Watermelon cake will delight your summer party guests

The only thing that could actually give freshly sliced watermelon a run for its money during the summer season is a cake that looks like a freshly sliced watermelon. Because, well, let’s be honest: Cake can top pretty much any other sweet treat!

That’s why this recipe from the I Am Baker blog is absolutely perfect for summer parties. It’s fun and festive, and it’ll satisfy any sweet tooth with its yummy cake flavor.

While this cake will look like a watermelon on the outside and taste like a watermelon on the inside, there’s also strawberry extract in the batter for some summer-berry sweetness that somehow manages to enhance the watermelon flavor. The buttercream frosting is vanilla, and dyed red and green to create the sliced-watermelon effect.

Finally, chocolate chips are dotted throughout the cake because this is not a seedless watermelon cake! The chocolate chips actually play double duty in this recipe. They both resemble watermelon seeds (cute!) and give an added burst of chocolate flavor to the moist cake (yum!). Seriously — what could be better?

This would be a great addition to a Fourth of July barbecue or a nice treat to slice and store in the cooler for a trip to the beach. It’s a recipe you’ll keep coming back to all summer long.

If you’re looking for other watermelon-based recipes to serve alongside this vibrant cake at your backyard barbecues and summer parties, check out this recipe for chili lime watermelon fries. Yes, that’s right — watermelon spears get a kick of heat from spicy seasoning in this recipe that pairs the chili-flavored watermelon “fries” with a delicious dipping sauce.

Of course, you’ll need a refreshing watermelon-related drink to go with all your summery snacks and treats. For a mixed crowd of thirsty adults and kids, try whipping up some watermelon lemonade slush. Or, for the grown-ups looking to relax on a balmy summer night, absolutely nothing beats a watermelon margarita.

This recipe doesn’t even require any added sugar, as the frozen watermelon is sweet enough to complement the tequila, triple sec and tangy lime juice.

‘Tis the season to enjoy watermelon — in all its luscious forms!