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Learn how to make the Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker cake mix! This delightful and eye-catching cake looks just like a juicy watermelon, complete with watermelon icing and a sweet, refreshing taste. Perfect for summer parties and special occasions. The cake comprises of two-layer cakes made with the Betty Crocker Super Moist White Cake Mix; the mix is colored pink with a watermelon Jello or a pink drink. Once cooled off, cover the top of the cake with pink frosting and the sides with green frosting. Your watermelon cake is ready to enjoy!
Why we love 💕the Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker Cake Mix
- It’s an eye-catching cake that everybody loves!
- It is sweet, buttery and delicious
- It feels like the summer will last forever
- It is so fun to make alone with friends!
👩🍳What kitchenware you need to make the Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker cake mix
- Large mixing bowl
- Small mixing bowls
- 1 pot
- measurement cups
- 9” round cake pans (2)
- Stand mixer
- Icing spatula
💡Did you know?
The watermelon cake recipe was first found in the 1884 Mrs. Owens’ Cook Book and Useful Household Hints. The recipe is only using red batter and icing. Another legendary story says that Mrs. Rorer showed people how to make this Watermelon Cake at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Ma says Mrs. Rorer was a famous lady who ran a cooking school and showed people at the fair how to bake. However, we didn’t find any recipe related to this story.
🕐How to make the Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker Cake Mix
It may take some time to make it as you have to bake the sponge cakes first, then let them cool off completely before put on the colorful icing. In addition, for this recipe, we used watermelon Jello instead of any watermelon or cherry drink. You just need the pink color for the batter.
▶️Prepare the batter
To prepare the batter, follow the instructions of the Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix instructions on the box. This is a two-layer sponge cake so it is not terribly difficult to make.
- First, add 1/2 cup of the mini chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of the cake mix in a small bowl
- Prepare the red-colored Jello following the instructions on the pack. You only need a small portion in the batter, no more than 4 tablespoons
- In a large bowl, pour the remaining cake mix, the water, oil, egg whites and Jello liquid. Mix the batter with an electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes
- Divide the batter between the two cake pans. Spread flat and bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely at wire rack before assembling
🍰 How to assemble the Watermelon Cake with the frosting
- Stir 10 to 12 drops red food coloring into 1 cup of the frosting
- Spread the pink frosting on top of the bottom cake. Then place the second cake on top of the frosting and press it down lightly
- Spread the red frosting on top of the top cake
- In a small bowl, stir 1 cup of frosting with 10 to 12 drops green food coloring. Frost sides of the cake with green frosting
- Press the remaining 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips into frosting for seeds
❓FAQs about the Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker Cake Mix
Do I have to use the Betty Crocker Cake Mix to make this cake?
No, you don’t have to. This is an adopted recipe from Betty Crocker’s website, so we decided to use their cake mix. For this recipe, we used Betty Crocker Super Moist White Cake Mix. You can make this cake like any other sponge cake really. Check the recipe for a sponge cake here
Can I use a soft drink mix instead of Jello?
You can use a soft drink mix instead of any red colored Jello. As long as the drink mix is red colored is fine. Ideally, the drink and/or the Jello should be unsweetened. This cake has a lot of frosting, so it is super sweet
How can I make Jello?
The instructions are on the box. But find them here: You need 2 cups boiling water and 2 cups cold water. Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. For this recipe, you only need 4 tablespoons from the mix. Refrigerate the remaining liquid for 4 hours or until firm. Your Jello is ready. Serve in cups with fruit
Can I make the Watermelon Cake gluten free?
You can make this cake gluten free using gluten-free flour. As always, changing the flour will change the consistency of the dough and, therefore, the recipe may well need to be tweaked. Substitute one cup of all-purpose flour with one cup of gluten free flour. You may need to add some stabilizers such as xanthan gum. Follow the recipe for a sponge cake
How can I serve this Watermelon Cake?
Serve the cake at room temperature cut in slices. You can cut thin slices or thick slices, it’s up to you
How can I store the Watermelon Cake?
I personally do not like to keep cakes with frosting at room temperature for a long period even if they are stored in an airtight container – no more than a day. You can keep the Watermelon Cake in the fridge for up to 3 days covered with a plastic wrap. You can keep it longer if you wish, but the cake will not be as fresh. Keeping it in the freezer sliced in ziplock bags is also a possibility but no more than 3 months. Always remove cake from the freezer and let it reach room temperature before serving
More cake baking recipes? Click here for the Vegan Matcha Cake recipe
The Watermelon Cake with Betty Crocker Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 3 egg whites
- 1 pack watermelon-flavored or another red-colored unsweetened Jello
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mini semisweet chocolate chips
- 12 ounces Simple Mills Vanilla Frosting
- drops green and red food colors
Instructions
To prepare the batter
- Add 1/2 cup of the mini chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of the cake mix in a small bowl
- Prepare the red-colored Jello following the instructions on the pack. You only need a small portion in the batter, no more than 4 tablespoons
- In large bowl, pour the remaining cake mix, the water, oil, egg whites and the Jello liquid. Mix the batter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes
- Add in the 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Divide the batter between the two cake pans
- Spread flat and bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Let cakes cool completely at wire rack before assembling
Assemble and spread the frosting
- Stir 10 to 12 drops red food color into 1 cup of the frosting
- Spread the pink frosting on top of the bottom cake. Then place the second cake on top of the frosting and press it down lightly
- Spread the pink frosting on top of the top cake
- In small bowl, stir 1 cup of the frosting with 10 to 12 drops green food color. Frost sides of the cake with green frosting
- Press the remaining 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips into frosting for seeds
- Serve at room temperature in thin or thick slices.
Notes
- The red color does not generate red color, mostly pink
- You can use raisins instead of mini chocolate chips for the “seeds”
- How to make Jello from the box: you need 2 cups boiling water and 2 cups cold water. Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. For this recipe, you only need 4 tablespoon from the mix. Refrigerate the remaining liquid for 4 hours or until firm. Your Jello is ready. Serve in cups with fruit.