Watermelon Truffles – No Bake

For a fast summer treat that you don’t even have to bake, try my cake batter watermelon truffles. They are so easy to make with just seven ingredients, and the house will stay nice and cool since you don’t have to turn on the oven. Festive and delicious, these no-bake truffles are the perfect cute dessert for summer parties!

I love no-bake desserts because I can let the kids help and don’t have to heat up the house with the oven. So, they are perfect for summer when the kids are home on summer break. The colors make them so unique. They actually look like little watermelons with pink inside, green outside, and chocolate chips for the seeds.

These are also a hit at pink parties like Valentine’s Day. Or you can make some blue ones, too, for a baby shower treat! Since they are no-bake treats, they can sit out for a few hours without worry, but remember that they will probably melt if they sit out in the heat outside. Place the container on ice if you are at a picnic or barbecue to keep them cool.

My kids love making these. Since there is no baking or cooking, the little ones will love rolling them into balls. They may eat some while they roll them, but that is okay. Since they are no-bake, they don’t have any raw eggs or anything to worry about—just the flour and cake mix, which you must pre-heat before using.

Perfect for summer parties, birthday parties or just those days when you need a cute and fun treat. If you love cookie dough, you will be a huge fan of these watermelon truffles, as the texture is very similar.

Why you will love this recipe

• You don’t have to bake anything: There is no need to heat up the house with the oven for this recipe. You just have to use the microwave to preheat the flour and cake mix and to melt the chocolate wafers.
• The kids can make them: Another plus is that the kids can help make them. Actually, they can do it all while you supervise! I love getting my kids in the kitchen, so they grow up loving to cook like I do.
• It is a simple recipe: You only need a few ingredients. In fact, you don’t even have to have the watermelon extract if you don’t care what color they are.
• They taste amazing: Whether you add the extract or not, these things are delicious. Made with butter and cake mix, the inside is a dreamy creamy delight, and the outside is my favorite: chocolate!

What you’ll need to make no bake watermelon truffles:

Special items:

• Baking sheet – I use a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.
• Mixing bowls – For mixing the ingredients and melting the chocolate.
• Silicone spatula – For stirring and folding.
• Pastry cutter – To cut in the butter. Or you can use a fork.
• Cookie scoop – Depending on what size truffles you want. I used a small scoop for little truffles.

Ingredients:

• Flour – I use all-purpose flour, but you can use whatever kind of flour you like. It has an average amount of protein and makes a soft but firm dough. Just be sure to precook it first.
• Box of cake mix – Any kind will do. I usually use Betty Crocker white cake mix because it has a nice flavor, and it turns a bright pink when adding food coloring. Other flavors, like butter or yellow, will not be as pink. Like the flour, you should precook it first to kill bacteria.
• Butter – Because you are using so much butter in this recipe, it is important to use unsalted. Otherwise, your truffles may taste salty. Also, let it soften to room temperature before using it so it is easier to incorporate.
• Mini chocolate chips – These little chocolate pieces look just like watermelon seeds, and they add a chocolatey flavor to your truffles too.
• Pink gel food coloring – I like to use gel food coloring because you don’t need much, and it has such a vibrant color. But you can use regular food coloring.
• Green candy melts – I prefer Wilton, but you can use your favorite.
• Watermelon extract – You don’t have to use it unless you want your truffles to taste like watermelon. This is the one that I like Watermelon Extract.

How to make the watermelon truffles?

1. Prepare the baking sheet: First, cover a baking sheet with wax paper and set it aside.
2. Mix in the butter: Next, cut the butter into pieces and put it in a large bowl with the flour and cake mix. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the butter in until it looks like cookie dough. To make it easier, use your hands to really work it in well.
3. Add-ins: After, fold in the watermelon extract and pink food coloring gel. Then, add the chocolate chips and mix well.
4. Make the balls: Now, make balls with the cookie scoop or a tablespoon and roll them into a smooth ball, placing them onto the baking sheet. Then, freeze them for 10 minutes before dipping them in chocolate.
5. Melt the chocolate: While you wait, melt the green chocolate wafers in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then, stir and microwave for another 30 seconds. Continue until smooth.
6. Coat and chill: Use a fork or toothpicks to dip each ball into the melted chocolate and then set it back on the parchment paper. Let them chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Expert tip

How to heat-treat flour and cake mix

Yes, you have to pre-cook your flour and cake mix before using it to make sure it is safe. Raw flour can have bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. You certainly don’t want to eat that. It can make you very sick. Typically, you use flour for baking, so it is not a major concern most of the time. But with no-bake recipes, you have to heat the flour to kill the bacteria.

In the microwave

Since I promised that you don’t have to turn on the oven, you can heat-treat your flour and cake mix in the microwave. Simply pour it into a large microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir and heat for another 30 seconds. Continue to do that until an instant-read thermometer reads 160 to 165 degrees F in several different places.

In the oven

However, I think it is easier to line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the flour and cake mix in a thin layer if you don’t mind turning on the oven for a short time. Bake at 350 degrees F for five to seven minutes. You still should check the temperature but try not to touch the pan with the thermometer or you will get a false temperature. Be sure to let it cool and sift it before using it.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Other cake mix: Instead of using white cake and dyeing it, try using strawberry cake mix. It will be pink and will give your truffles a nice strawberry flavor.
• Other colors: Alternatively, use different colors of chocolate melts for other occasions. I have used red and white for Valentine’s Day, green and red for Christmas, and pastel colors for Easter.
• Seedless watermelon: Like your watermelon seedless? Skip the chocolate chips. 
• Different flavors: Experiment with different flavors of extract to see what tastes good together. I have tried lemon extract with yellow cake mix for summer lemonade truffles and dark chocolate extract with Devil’s Food cake mix dipped in orange chocolate for Halloween.
• Cheesecake truffles: Turn these into cheesecake truffles using cream cheese instead of butter.
• Add vodka: Make these boozy truffles with a bit of vodka in the mix. Just remember, they are not baked so they will contain alcohol. Don’t give them to the kids!

Serving suggestions:

• These no-bake truffles are perfect for summer barbecue parties, they go well with a mango lemonade or a tropical smoothie.
• Make these even more festive for a party. Dip them in sprinkles or colored sugar while they are still warm.
• Serve with a glass of my sweet and tangy boozy watermelon lemonade for the adults.
• Make a dessert table with more no-bake desserts like cheery cheesecake fluff, strawberry tiramisu and berry icebox cake.

Frequently asked questions

What are truffles?

Not to be confused with the mushrooms with the same name, these French dessert balls are traditionally made with chocolate ganache in the middle and a coating of cocoa powder on the outside. They could also be topped with chopped nuts, coconut, or candy sugar. Topping them with melted chocolate as in this recipe is also a great choice. Then, they are rolled into balls and chilled until hardened.

What is the difference between a bonbon and a truffle?

Interestingly, a bonbon is a molded chocolate dessert made with fruit or another filling that is not chocolate. Truffles are usually chocolate on the inside. Bonbons are usually made in a mold with a flat bottom, sort of like the chocolates you get in the boxes for Valentine’s Day. The outside shell of a bonbon is harder than a truffle and is often decorated with chocolate drizzles or sprinkles.

Why are my truffles falling apart?

It could be that they are not cold enough. The truffles have to be completely chilled and solid before being dipped into the melted chocolate or they will just fall apart when you dip them no matter how careful you are. As in my recipe, you should put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes before dipping them. Also, you might have used too much flour, and not enough butter or frosting.

Can I eat raw flour or cake-mix?

It is NOT recommended, as it involves the risk of E.Coli contamination. To kill the bacteria, you can heat-treat the flour prior to adding it to no-bake desserts.

Do watermelon truffles taste like watermelon?

Actually, they taste like butter cake with chocolate icing to me. But if you want them to taste like watermelon, add a teaspoon of watermelon extract to your batter. For fun, you could use other flavors and colors like blueberry extract with purple or blue dye, lemon cake and lemon extract for lemony truffles, or chocolate cake with chocolate coating for a double chocolate truffle delight.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Leftovers can be stored in plastic wrap at room temperature for five days or in the fridge for about a week. 
• Freezing: After making sure your leftovers are cooled completely, wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They can be frozen for three months.
• Defrost: Thaw frozen truffles overnight in your refrigerator for the best texture and taste.

More cake truffles to try:

Recipe tips:

• For the vibrant pink color, use pink food coloring gel. Otherwise, they will just look like white cake with chocolate chips.
• Use a small cookie scoop to measure the dough to make each truffle the same size.
• The butter needs to be at room temperature before using it or it will not mix well.
• To make it easier to work in the butter, use your hands after working it in with a fork or pastry cutter.
• If you use a yellow cake mix, you may need to add more gel color.
• Candy melts work best for melting. Using white chocolate chips for this step will not make the coating solid enough.