Cooking with Kids: No-Bake Watermelon Cake
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PSN Team 
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No-Bake Watermelon Cake
Encourage Learning and Speech while Creating Yum!
Watermelon Cake is a summer tradition in our house. I just love that this recipe is so simple to make and looks so elegant, plus it has a surprise factor; no one expects watermelon on the inside of this elegant cake. This dessert is light and refreshing and the taste is decadent! It is perfect for any summer get-together or celebration.
Watermelon Cake Ingredients
- 1 whole seedless watermelon (small 4-6 lb.)
- 1 tub (8 oz.) Whipped topping, thawed
- 3-4 Strawberries, hulled
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 box/bag granola cereal
Prep and Directions:
Adult: Cut off both ends of watermelon. Stand watermelon on cutting board. Starting at top of the melon, use a long, thin, sharp knife to carefully cut between rind and fruit all around watermelon to separate the rind from fruit. Remove and discard rind.
Child: Pat melon with paper towels to dry; place on a platter.
Child: Frost entire watermelon with whipped topping. We have used both “Truwhip the Natural” whipped topping and “Cool Whip” both work.
Child: Place granola on sides of the cake (onto the whipped topping) using a cupped hand.
Child: Decorate the top of cake any way you like with berries or sliced fruit.
Adult: Recommended chilling cake in the refrigerator covered with tinfoil for about an hour, for whip topping to set. Slice and serve. Store it covered with tinfoil in the refrigerator, it will last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
Happy Summer!
Eat! Talk! Enjoy!
Language Time Tips:
- Build vocabulary: Use nouns and actions. Nouns: watermelon, whipped topping, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, granola, paper towels, cereal. Actions: cut, stand up, cut, separate, remove, discard, pat, frost, put on, decorate.
- Colors and Size: Target different colors! Discuss the differences between the pink of the watermelon, the white of the whipped topping, the red of the raspberries and strawberries and the blue of the blueberries. For sizes, discuss which fruit is smaller or larger. What are the different shapes? How are they the same and how are they different?
- Comment and Describe: Encourage words such as crunchy (cereal), smooth (whipped topping), sweet and soft (fruit). Help facilitate comments such as modeling specific comments such as “I love the different colors of the cake”, “I am having fun making this cake with you”, “I love the sweet taste of the whipped topping.”
- Sequencing and recalling information: Follow the sequence of the recipe and emphasize the steps of cutting the watermelon, frosting the cake, and adding the fruit. To make the steps of sequencing more concrete, use visual cues such as pictures or words to help keep your child attentive to each step (e.g. create flashcards such as “cut watermelon”, “frost cake”, “add strawberries”, etc.
- Answering and asking “wh” questions: Sample “wh” questions include: Sample “wh” questions include, “What kind of cake are we making?” “What food group does watermelon belong in?” “What ingredient tastes crunchy?”
Literacy: Try a fun rhyming activity! What rhymes with cake? Make! What rhymes with berry? Merry! This can help improve your child’s phonemic awareness.
The video below provides Fun Facts for Kids on the 4th of July.
Books recommended:
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli and One Watermelon Seed by Cellia Lotridge
More Cooking With Kids
- Celebrate Your Patriotic Spirit When You Cook With Your Kids!
- Cooking with Kids: Strawberry Poundcake Kabobs Fun and Easy Recipe
- “Foodie” Fun for Kids: Ice Cream Sandwiches Encouraging Speech & Creating Yum!
- Fun 5 Minute Ice Cream In A Bag
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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2016 Magazine
