Madihah turns watermelons into cakes too cute to eat

Madihah Amirah Mohd Roshdy, a 37-year-old mother of two, has turned watermelons into cakes so adorable they defy being eaten. Based in Cheras, her small business "MH Fruits" specializes in elaborate, character-themed watermelon cakes. Madihah's creations, known for their tiered designs, use fresh fruit like strawberries, oranges, kiwis, grapes, blueberries, and other fruits to create convincing replicas of cakes made from sponge and buttercream.

Initially, Madihah experimented with watermelon cakes for her own child's birthday in 2018. She started off teaching herself through online videos, eventually attending classes and learning platter-making techniques from Buah Klub. Her creations, including a bee with black stripes on a yellow watermelon base, a dinosaur with pineapple spikes, and a lion with an orange mane, have gained significant popularity.

Character-themed cakes are Madihah's specialty, with the MelonMates series being her best-selling line. Her Jalur Gemilang-themed fruit platter and Formula 1 racing car cake have also gained attention. Each cake requires careful preparation and carving, with elaborate orders taking over three hours to complete. Madihah uses a paring knife and a Thai carving knife to shape the watermelon, carefully selecting firm fruit to prevent the cakes from becoming watery.

Despite the challenge of fluctuating fruit prices, Madihah maintains that the quality of ingredients is essential. Each character cake costs at least RM150, with more elaborate designs priced at over RM200. Besides the fruit, Madihah uses watermelon rind and skewers as the only non-edible elements in her creations.

Madihah's business has grown immensely thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where she now has thousands of followers. She hopes to create more elaborate cakes, such as a castle for her daughter's birthday and a merry-go-round design. Her ultimate goal is to make Malaysians see her watermelon cakes as part of a special memory, not just a dessert.