Everyone knows the most exciting thing about summer is all the fresh fruit that is available. Strawberries, watermelon, and kiwi are just a few favorites to enjoy this summer. What is even more exciting is how easy and fun it is to dress them up.
Wait, what? Dress up fruit?
Yes! There are all sorts of ways to get creative with your fruit and make it even more delicious. Check out these fun ideas:
Salads
Fruit salads is a must during the summer. A great way to mix things up is to add some diced fruit to your favorite green salad. This not only looks pretty but adds sweetness and a different texture to the salad. Fruit salads are also a perfect way to use up any fruits that are starting to go bad. No one wants to waste fruit, so why not give them new life in a salad?
Mix up any fruits you like in a bowl with some honey and you have an easy fruit salad. To make it fun, carve out pineapple or watermelon to use as a bowl. You can even use a cookie cutter to turn the pineapple or watermelon into fun shapes.
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
This is a classic for a reason. Chocolate and strawberries were made for each other. Simply melt some chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler. Dip the strawberries in and let them cool on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. If you want to get fancy, you can drizzle the chocolate or sprinkle on some chopped nuts.
You can also opt for bananas, apples, or any other fruit you like. Just make sure the chocolate is fully cooled before dipping or it will melt the fruit.
Fruit Kabobs
Fruit kabobs are a great way to dress up fruits for a party or BBQ. Simply cut up your favorite fruits into bite-size pieces and thread them onto skewers. If you are using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes before using them. This is to prevent them from burning.
For a fun twist, add some cubes of cheese or ham to the kabobs. You can also use mini marshmallows or colorful candies. Get creative and have fun!
Fruit Pizza
Yes, fruit pizza is a thing and it is amazing. Start with a sugar cookie or graham cracker crust. Spread on a thin layer of cream cheese frosting. Then top with your favorite fruits. You can get creative with the fruit pizza and use whatever you like.
For a Fourth of July-themed fruit pizza, use blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries to make a red, white, and blue pizza. You can also do an autumn-themed pizza with apples, pears, and cranberries.
There you have it! Some fun and easy ways to dress up your fruit this summer. So, next time you are at the store, pick up some extra fruit and get creative in the kitchen. Your taste buds will thank you!
Bananas Foster
This is a delicious way to dress up plain old bananas. Slice some bananas and sauté them in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add a splash of rum for an adults-only treat. Serve over ice cream for a real indulgence.
You can also use this recipe to dress up other fruits like apples, pears, or even pineapple. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Fruit Salsa
This is a great way to use up any extra fruit you have lying around. Simply chop up some fruit and mix it with diced onion, diced jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with chips or use it as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.
Watermelon Margaritas
For a fun summer twist on a classic cocktail, make watermelon margaritas! Start by pureeing some watermelon in a blender. Then mix the puree with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Rim the glasses with salt and serve over ice.
You can also use other fruits like strawberries, mangoes, or peaches. Just adjust the amount of sugar you add to the puree to account for the sweetness of the fruit.
Parfait
Parfaits are a French-style frozen dessert typically made from the custard. The American version is mostly made with yogurt. Add a layer of yogurt to the bottom of a see-through dish then layer your favorite fruits on top and repeat the layers until you reached the top of the dish and top it off with a drizzle of honey and some granola.
Parfait is perfect for those hot summer days when you want something sweet but don’t want to turn on the oven. Then a no-bake option like this is the way to go!
Popsicles
Making fresh fruit popsicles is a healthier alternative to store-bought popsicles that are full of extra sugar and corn syrup. Popsicle molds can be easily found on Amazon. Take your favorite fruit and add them to a blender with a little bit of honey and blend until smooth. Pour into the molds and freeze overnight.
Be creative by adding different layers of fruit puree or different chunks of fruit with each layer of puree to create a fun and colorful popsicle.
Fruit Bouquet
Super fun and beautiful way to dress up fruit is by making a bouquet. Fruit bouquets are great for parties or as presents for Mother’s day or birthdays. Pick any fruits you want but avoid fruits that will turn brown after a while such as apples, pears, or bananas. You will also need a base, skewers, Styrofoam, cookie cutters, and chocolate.
Add the Styrofoam to the bottom of the base and start shaping your fruits with the cookie cutters and dip some of them into chocolate. Once the fruit is ready, stick them on the skewers and arrange them however you like on the base Styrofoam. You can also add some greenery to make it look even more beautiful.
Conclusion
These are just a few fun ways to dress up your fruit. So, the next time you are at the store, pick up some extra fruit and get creative in the kitchen. Your taste buds will thank you!
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