How to Make an Edible Flower Fruit Arrangement

Cut fruit into flower shapes to create an impressive fruit bouquet centerpiece.

A fruit platter or fruit salad is always a welcome addition to buffets and brunches, but if you want to add interest to your table while still offering fresh fruit, an edible fruit arrangement is a guaranteed showstopper. Professionally designed edible fruit arrangements are expensive--the largest arrangements can cost well over $100 each--but with some sharp cookie cutters and patience, you can create a beautiful arrangement in your own kitchen to save some cash while still impressing your guests.

Things You'll Need

• Container, such as coffee mug, basket or vase
• Sharp knife
• Fruit, including watermelon, pineapple, melons, blueberries, strawberries and grapes
• Flower and circular-shaped cookie cutters
• Melon baller
• Bamboo skewers
• Gumdrops

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all of the fruits you plan to use in the arrangement. If you are using a non-edible container for your base, clean that as well.

2. Prepare the base of the arrangement. Trim one end from a small watermelon, just enough so that the melon will balance on the end. Cut the watermelon in half. Place the watermelon, cut side up, on a serving platter. Alternatively, fill a basket or vase with florist foam or Styrofoam to support the skewers.

3. Slice the pineapple into disks, one half-inch to one inch thick. Vary the thickness of the pineapple slices to add interest to your bouquet. There is no need to peel the pineapple before slicing it.

4. Use a flower-shaped cookie cutter to cut flowers from the pineapple. Use multiple sizes of flower cutters to create a variety of flowers.

5. Repeat the process using a cantaloupe, with seeds removed, slicing the melon into rounds and cutting flowers with cookie cutters. Use a plain circular cookie cutter on some of the slices to add interest to your arrangement.

6. Scoop balls from cantaloupe and the half of the watermelon that you are not using as the base of the arrangement. You need at least as many melon balls as you have flowers.

7. Remove the stems and caps from the strawberries. Trim the strawberries so that the wider end is flat.

8. Slide a gumdrop onto the bamboo skewer. The gumdrop serves as an anchor for the fruit and prevents it from sliding down the skewer.

9. Skewer a pineapple or melon flower on to the skewer over the gumdrop. Add a melon ball on top of the pineapple. Add a blueberry or grape on top of the melon if desired, taking care to cover the end of the skewer. Alternatively, top the flower base with a strawberry.

10. Put the completed flower skewer into the watermelon base. Repeat the process with the remaining skewers, adding them to the base at varying heights until you have achieved the desired look for your arrangement.

11. Fill skewers with grapes, taking care not to push the skewer all the way through the last grape. Add these skewers throughout the arrangement to add interest to your arrangement.

Tips & Warnings

• A watermelon base is just one option for your edible fruit arrangement. For a small gift arrangement, use a coffee mug or small bowl. Use a Styrofoam ball, available at any craft store, as an anchor for the arrangement, and kale or cabbage leaves as a camouflage for the foam.

• Buy more fruit than you think you'll need for the arrangement. It's always better to have too much than not enough.

• Avoid using fruits such as apples or bananas in your arrangement, as they turn brown quickly.

References

• Incredible Edible Crafts: How to Make Edible Arrangements:
• Edidible Fruit Arrangement-Info: How to Create Your Own Edible Fruit Arrangement Step-by-Step