughter, Ema, requested "fruit salad" for her birthday dessert last year. 

See the original cake/post HERE

Bummed at the initial thought of serving an unexciting bowl of fruit salad as a birthday dessert...

my creativity kicked in and I was able to satisfy my daughter's original request as well as my desire to get creative in the kitchen. Hence...my version of a  "Fruit Cake" was born.

This cake is undoubtedly unique but here are some more reasons that make it fabulous:

- Gluten-Free

- Dairy-Free

- Vegan Friendly

- Refreshing

- Delicious

- No-Bake

- Pretty

- Healthy

- FRESH

This year...

I decided to photograph the process for those of you who may want to create one of your own.

Although the photos below are pretty self-explanatory, 

the written instructions and an ingredients list are all the way at the bottom of the post.

I hope you think it's as cool as my family thinks it is - specifically my now-14-year-old daughter who requested it again.

No. It's not your typical request for a Birthday Cake from a teenager…

which is why it makes it exactly the perfect cake for my sweet, not-so-typical-teenager, Emalyn Anne.

World's Best Ever {Fresh} Fruit Cake

serves 10 or more

INGREDIENTS

1 whole watermelon - this is the single most important item since it's the foundation of the entire cake. Base the size of the watermelon you choose on the amount of people who'll be attending the celebration/event - and how big of a cake you want to work with. This watermelon was a lot bigger than the one I used last year - I ended up turning it on its side so it wouldn't be too outrageously tall.

Assorted selection of fresh fruit washed/rinsed - an assortment based on what's in season or what's available in addition to keeping in mind the favorites of the person you may be making the cake for. I used the following: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, raspberries and apples.

Optional: 

Whipped Topping

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Large Bowl for gathering the watermelon shavings as a snack for later

Toothpicks for securing the fruit to the sides of the watermelon base

Large Cutting Board for catching the juice when slicing/shaping the watermelon

Long, Sharp Knife to remove the watermelon rind and for shaping

Optional: 

Candles

Cake Stand  preferably one with a slight edge like the one I used here.  It's helpful with containing the watermelon juice when you actually slice and serve it.

PREPARATION

Gather your fruit and supplies together.

Cut the ends of your watermelon off and discard rind. CAUTION!! Be careful using your sharp knife -  I don't need any injuries, people!

Turn the watermelon on its side so it's resting on one of the flat ends.

Remove the rest of the watermelon rind by slicing off the remaining 4 sides. (see images above)

Flip the cake/watermelon on its side if it's too tall - like I had to do. If the height works the way it is, then just leave it.

Shape the watermelon into a round cake-like base after the rind has been completely removed by shaving off the remaining white parts of the watermelon with your knife. 

Continue SHAVING and trimming until you're satisfied with the shape - saving the edible parts in a large bowl for snacking.

Add your fruit. There's no right or wrong. Get creative and come up with fun patterns.

I started by cutting my pineapple in slices (not too thin) and then I cut my slices in half. I then added all of my pineapple slices and filled in the spaces with the other fruit.

Secure fruit to sides of watermelon using toothpicks. see images above

Top the watermelon with fruit. see images above I didn't use toothpicks for the top.

Finish by placing berries around the bottom the watermelon.

Slice and serve the cake as you would a normal cake - in wedges. If yours is really tall like mine, you can cut the wedge in half after you've sliced it and serve two people with one slice.

OPTIONAL: 

- Add birthday candles, sparklers or a cute cake topper!

- Provide whipped topping for those in attendance who thought they'd be eating cake and ice cream! *wink*

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND TRICKS

- There are no rules - get creative.

- Make sure the cake plate you'll be using is big enough for the watermelon base.

- You don't need toothpicks for every piece of fruit - some of the berries were just nestled in the pineapple pieces.

- The less toothpicks you use, the less you'll need to slice through/around and remove when slicing.

- To keep your apples from browning, toss the slices with a tiny bit of lemon juice or pineapple juice.

- Don't fret over getting your cake perfectly round. You may have one side a little lopsided. That's okay.

  Most of it will be covered up with fruit.  Just make sure the "pretty" side is facing the recipient/guests. *wink*

- The smaller the watermelon, the less fruit you'll need - depending on how you decorate it.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I originally bought a cantaloupe to use and then remembered Ema doesn't like cantaloupe. *frown*

You'll see it in the photograph of my gathered fruit. Oops! 

Thanks goodness I remembered before I started adding it to the cake.

The idea to nestle some of the berries on the side of the cake in the pineapple slices came to me because I forgot to pick up more toothpicks when I went to the grocery store. This actually worked out MUCH better because there were less toothpicks to have to remove when we sliced and served the pieces.