Looking for the perfect summer dessert to add to your 4th of July party or Memorial Day celebration? Look no further than these star-spangled 4th of July fruit skewers! Fresh fruit is summer’s perfect dessert and this summer recipe will not disappoint!
This recipe is so easy and fun to make. In minutes, you will have a super festive dessert that both the kids and adults will love!
To make these festive fruit kebabs, you will only need four things. So gather your supplies and let’s get started!
Gather Your Supplies
For this recipe, you’ll only need a few things.
Supplies
- wooden skewers (ex. bamboo skewers)
- small star cookie cutter
This 24-piece set of mini cookie cutters includes small star cookie cutters and other shapes that you can use throughout the year. Check out our Valentine’s Charcuterie Board for another way to use this great set!
Ingredients
Add these two things to your grocery list this week. You’ll only need two types of fruit to make these patriotic kabobs.
- Fresh watermelon (seedless)
- Fresh blueberries
Feel free to mix up the recipe and add other yummy favorites! You can also alternate strawberries, marshmallows, angel food cake, or even pound cake for a tasty twist. There really no wrong way to make this holiday recipe!
Choosing Tasty Fruit
Choosing fruit that is sweet and tasty is the key to making these fourth of July fruit skewers. Here are some helpful kitchen tips to help you choose the yummiest fruit for this recipe.
How to Choose a Watermelon
Choosing a sweet watermelon can sometimes feel like a daunting task. But with a few simple tips, you can pick the perfect one for your needs every time.
Your ideal watermelon should be:
Heavy For Its Size
Watermelon is mostly water, so a juicy watermelon will likely be heavier than the rest.
Have a Deep Sound
A ripe watermelon will have a deep sound when you knock on the outside of the watermelon. A dull, hollow sound may mean that the flesh is starting to overripen and become soft.
Have a Large Yellow Patch
The yellow patch is also known as the field belly. It shows where the watermelon was sitting when it was growing on the vine. The larger the spot and the more yellow the spot, the more ripe the watermelon likely is.
For more tips on how to choose the perfect watermelon this summer, check out this video from the Watermelon Board.
How to Choose Blueberries
When at the store, choose the freshest blueberries to make your star-spangled 4th of July fruit kabobs. Here are some tips to help you find the freshest blueberries.
Look for blueberries that have:
Smooth Skin
You’re looking for berries that are firm, plump, and have visibly smooth skin.
Uniform Color
Fresh berries should have a nice deep purple-blue or black-blue color.
Free of Bruising
Look at the bottom of the package to see if there are any juice stains which may mean the fruit in the container is already bruised.
How to Make Star-Spangled Fruit Kabobs
Now it’s time to make your star-spangled fruit kabobs!
Wash Fruit
First, wash the fruit under cool, running water. If you choose to use a produce wash, rinse well after washing.
While this recipe doesn’t call for watermelon on the rind, it’s still important to wash the outside of the watermelon because when you cut into the watermelon, dirt on the outside can be transferred to the inside of the watermelon when you cut through it.
Cut the Watermelon
Next, cut the watermelon into 1.5″ to 2″ thick rounds. Because we are using a star cookie cutter to cut out the pieces, you do not have to remove the rind in this step.
Using the star cookie cutter, cut out as many stars as you would like. You will need 3 stars per skewer. Set the watermelon stars aside until you’re ready to assemble.
Building 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
Now for the fun part!
- First, thread two blueberries on the skewer and push them approximately 2/3 of the way down the skewer.
- Next, add a watermelon star and push it down until it touches the blueberry.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 two more times until you have three watermelon stars and three sets (for a total of 6) blueberries on the skewer.
- As needed, adjust the fruit on the skewer until the watermelon star on the top is covering the pointy part of the skewer.
- Thread a skewer through the center of a watermelon star.
- Create as many fruit kabobs as you would like.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to eat.
- Enjoy!
Serving Ideas
These tasty 4th of July fruit kabobs are beautiful on their own, but if you’re looking for a fun serving idea, place the kabobs in a vase for a fun fruit kabob bouquet.
You can also anchor your fruit kabobs in a block of floral foam and place it in a decorated container or dish for serving.
Another fun idea is to create a fruit kabob bar and let your guests build their own! Set out bowls of watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, cake bites, or anything red, white, and blue for guests to grab!
Don’t Have Skewers?
If you don’t have or don’t like using skewers, you can also just as easily market this perfect dessert into a festive American flag fruit platter! Just arrange fruit in alternating rows to create a stars and stripes design resembling an American flag.
Variations
There are so many other fun ways to make 4th of July fruit kabobs. Try some of these fun options.
Different Food You Can Add
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cubes of cake (ex. angel food cake or pound cake)
- Mini marshmallows
Pair your fourth of July fruit kabobs with cool whip for a delicious and easy treat!
Looking for Something to Do With Kids?
Do you have kids who like to help in the kitchen? This 4th of July fruit kabobs recipe is perfect for them! It’s a simple recipe that doesn’t require any cooking.
They’ll have a blast adding the fruit to a skewer and then eating them when they’re done.
This recipe is also a great way to get young ones to eat fruit and feel like they’re helping prepare a dish for your dinner party. Watermelon and blueberries are not only delicious, but they’re also healthy for you!
Tips for older kids. Before you invite them to start helping, slice the watermelon into large rounds that they can cut watermelon stars out of.
Tips for younger kids. If you have little ones, you can also cut the watermelon stars out ahead of time and let the kids thread the fruit onto each skewer.
Dessert Table Display
These yummy, festive fruit kabobs are a perfect addition to your red, white, and blue-themed dessert table. Create a cute table display with a patriotic table runner, flag print plates, and colored utensils.
Create a dessert spread with your favorite 4th of July desserts. Consider adding a cake, cake pops, pie, or cookies to round out your dessert table. Go classic with apple pie or check out these patriotic pie recipes.
Fourth of July Menu Ideas
Unsure what to serve with these 4th of July fruit kabobs? Here are some delicious food ideas to add to your repertoire of 4th of July recipes.
Fireworks Time Snacks
As the fireworks start, you’ll want something to nibble on at night. Nibble on these festive 4th of July fruit kabobs alongside this red, white, and blue marshmallows Smore’s Dip.
4th of July Brunch
Start your fourth of July celebrations off with a patriotic brunch! Serve these fruit kabobs alongside strawberry yogurt parfaits, bacon, eggs, and these patriotic waffles.
Classic 4th of July Backyard BBQ
When are backyard barbeques not a great idea? Go with the classic burgers, dogs, ribs, or smoked meats for your 4th of July party. Pair them with potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, and cupcakes.
4th of July Appetizer Party
If you want to do something different this year, host an appetizer party! Have a variety of red, white, and blue appetizers for your guests to choose from.
Some ideas include blue corn chips and red salsa, patriotic chocolate-covered strawberries, and red, white, and blue deviled eggs.
Plate up these fruit kabobs alongside other American favorites like sliders, pigs in a blanket, oven-fried chicken, and cake pops.
For a list of festive 4th of July appetizers, check out this list from Delish.
4th of July Dessert Block Party
If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of kids, host a block party the week of July 4th and let everyone bring their favorite desserts. Provide these patriotic fruit kabobs and let families make their favorite dessert recipes to share!
Classy 4th of July Dinner
If you’re looking to host a more sophisticated dinner this summer, these fruit kabobs are still a great option. Place them in a decorative vase that will catch the eye of kids and adults alike.
As an appetizer, start with a refreshing strawberry, basil, and brie bite with a balsamic glaze.
For the main course, serve up your favorite grilled salmon or steak recipes and pair it with a glass or red wine or freckled strawberry lemonade.
Wrap up the night with strawberries, fresh whipped cream, and angel food cake or pound cake for a classic finish.
For more easy recipes and themed food ideas, visit our holiday recipes page.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed this delicious and festive Star-Spangled Fruit Kabobs recipe. Have a great recipe to share? Comment below to share your favorite recipes and themed food ideas! Check back soon! We are working on a 4th of July Family Feud game that will be FREE to download!