How to Make a Watermelon Cake, 1896

realistic painting of half-watermelon on plate Watermelon (c. 1855)

1/2 cup butter.

1 cup sugar.

1/2 cup sweet milk.

3 whites of eggs.

2 cups flour.

1 teaspoon cream tartar.

1/2 teaspoon soda.

Flavor with lemon.

Take a little more than 1/3 of the mixture and to it add 1 teaspoon liquid cochineal and 1/2 cup raisins. Put the red part in the center and bake. Cover with a frosting colored green with spinach.

Smiley’s Cook Book

This is perfect for a child’s birthday party. The kids will be so busy picking out the raisins they won’t notice the cake is made of spinach goo and liquified insects.