Create a Festive Summer “Fruit Cake”

Are you looking for a Fourth of July treat that’s healthier than the standard cookies or cupcakes? This “fruit cake” is sure to be a hit and your residents will enjoy helping you put it together!

Ingredients

• 1 whole seedless watermelon (try to find one that isn’t too bumpy) 
• 1 bunch red or green grapes, or a mixture of both 
• Other assorted fruits of your choice, such as strawberries, star fruit, cantaloupe or pineapple. These will be used to “decorate” your cake, so purchase as many or as few as you like. Avoid fruits with seeds or pits, such as cherries, unless you plan to remove the seeds before serving.

Other items needed

• Serrated knife
• Large spoon or melon baller
• Serving platter
• Toothpicks
• Cookie cutters (optional)

Assembly

1. Wash all fruit.
2. Use a large serrated knife to cut off the ends of the watermelon. Place the melon on a flat surface and carefully trim off the rind. Use your knife to carve the watermelon into a rough cake shape. Don't worry about it being perfect – the other fruits will help hide lumps and bumps.
3. Using your spoon or melon baller, create a small indented “well” on the top of the watermelon. This will help keep fruit from rolling off the top of the cake.
4. Place the watermelon on a serving platter.
5. Begin decorating by placing grapes around the bottom and top of the watermelon to imitate piped frosting. Secure the grapes with toothpicks where needed.
6. Now it’s time to get creative with the other fruit! If you have cookie cutters on hand, you might enjoy cutting the fruit into fun and festive shapes, such as stars (of course, if you picked up star fruit, you simply need to slice it to get the start shape). If you don’t have cookie cutters, slices and squares are just as tasty. You can also use your melon baller to create round shapes.
7. Once you have the fruit cut up, use the toothpicks to affix it to the sides of the cake in the pattern of your choice.
8. Finish by placing fruit in the well you created on the top of the watermelon.
9. Refrigerate until ready to serve, then cut and serve just like you would a regular cake. Be sure to warn residents about the toothpicks to avoid a choking hazard, or remove them before serving.