How to Make Edible Centerpieces

Turn a watermelon into a bowl for a beautiful edible centerpiece.

Fresh fruit and vegetable bouquets, baskets, and arrangements make beautiful, edible works of art. Often used as centerpieces, theses unique arrangements add color and whimsy to any wedding, baby shower, party or holiday festivity. The best part about edible arrangements is that dinner guests can help themselves to a healthy and tasty treat while they wait on a meal. In addition, edible arrangements are easy and fun to make. They also make a great gift.

Things You'll Need

• Large sharp knife
• Vegetable peeler
• 1 bag of red grapes
• 1 bag of green grapes
• Strawberries
• 1 cantelope
• 1 honeydew
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 lemon
• Long and short bamboo skewers
• Melon-baller
• Cookie cutters

Instructions

Making a watermelon basket centerpiece

1. Place a clean dishtowel on the counter and set the watermelon on top lengthwise. With the tip of the knife, trace an outline of a basket onto the watermelon, making sure the handle is centered and 2 inches wide. Carefully follow the line to cut the melon. Remove the excess rind and with a melon-baller, scoop all the watermelon flesh and set it aside. With a vegetable peeler, even out the cut edges of the watermelon. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

2. Wash all the fruit. Mix some the melon balls, strawberries, grapes, sugar and lemon juice into a bowl to make a fruit salad. The lemon juice will help the fruit keep its vibrant color. Chill the fruit for 30 minutes before transferring to the watermelon basket.

3. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes with the remaining cantaloupe and honeydew melon. Place several grapes on a skewer before adding the fruit shapes. Place the decorated skewers into the watermelon basket, make sure to push it down into the part of the rind, but not all the way through. You can break the skewers so that the fruit is staggered. Cut a hole in the top of a strawberry and press it through a skewer and top with a grape to make flowers.

4. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

References

• Edible flower arrangements