This Fresh Fruit Cake recipe is the perfect colorful centerpiece for just about any occasion. Made entirely out of fresh fruit, this refreshing, festive, raw cake is perfect for fruit lovers, vegans, and those with gluten free or other restrictive diets.
You can use my suggestions below, or feel free to get creative and make your own design. Adding fresh mint or basil leaves, or even edible flowers, can take this easy and guilt-free dessert to the next level.
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Fresh Fruit Cake
If you’re looking for a fresh, flavorful, colorful, fun, and entirely guilt-free dessert, I highly recommend trying this cake made with fruit. It starts with a base of pineapple and watermelon. From there, you can let your imagination run wild.
We’ve chosen both larger and smaller fruits to create a cascading effect down the side that are all attached with toothpicks. Whether you want to make a fresh fruit birthday cake for someone with a restrictive diet (i.e. vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, etc) or just want to try something a little different, it is so much fun and always a total hit.
Key Ingredients
- Pineapple - cut off the bottom and top of the pineapple, then remove the rind and any remaining eyes. Using a sharp knife, create a cylinder shape.
- Watermelon - cut off the top and bottom of a small watermelon, then remove the rind and shape into a cube or a cylinder. I cut my watermelon into a cube which created interest with the different shapes and I didn't need to try and make it the same size as the pineapple.
- Mango - you can use any kind of ripe mango. Just peel and cut thick slices away from the core. Use a heart or star shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
- Larger Fruit - you’ll need a few larger fruits to create the cascade down the center. I chose to use strawberries and kiwis.
- Smaller Fruit - you will also need some smaller fruit to fill in the gaps. I like to use grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
How to Make a Fresh Fruit Cake
- Create the fruit cake base. Start by creating the base with the pineapple and watermelon. For the pineapple, cut off the bottom and top of the pineapple, then remove the rind and any remaining eyes. Using a sharp knife, create a cylinder shape. For the small watermelon, cut off the top and bottom, then remove the rind and shape into a cube or a cylinder. Stick a wooden kabob skewer through the watermelon and pineapple to attach and create the base.
- Attach the mango. Peel the mango and cut thick slices, then cut into a heart or star shape with a small cookie cutter. Attach the mango to the cake base with toothpicks.
- Add the larger fruits. Continue to add strawberries and kiwi (the larger fruit) to the fruit cake base in an S-shape pattern cascading down the side and around the bottom, attaching with toothpicks.
- Finish with smaller fruits. Add the smaller berries and fruit to fill in all the holes until the fruit cascade is filled in.
- Store or serve. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Recipe Design Tips
There is no right or wrong way to make this recipe, although we do have some design tips that can help your Fresh Fruit Cake look its very best.
- Use a stable base: Choose a sturdy and stable base for your fruit cake, such as pineapple or watermelon, to support the weight of the fruit and hold its shape.
- Choose a variety of fruits: Choose fruits of different colors, sizes, and textures to create visual interest but also fun flavors.
- Choose contrasting colors: Pay attention to color contrast when arranging the fruits to make them pop. Pair contrasting colors such as red strawberries with green kiwi or orange mango with blueberries.
- Add fresh herbs or edible flowers: An easy way to fancy up a cake made of fruit is to add fresh herbs or edible flowers. Mint or basil leaves, pansies, roses, or nasturtiums can all add an elegant touch and are entirely edible.
- Brush with glaze: Brushing the fruit with a light fruit glaze made from apricot preserves or honey diluted with water can enhance the shine and freshness of the fruit, as well as help to preserve its color.
- Keep it fresh: Assemble the fresh fruit cake shortly before serving to prevent the fruit from becoming soggy or losing its freshness. Store the cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve, especially if it's a warm day.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use just about any fruit that you can think of. The only ones that I would recommend not using are those that are either very soft or brown quickly, such as bananas.
Yes! Depending on the types of fruits that you use, you can make this up to a day in advance and store in the fridge. You may want to consider adding more delicate fruits, such as raspberries, closer to the time you plan to serve.
Storing Instructions
- Refrigerator: cover loosely with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to serve, or up to 12 hours depending on the types of fruit that you used.
Fresh Fruit Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium Pineapple
- 1 small Watermelon
- 2 cups Strawberries
- 2 cups Grapes red, green, or both
- 1 large Mango
- 3 large Kiwi
- 1 cup Blueberries
- ½ cup Raspberries
- ½ cup Blackberries
Instructions
- Start by creating the base with the pineapple and watermelon. For the pineapple, cut off the bottom and top of the pineapple, then remove the rind and any remaining eyes. Using a sharp knife, create a cylinder shape.
- For the small watermelon, cut off the top and bottom, then remove the rind and shape into a cube or a cylinder. Stick a wooden kabob skewer through the watermelon and pineapple to attach and create the base.
- Peel the mango and cut thick slices, then cut into a heart or star shape with a small cookie cutter. Attach the mango to the cake base with toothpicks.
- Continue to add strawberries and kiwi (the larger fruit) to the fruit cake base in an S-shape pattern cascading down the side and around the bottom, attaching with toothpicks.
- Add the smaller berries and fruit to fill in all the holes until the fruit cascade is filled in. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Delicious Fruit Recipes
- Fruit Charcuterie Board
- Cheesecake Fruit Dip
- Fruit Salad
- Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
- Winter Fruit Salad
- Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
- Best Fruit Pizza Recipe
- Grilled Pineapple
- More Easy Dessert Recipes
- More Vegan Recipes
This easy and colorful Fresh Fruit Cake recipe is perfect for summer parties, birthday celebrations, and so much more. It's made entirely out of fresh fruit, meaning it's vegan, gluten free, nut free, and refined sugar free.
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