4th of July Fruit Platter

Create a colorful and festive 4th of July fruit platter with fresh berries and watermelon. Perfect for summer gatherings, it's a refreshing and patriotic snack everyone will love.

Customizable to everyone’s liking, this red, blue and white fruit tray is perfect for any patriotic celebration whether it be Memorial Day, Labor Day or Independence Day.

Tools you’ll need:

• Cutting board
• Knife
• Measuring cups or scale – Take this as a guide only. You can use less or more fruits, depending on the size of your tray/platter.
• Rectangular serving tray/board/baking sheet – anything that will hold the fruits. If it is not Baking parchment paper – You will only need this if the vessel you are using is not for food use!
• Aluminum foil – optional. This is to make it easier to arrange the fruits. I also used a piece of paper to see how much space I would leave for the blueberries.
• Fine mesh strainer or a bowl – For rinsing all the produce.
• Kitchen towel – either paper or textile – to dry the produce.
• Toothpicks – This is completely optional. I have created an American Flag toothpick printable if you would like them to look more patriotic!

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Mini marshmallows
• Fresh coconut chunks – If you can’t find this in your local store, use marshmallows only. Another possible alternative is the Piel de Sapo (Santa Claus) Melon.

Tip: Turn any leftovers into fruit kabobs!

The process:

I like to cut a rectangle out of paper and place it in the tray I am going to serve the fruits in. Then I can see how much space to leave for the blueberries. You can also use aluminum foil to create a border around the paper so that the area stays clear. Like I did in the photos.

Next, create 5 rows. 3 red and 2 white. Start at the bottom edge, making a row of watermelon chunks and strawberry halves. About 1.5 inches/4 centimeters thick. Next, make a white row – using fresh coconut chunks and marshmallows. Work around the white paper. You will finish with red row at the top.

Finally, remove the paper and foil. Fill the gap with blueberries and you are ready to serve.

Can I make it ahead?

This Fourth of July fruit tray is best served as fresh as possible so if you can, cut up and assemble the produce on the day of your party or gathering.

If you need to make it ahead, here are a few options:

1. Make it 4 to 6 hours in advance, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
2. Make it the night before your event: Rinse, dry and cut up all the produce. Store them in separate containers in the fridge. The following day assemble everything on a platter and serve shortly after.

Serving ideas

• Fruit dip of your choice
• Whipped cream
• Lemon curd dip

How long does a fruit platter last?

It should last up to a day. However, keep in mind that this depends on the produce you choose and also on the outdoor or indoor temperature and length of time the platter is out on the table.

Leftover fruit is best to store in the freezer for smoothies, except for the watermelon. Or, keep in an airtight container refrigerated and consume within a day.

Possible substitutions & variations:

White: coconut, marshmallows, diced angel food cake, white chocolate covered pretzels (note that they might melt in the heat of summer), melon (Any white-fleshed variety will work. Canary melon is a great option). Meringue kisses are also an option.

Bananas and apples are also options but keep in mind that they will brown over the time. For that reason I would not use them when prepping the fruit tray well in advance!

Red: watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, redcurrants, red grapes

Blue: blueberries are the best choice. Blackberries will also work.

Tips:

• Watermelon is very juicy. It can make marshmallows soggy when they come to contact with each other so bear this in mind. If making it in advance, I suggest adding them to this American flag platter right before serving.
• Cut up any leftover fruits and berries and make a quick red, white and blue fruit salad with a refreshing coconut honey dressing!
• A 9x13 inch (22x33 centimeters) baking sheet or board is the perfect size to hold all the fruits. I like using a deep tray so I can squeeze in more produce without it falling out of the tray.
• When it comes to fruit dips my favorite is a combination of cream cheese, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

More easy appetizers you might like to try:

• Chip Dip – Easy, quick and always a crowd-pleaser!
• Veggie Dip – Another easy recipe!
• Pigs in a Blanket – Enjoy some delicious puff pastry snacks while waiting for grilled burgers or hot dogs!