How to Make a Fruit Salad Baby Buggy

Delight guests with a clever fruit salad baby buggy made from a watermelon.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes ... fruit salad in a baby carriage? So it's not exactly the classic children's rhyme, but if you're planning a baby shower and looking to do something that will wow your guests, consider this artful treat. Regular fruit salad ingredients are essentially all you need. With a little extra care in the preparation of the dish to create a dramatic presentation, you can make a fruit salad baby buggy.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Toothpicks
• Watermelon
• Orange
• Assorted fruits

Instructions

Basic Prep

1. Choose a watermelon large enough that it can hold the fruit salad. Look for one that's oblong rather than round. Lay the melon on its side. Slice off a small portion of the bottom so that the watermelon rests flat on the table. Use a sharp knife for neatness.

2. To make a zigzag or scalloped edge to your carriage, and skip to the next section. Otherwise, take your knife and cut horizontally into the melon about halfway up. Stop cutting when you're about two-thirds of the way across the melon.

3. Take the knife and cut straight down into the melon to the point where you ended your horizontal cuts. Lift away the cut piece of melon, and you should now have a basic rounded buggy shape with a canopy. Use a knife or scoop to hollow out the watermelon.

4. Cut four thick slices of orange or grapefruit to create the buggy's wheels and secure them to the sides of the melon with more toothpicks. Top the other end of the toothpicks with berries or grapes to cover the sharp end.

5. Take the watermelon you scooped to create the buggy and combine it with other seasonal fruits. Spoon the mixture into the hollowed-out watermelon rind. Serve the finished fruit salad with sides of whipped cream and/or poppy seed salad dressing in small bowls.

Making It Fancy

1. To make a fancier edge instead of straight cuts, use the knife to score a line for your cuts instead of cutting into the watermelon entirely. Use the scoring marks to guide your knife into even and level.

2. Choose from rounded cuts to make a scalloped shape. Use V cuts instead to create a pleated look to the buggy canopy. Leave the fruit inside the canopy area or scoop out depending on personal preference.

3. Take the discarded chunk of melon and cut out a boxy U shape from the rind. Insert into the open end of the melon to simulate a handle. Secure with toothpicks to prevent damage during use.